Islamabad (اسلام‌آباد)

Islamabad, or Islāmābād, is the capital of Pakistan. Its name means 'City of Islam'. Construction of the city didn't start until 1961 to replace Karachi as Pakistan's national capital. Construction has not finished yet. It is a sprawling suburban place and a twin city with Rawalpindi.

islamabad is divided into 8 different zones: administrative areas, a diplomatic enclave, residential areas, educational sectors, industrial sectors, commercial areas, rural area and green zones.

Islamabad was only founded in 1961, but despite of this there are quite many places of interest in the city. The city was built in an area where earlier civilizations lived; and remains of their architecture can still be found. Landmarks as old as the 10th century can be found in Islamabad.

Faisal Mosque is the world's fifth-largest mosque. It was built in 1986 and named after Saudi king, Faisal bin Abdul Aziz. It accommodates about 24,000 Muslims that pray there. It is a mixture of contemporary architecture and a traditional large triangular prayer hall and four minarets.
Badshahi Mosque.
One of the most-visited tourist sites is the Pakistan Monument on Democracy Square. The monument was erected in 2007 to represent the 'patriotism and sovereignty' of Pakistan. It consists of a dome-shaped building with engravings on its walls. The engravings portray important Pakistani landmarks such as Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan and Lahore Fort. The murals on the inside of the large petals of Pakistan Monument are based on Islamic architecture.
Saidpur used to be a separate village, but with the growth of Islamabad, it has become a suburb. It is a sacred place to Hindus and it features numerous temples where the Hindu Mughal Commanders worshipped.
The Saudi-Pak Tower is one of Islamabad's tallest buildings. It is a mixture of modern architecture and traditional styles, featuring blue tile works in Islamic tradition.
The Secretariat Complex.
The Prime Minister's secretariat is based on Mughal architecture.
The National Assembly is another interesting building.
The Centaurus is a 7-star hotel.
The Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers is another example of modern architecture in the city.

Some of the most prestigious museums in Pakistan are located in Islamabad. They include Lok Virsa Museum and the Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage Shakarparian Park. The Islamabad Museum has exhibitions of regional relics and artifacts from the Gandhara period. The National Art Gallery and Gallery 6 are amongst the city's most prominent art galleries.

Islamabad is known for its parks and forests.

Margalla Hills National Park is in the north of Islamabad, not far from the Himalayas. It features picturesque valleys and beautiful hills. Animals roaming the area include Himalayan goral, Barking deer and leopards. Accommodation and camping grounds are available there.
Another popular park is Shakarparian.
Trail 3 is the most famous and oldest hiking trail in Islamabad. Its starting point is at the Margalla Road in sector F-6/3. You have to be in good shape to walk it, as it includes numerous steep hills. There is a viewpoint after some 30 to 50 minutes walking. It continues for another 45 to 60 minutes to Pir Sohawa, where you'll find 2 restaurants.
In the nearby village of Shah Allah Ditta you can visit ancient caves.
Nearby is the village of Kanthila is an ancient baoli (stepwell).

There are many hotels and restaurants in Islamabad. The international airport is in Rawalpindi.

The archaeological repository at Taxila, 20 km northwest of Islambad, and the pilgrimage place of Hasan Abdul are worth a visit and easily accessed on a day trip from Islamabad.

Miscellaneous Information

Latitude: 33°40' N
Longitude: 73°08' E
Elevation: n/a

Population: 1,200,000
Cost-of-living compared to Washington D.C.: 85%

Hours from UTC: 6
Daylight savings time: Late March through late October

City phone code: 51
Country phone code: 92

Hotels in Islamabad

Images

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