Islamabad Pakistan’s capital nestles against the backdrop of the Margalla hills, the foothills of the Himalayas. modern, spacious and carefully planned Islamabad is a city of wide, tree-lined streets, large houses, elegant public buildings and well-organized shopping malls, traffic jams and crowds seldom occur, and narrow lanes and slums are few and far between sidewalks are shaded and safe behind rows of flame trees jacaranda, hibiscus, roses and jasmine at full bloom present the city to its best.
This beautiful city offers some of the lovely places like Lok virsa museum and Faisal Mosque which is one of the biggest mosques in the world. it also has a natural history museum, and eye-catching spots kike Daman-e-koh, Japanese garden, Shakarparian and Rawal dam, Islamabad, being the federal capital, is also the custodian of the parliament house, presidency and all the foreign embassies.
Tour Itinerary
Faisal Mosque is Located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Islamabad, the mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of a concrete shell and is inspired by a Bedouin tent. Faisal Mosque is a gift from the people of Saudi Arabia to the people of Pakistan, as a symbol of strong friendship. Shakarparian hills are situated near zero point, at a height of 609Meters. Its terraced garden offers pleasant and sweeping vistas of Margallah and Murree hills, Rawal Lake, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. The Pakistan Monument is a National Monument and heritage museum located in the western. The monument was constructed to symbolize the unity of the Pakistani people. It is dedicated to the people of Pakistan who sacrificed their “today” for a better “tomorrow”. The Lok Virsa (National Institute of folk and traditional heritage) works toward preserving the living folk and traditional culture of Pakistan. Folk heritage has a large display of embroidered costumes, jewelry, woodwork, metalwork, block-printing, and ivory and bone work. Traditional architecture facades exhibiting such skills as fresco, mirror work, marble inlay, tile mosaic, and stucco tracery are also displayed.
Golra Sharif Railway Museum, also known as Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum. It is a junction station in the Rawalpindi Division of the Pakistan Railways, located at 1,994 feet above sea level. This railway station is the site of a venerated Railway Museum housing the relics and memorabilia associated with railways dating back to the days of the British Raj. The Railways station with its museum is a major attraction for tourists and locals alike and is becoming a major attraction for railway enthusiasts. Saidpur village, a little quaint village, famous for its pottery, is part of Islamabad today. Saidpur was founded by sultan Saif khan, son of sultan Sarang khan. He gave his daughter in marriage to Mughal prince Saleem who later became emperor Jehangir. Saidpur was considered a garden resort and a perpetual spring that provided water for drinking and watering gardens around during the Mughal period. Daman-e-Koh, this low hill overlooking Islamabad, known as Daman-e-Koh, offers a panoramic view of Islamabad. The place is ideal for afternoon and evening outings with family and friends.
Islamabad Tourist Attractions
Faisal Mosque
Faisal Mosque is the mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. Located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Islamabad, the mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of concrete shell and is inspired by a Bedouin tent. The mosque is a major tourist attraction, and is referred as a contemporary and influential feature of Islamic architecture. Faisal Mosque is a gift from the people of Saudi Arabia to the people of Pakistan and also a symbol of strong friendship. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was the main source of the funding of 50 million dollars. It started in 1976 and finished in 1988. This is the largest mosque in Asia and can accommodate 100.000 people in the mosque.
Lok Virsa (Heritage Museum)
Lok Virsa is situated in Islamabad, Pakistan. It displays the cultural heritage of Pakistani people. The living style of the different areas of Pakistan is exhibited here in statues, pictures, pottery, music and textile work. Lok Virsa is the finest cultural museum in Pakistan. The Heritage Museum also known as the Folk Heritage Museum run by the National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage represents art works towards preserving the living folk and traditional culture and crafts of Pakistan. It is located near Shakarparian Hills and has a large display of embroidered costumes, jewelry, woodwork, metalwork, block printing, ivory and bone work.
Traditional architecture facades exhibiting such skills as fresco, mirror work and marble inlay; tile, mosaic and stucco tracery are also displayed. Adjacent to the Lok Virsa Museum, the Lok Virsa Heritage Reference Library is well equipped with resource data on ethnography, anthropology, folk music, art, history and crafts. Books on culture, heritage, audio and video-cassettes of folk and classical vocal and instrumental music are available for sale at Lok Virsa’s sales center.
Golra Sharif Railway Museum
Golra Sharif Railway Museum, also known as Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum. It is a junction station in Rawalpindi Division of the Pakistan Railways, located at 1,994 feet above sea level, in the southeast of the Margalla Hills and east of the cradle of Gandhara civilization, the ancient city of Taxila. This railway station is the site of a venerated Railway Museum housing the relics and memorabilia associated with railways dating back to the days of the British Raj. The Railways station with its museum is a major attraction for tourists and locals alike and is becoming a major attraction for railway enthusiasts.
Raja Bazar
Raja Bazaar: Without doubt, Bazaar enthusiasts will enjoy walking through Rawalpindi’s labyrinthine community regarding lanes buying mementos and curios. But people, on the lookout for distinct goods, may find it more fun and fewer stress to look at combined somebody that is aware of just how and also the store. Today we are going to take you to the oldest and historical area of the Rawalpindi city, Raja Bazar.
