Posted:
Islamabad
Language : Urdu
Phone Code : 051
Cities
Restaurants
Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is located against the backdrop of Margalla Hills at the northern edge of Potohar Plateau. In contrast to its twin city Rawalpindi, it is lush green, spacious and peaceful. Islamabad is a city of wide, tree-lined streets, large houses, elegant public buildings and well-organized bazaars. Traffic jams and crowds are rare, and narrow lanes and slums are few and far between. Sidewalks are shaded and safe behind rows of flame trees, jacaranda and hibiscus. Roses, jasmine and bougainvillea fill the many parks, and scenic viewpoints show the city to its best advantage.
The master plan of this most modern city was prepared in 1960 by M/s. Constantinos Doxiades, a Greek firm of Architects.
Construction was started in October 1961. The city came into life on 26 October 1966, when the first office building of Islamabad was occupied. It is a modern and carefully planned city. There are ample opportunities for walking, jogging, hiking and trekking around Islamabad in the Margalla Hills. The Margalla Hill range offers excellent opportunities for short and long hikes with magnificent vistas opening up on all sides. A network of trails having more then 120 kms total length has been developed.
The urban area is divided into eight zones:
administrative
diplomatic
residential
institutional
industrial
commercial
greenbelt
and a national park that includes an Olympic village and gardens and dairy, poultry, and vegetable farms, as well as such as the Atomic Research Institute and the National Health Center.
The name Islamabad (City of Islam, or City of Peace) was chosen the reflect the country's ideology.
Shah Faisal Mosque :
The enormous Shah Faisal Mosque, superbly situated at the foot of the Margalla Hills, represents an eight-faceted desert 'tent' supported on four towering minarets. Designed by the Turkish architect Vadat Dolokay, it is said to be the largest mosque in the world, housing 100,000 worshippers at a time.
It has sloping roofs, an opulent marble face and four towering minarets. The complex also houses the Islamic Research Centre, library, museum, lecture hall, cafeteria and the offices of the faculty of the Islamic University. Visitors to the mosque must leave their shoes at the door and they must be dressed appropriately in clothes which cover their body except for the hands and the head for men. Women should wear a scarf that covers their hair.
Margalla Hills National Park :
Margallah Hills National Park was established in 1980 to preserve and protect the flora, fauna, and scenery in its natural state. The national park presents remarkable diversity of the biological cultural and recreational resources and partly forms watershed for two drinking water reservoirs at Rawal and Kharpur. Its hills and forest plays an important role in providing clean air, fresh water, and comfortable environment.
4 km up the hilly drive, there is a turning to Margallah Viewpoint, go another half a kilometer and you will arrive at the parking lot. If you wish to refresh your self turn left to the stalls and a restaurant or go right to get the bird eye view of Islamabad.
Now drive along the main road for real driving fun for there are 12 hairpin bends and two double bends in the next 5 kilometers till you level off on the 7-kilometer long crest line. You will arrive at Chowki, 3725 feet elevations; a cool breeze will welcome you for most part of the year. Even in summer, it is usually pleasant. From here, a short trek up the pine hill is exhilarating.
Driving beyond chowki to Pir Sowaha, the hilly drive is on the gentler side climbing to 4020 feet above sea level. There is a restaurant here called Sohawa Heights, and a small hotel coming up next to the restaurant. There is also a CDA forest rest house. Pir Sohawa offers a bird eye view of the entire Rawal Lake. The roadside view also changes from bushes to pine trees and the sound of the rustling wind. The original name of Pir Sohawa is Kotla village, and it is the last village of NWFP.
While enjoying what the park has to offer, observe the simple instructions displayed on the board. These are concerned with the prevention of accidents, fires and protection of plants and wildlife.
Location :
From Blue area Jinnah Avenue, take the avenue between F6 and F7 to arrive straight to the Maraghzar road that leads to the mini zoo and up to the Margallah hills.
Additional Features :
The area of the park is 15,883 hect, alt 600-1604 meters; the sky line drive is up to 15 kilometers. In addition, there are 616 species of plants, 250 birds, and 35 mammals. There is a 140 km long trail as well.
Wildlife :
Mammals in the park include Asiatic leopard, Wild boar, Jackal, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard cat, Gray Goral sheep, Barking deer, Chinkara gazelle(rare), Red fox, Pangolin, Porcupine, Yellow throated marten and Fruit bats.
