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Sightseeing in Islamabad - what to see. Complete travel guide

Islamabad is a governmental center of Pakistan, a large cultural region and an attractive destination for rest. The building of the city started in 1960 in the middle of an absolute desert. It took just several decades to turn a lifeless steppe into a modern megalopolis. A famous Greek architect worked over the creation of the city. Islamabad was thoroughly planned and so it doesn’t look like the majority of Middle East towns with their narrow labyrinth like streets.

Excursion over cultural sights of Islamabad - 'must visit' points of interest

Besides the internationally famous Faisal Mosque, Rohtas Fort, and Taxila Ruins, Islamabad and surrounding regions have many interesting places that definitely deserve a visit. For example, …

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There is a large number of wonderful places in Islamabad. Shah Faisal Mosque is the most interesting sight from architectural and religious points of view. The walls of this building have enough space for up to 70 thousand of people. Garden of Roses and Jasmine remains the most beautiful place of the city. Besides flower beds the park is decorated by wonderful fountains, statues and decorative bushes.

On the territory of the city are also located several lakes. The biggest ones of them are Lotus Lake, Raval and Simli. Just like any Middle East city, Islamabad has rich choice of trading squares and markets – Abpara Market, Melody Market, Covered Market, Juma Bazar, and Jinnah Market. Among cultural facilities of the city the most notable ones are Lok Virsa Museum, Pakistan Museum of Natural History and Islamabad Museum. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Your active city break in Islamabad. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here

Islamabad is a city located at the foot of a mountain. It attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists with its numerous landmarks and the activities it offers, rock-climbing included. …

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In the immediate vicinity of Islamabad, there is an interesting historical landmark - the Rohtas Fort. Its construction began in 1541 and lasted for two years. The fortress was built to protect the lands from the Mongol conquerors. The defensive structure is now striking in its scale; the perimeter of the fortress walls is about 4,000 meters and the height about 18 meters. The entrance to the fortress is a gate made of sandstone. The fortress lost its strategic importance in the 18th century, and several years ago it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An equally interesting historical site is the archaeological district of Taxila. It was named after the eponymous town, the ruins of which were discovered by researchers in these places. This ancient Buddhist city was founded in the times of Alexander of Macedon. On its territory, there were many unique examples of architecture and sculptures, including a statue of Buddha of impressive size. Visitors of the archaeological region will have the opportunity to see fragments of an ancient monastery, and many more defensive structures that were used to protect the city.

Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Islamabad

1. In general, the capital of Pakistan is quite a safe city, but it is still better not to take valuables when heading to local markets and shops. Don’t leave your belongings …

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Guests of Islamabad will have the opportunity to get to the nearby Buddhist monastery of Takht-i-Bahi, built in the 1st century BC. This monastery remained active until the 7th century. It represents a large and incredibly interesting complex of structures. Here tourists will have the opportunity to look into the old cells, see the halls in which important meetings were held, and also visit the refectory. The monastery is located on the top of the mountain. From these places, a magnificent panoramic view of the surroundings opens.

Fans of natural attractions will not be bored either as they will be able to visit the Margalla Hills National Park. The park is big and incredibly beautiful. It is home to many rare species of animals. The luckiest travelers will have an opportunity to see graceful deer during the tour. Pheasants also walk freely in the park. One day will not be enough to explore all the amazing sights of this reserve. There are several routes options for tourists. Some types of excursions are designed specifically for tourists with children.

This guide to iconic landmarks and sights of Islamabad is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.

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City tours, excursions and tickets in Islamabad and surroundings

Reference information

Map of all shopping areas

Shopping streets in Islamabad
♥ Shopping area ' Blue Area' Islamabad, 0.6 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Shopping area ' The Centaurus' Islamabad, 1.5 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Shopping area ' F-6 Markaz' Islamabad, 2 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Shopping area ' F 10 Markaz' Islamabad, 5.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Shopping area ' Murree Road' Rawalpindi, 8.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all parks

National and city parks around Islamabad
♥ National Park 'Margalla Hills' , 4.5 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Ayub' , 16.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Ayubia' , 46.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all art museums

Art galleries in Islamabad and around
♥ Art museum 'National Art Gallery' Islamabad, 3.2 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Sights around Islamabad from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Faisal Mosque

From the series “Top Largest and Famous Mosques Worldwide”

Check on the map: Faisal Mosque on map

Distance from Islamabad center - 2.7 km.

The payers hall is enormous, at once there can be up to 10 000 believers. The mosque has an additional hall for 24 000 people, the inner yard can meet up to 40 000 people. This great mosque was built within ten years and was finished in 1986. The great sum of money for the building was given by King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz. In honour of him was named not only the mosque but also the road leading to it. … Read further

Sightseeing in Pakistan: things to see

Several interesting monuments and other places of interest can be found in Hyderabad, first mentions of which belong to the pre-islamic period. Qutb Shahi Fort and an old market, which is located nearby, are beautiful reminders of previous centuries. The so-called historical complex is surrounded by numerous small streets and quarters, which were also built several centuries ago. Another important landmark is located not far away from the city. This is Lake Manchar, the biggest lake in the country and the wintering ground for thousands of birds. One more ancient city that is also worth visiting is called Mohenjo-daro, which was founded more than 4,000 years ago. The city is very popular with tourists, so you will easily find a guide or an excursion that will show you old quarters of Mohenjo-daro. Ruins of an ancient citadel and a palace are among the most famous places of interest here. There is also a large exhibition hall, where visitors can see several collections dedicated to artworks and artifacts found during archaeological excavations. Within several decades the Museum of archaeology has added many precious items to its collection - ancient jewellery, ceramics, weapons and figurines. … Open

Sightseeing in Islamabad - what to see. Complete travel guide

City tours, excursions and tickets in Islamabad and surroundings

Sights around Islamabad from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Faisal Mosque

Sightseeing in Pakistan: things to see

Search touristic sites on the map of Islamabad

Sightseeing in regions nearby Islamabad