Islamabad is a beautiful, clean and lush green capital of
Pakistan. It is no wonder it is considered the 2nd most beautiful capital in
the world. It is well developed, modern and attractive in so many ways.
Whenever I come back to Islamabad, whether that is for
visiting relatives or getting my visa/passport done, there are some places I
always have to visit and things I always have to do.
This time around, with Kanika by my side, obviously I had to
show her those nostalgic destinations but also decided to hit new spots.
Since we don’t just focus on travel as it is a lifestyle blog,
I’m going to separate the list into categories that will hopefully convince you
take a trip down here this year.
Culture & History:
Obviously, when you’re traveling to a new country or city, the first thing you want to do is immerse yourself and learn about the culture and
history. Pakistan may be a young country (born in 1947) but it is definitely
rich in history and Islamabad plays a big role in the development of that
history. So these are the places to visit when you are in the capital.
Lok Virsa Museum:
Lok Virsa is a cultural and heritage museum in Islamabad
that exhibits the different lifestyles of people in Pakistan. Unfortunately, we
weren’t allowed to take photos inside the museum so we can’t really show any to
you but be sure to take a look at their website.
As we walked through, we were quite impressed by the upkeep
and quality of the exhibits here despite the really low entry fees. We really
wondered how they were able to manage to do that. Maybe because this is a
member of several UNESCO projects. This was by far one of our favorite cultural
experience here.
Pakistan Monument:
You can actually visit the Pakistan Monument on the same day
as the Lok Virsa Museum as they are extremely close by. Just another 5 minutes’
drive up the road, you’ll witness the national monument, which is represented
by its shape – the four main petals represent Pakistan’s four provinces
(Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) while the three smaller
petals represent it’s three territories (Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and
the Federally Administered Tribal Areas)
Also located in front of the monument is a wax museum
(Pakistan Monument Museum where you can learn everything about Pakistan’s
history. The museum will take about 20 minutes to go through and it is not only
educational but also very entertaining and impressive. Once done, be sure to
take some photos with the monument and soak in the panoramic view of Islamabad
city.
On the way back, if you have time, you can even slip in a
visit to the Pakistan Museum of Natural History.
Saidpur Village:
This is surely a must-visit place when you’re in Islamabad.
Located on the foothills of the Maragalla mountain range, the village is from
the Mughal-era and has remnants of various civilizations. Saidpur village is
sort of like a heritage site but what is amazing about it is that it displays a
perfect blend of traditional culture with modern lifestyle. Here you’ll find
restaurants and cafes that have been well integrated around the village while
keeping the authenticity and tradition.
The ambiance is extremely quaint and beautiful. While
exploring, we came across children playing and smiling at us and this man
playing a classical musical instrument that really added to the ambiance of the
village – a beautiful symphony of sight and sound.
Faisal Mosque:
The Faisal Mosque is definitely the most iconic structure
and symbol of not just Islamabad, but all of Pakistan. It is the largest mosque
in the country and can be seen from almost everywhere in Islamabad. The mosque
is so massive that it covers an area of 5,000 m2 and can accommodate over
250,000 worshipers in its inside and outside grounds.
It is certainly sight for sore eyes with its impressive and
unique design. Usually, Mosques are dome-shaped but this one is shaped like a
‘desert Bedouin’s tent’.
Monal:
Earlier I mentioned Margala Hills. Well if you
drive/hike up further from Daman-e-Koh, you will reach Monal restaurant where
you can enjoy some seriously delicious kababs and other authentic Pakistani
dishes like Biryani and Handi. Apart from the amazing food, the view is stunning.
For more Detail Visit: http://tripsinpakistan.com/explore-visit-the-best-places-in-islamabad-trips-in-pakistan/
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