Taxila
Taxila: Taxila is one of subcontinents archaeological treasures and was once an important city of kingdom of Gandhara. the ruins of Taxila, scattered about 30kms away from Rawalpindi, represent one of the important archaeological sites in Pakistan. The history of Taxila spans over 1000years (around 500 BC to 500 AD), evolving and changing over the centuries as it absorbed the influences of various conquering empires, Taxila had been the site of the best-known university in the subcontinent, which offered courses in law, history, medicine, arts, etc.
The various sites at Taxila, spread over a large era, include: Bhir mound the oldest city of Taxila, Dharmarajika Buddhist stupa and monastery, Sirsukh city, Jaulian Buddhist monastery, etc. The Taxila museum is noted for its magnificent collection of Gandharan art- a rare blend of Greek and Buddhist art, it also housed an interesting coin- collection, utensils, jewelry, toys and pottery highlighting the daily life of the inhabitants of ancient Taxila.
Pakistan Monument
The Pakistan Monument is a National Monument and heritage museum located on the western. The monument was constructed to symbolize the unity of the Pakistani people. It is dedicated to the people of Pakistan who sacrificed their “today” for a better “tomorrow”.
Day excursion from Islamabad
Day Tour Taxila – UNESCO Heritage Site
Taxila is one of subcontinent’s archaeological treasures and was once an important city of kingdom of Gandhara. the ruins of Taxila, scattered about 30kms away from Rawalpindi, represent one of the important archaeological sites in Pakistan. The history of Taxila spans over 1000years (Around 500 BC to 500 AD), evolving and changing over the centuries as it absorbed the influences of various conquering empires, Taxila had been the site of the best-known university in the subcontinent, which offered courses in law, history, medicine, arts, etc. The various sites at Taxila, spread over a large era, include: Bhir mound the oldest city of Taxila, Dharmarajika Buddhist stupa and monastery, Sirsukh city, Jaulian Buddhist monastery, etc. The Taxila museum is noted for its magnificent collection of Gandharan art- a rare blend of Greek and Buddhist art, it also housed an interesting coin- collection, utensils, jewelry, toys and pottery highlighting the daily life of the inhabitants of ancient Taxila.
Day Tour Kewra Salt Mines & Ketas Raj Hindu Temple
Drive to Islamabad en-route visit khewra salt mines. Khewra Salt Mines are situated in the foothills of the Salt Range, at about 260 kilometers from Lahore. It catches the attention of up to 40,000 visitors per annul and is the second largest salt mine in the world. Khewra Salt Mines are the oldest in the South Asia.
According to historians, Salt has been mined at Khewra since 320 BC following the discovery by Alexander’s troops. Dr. Warth in 1872 had developed the main tunnel at ground level and that main tunnel has since been transformed into a tourist resort.
Day Tour Murree (Queen of the Hills)
Day excursion to Murree hill station. Murree is a hill station, summer resort, It is located in the Pir Panjal Range, some 60 km northeast of Islamabad and Rawalpindi via the Benazir Bhutto Road. Murree was the summer capital of the British Raj in the Punjab Province until 1864.The city is a popular tourist destination located on the southern slopes of the Western Himalayan foothills as they ascend northeastwards; at an average altitude of 2,291 meters, it experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is noted for its Tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.
Day Tour Takht Bhai Monastery – UNESCO Heritage Site
Takht Bhai is a Parthian archaeological site in Mardan. It was first a Zoroastrian complex which, after the later arrival of Buddhism, was then converted into a Buddhist monastic complex. It is dated to the 1st century BCE.
The complex is regarded by archaeologists as being particularly representative of the architecture of Buddhist monastic centers from its era. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Day Tour Rohtas Fort – UNESCO Heritage Site
The impressive Rohtas Fort was built from 1541-48 by the Afghan King Sher Shah Suri to fight against the local tribes of Ghakkars who were allies of the Mughals. This huge fort is built in a triangular form according to the contours of the hill. It is regarded as the finest example of Muslim military architecture of its time. It is strategically located to check the caravan and invading armies, though hardly any big invasion took place during Sher Shah Suri and his Mughal foe Humayun who was anticipated to march with large force with the help of Persians but before it happened the fort was vacated by the Afghans. This impressive fort has 12 gates with 18 strong bastions, some smaller sections or living quarters were added during the later Mughal kings who used it as a resting station while en-route to Kashmir or Peshawar valley.
Day Tour Peshawar – City of Flowers
Peshawar, the guardian of the Khyber Pass, home of the Pathans, whose life style spans centuries of struggle and ability to adapt to their environment. Here you will find rugged handsome men, with rifles slung across their backs, walking proudly in the bazaars. Drive to Peshawar and visit Mahabat khan mosque, which is a 17th-century Mughal-era Mosque. The mosque is named after the Mughal governor of Peshawar, Nawab Mahabat Khan. Visit Peshawar Museum, where under one roof you can see art treasures of thousands of years of this region. Next to the towering walls of Bala Hisar Fort lies Legendary Qissa Khawani bazaar. We stroll down Qissa Khawani Bazaar (Street of Storytellers), were raconteurs once fascinated crowds with lurid tales. Today, dentists have replaced the storytellers and rows of teeth vie for our attention. We wander down side-streets and see donkeys, goats, sheep, camels, men smoking ‘hookahs’ or sipping tea; but we see few women. And the few that pass by us will be accompanied by a male. Even then, they will reveal only their mysterious eyes peeking through the spidery veil of their ankle-length ‘burka’. we will move to Sethi Streets which is in the heart of the walled city. These streets contain seven houses (including Sethi House a cultural heritage) built by the Sethi’s.