Birds in the park are Griffon vulture, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, Egyptian vulture, White cheeked bulbul, yellow vented bulbul, Paradise flycatcher, Black partridge, Cheer pheasant, Khalij pheasant, Golden oriole, Spotted dove, Collared dove, Larks, Shrikes, Wheatears and buntings.
Reptiles in the park are Russells viper, Indian cobra and Saw scaled viper.
Museums
Lok Virsa Museum :
Location :
At Rawalpindi Islamabad highway on the lush green site of Shakarparian.
Display :
Folk and Cultural Heritage.
The Lok Virsa (National institute of folk and traditional Heritage) is charged with the preservation of folk and traditional culture of Pakistan. Visitors to the museum can see at first the crafts from far-flung areas arranged and displayed according to motif, area and use. It has a large display of embroided costumes, jewelry, woodwork, metalwork, blockprinting, ivory and bonework.
Traditional archietecture facades exhibiting such skills as fresco, mirror work, marble inlay, tile mosaic and stucco tracery are also displayed The biggest cultural event in spring each year in the federal capital is the Folk Festival of Pakistan held in the exhibition Hall at the Shakarparian complex. For one week visitors to the festival can see artisans and master craftsmen from different parts of Pakistan at work in aesthetically designed pavilions, creating the best examples of their craft. Some groups from remote regions charm the audience with traditional folk dances and music. Concerts of famous folk and classical singers are held each evening during the festival. The festival held in April each year. This is the only cultural gathering with that much diversity in Pakistan. Lok Virsa Heritage Reference Library is equipped with resource data on ethnography, anthropology, folk music, art, history and crafts and contains over ten thousand books on Pakistani culture and the social sciences and field reports based on original research. The Lok Virsa sound archive contains the single largest collection of recorded songs, ballads, epics and interviews pertaining to Pakistani culture. The institute's Audio-visual section produces video films of customs, traditions and folk performances for video Archive.
Pakistan Museum of Natural History :
Location
In the city of Islamabad.
Display
Natural History.
The Museum depicts early human history, geology, and wildlife of Pakistan. The exhibits are particular interest to students and children.
Islamabad Museum :
Location :
House #41, street #3, Sector E-7, Islamabad.
Display :
Archaeological.
Islamabad museum presents a long historic sequence of the land where Pakistan is situated today. Pakistan has been a seat of the worlds leading civilizations from the time immemorial. There is plenty of evidence to support this argument now on display in Islamabad Museum. For example, 20 million years old fossil remains, 2 million years old man-made stone tools, 7000 years old early human settlements which lead to the world famous Indus Civilization, Gandhara Grave Culture and Gandhara art, early Islamic settlement and Mughal period, their art and craft.
http://www.pakwatan.com/main/tourism/city_detail.php3?ID=4
Language : Urdu
Phone Code : 051
Cities
Restaurants
Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is located against the backdrop of Margalla Hills at the northern edge of Potohar Plateau. In contrast to its twin city Rawalpindi, it is lush green, spacious and peaceful. Islamabad is a city of wide, tree-lined streets, large houses, elegant public buildings and well-organized bazaars. Traffic jams and crowds are rare, and narrow lanes and slums are few and far between. Sidewalks are shaded and safe behind rows of flame trees, jacaranda and hibiscus. Roses, jasmine and bougainvillea fill the many parks, and scenic viewpoints show the city to its best advantage.
The master plan of this most modern city was prepared in 1960 by M/s. Constantinos Doxiades, a Greek firm of Architects.
Construction was started in October 1961. The city came into life on 26 October 1966, when the first office building of Islamabad was occupied. It is a modern and carefully planned city. There are ample opportunities for walking, jogging, hiking and trekking around Islamabad in the Margalla Hills. The Margalla Hill range offers excellent opportunities for short and long hikes with magnificent vistas opening up on all sides. A network of trails having more then 120 kms total length has been developed.
The urban area is divided into eight zones:
administrative
diplomatic
residential
institutional
industrial
commercial
greenbelt
and a national park that includes an Olympic village and gardens and dairy, poultry, and vegetable farms, as well as such as the Atomic Research Institute and the National Health Center.
The name Islamabad (City of Islam, or City of Peace) was chosen the reflect the country's ideology.
Shah Faisal Mosque :
The enormous Shah Faisal Mosque, superbly situated at the foot of the Margalla Hills, represents an eight-faceted desert 'tent' supported on four towering minarets. Designed by the Turkish architect Vadat Dolokay, it is said to be the largest mosque in the world, housing 100,000 worshippers at a time.
It has sloping roofs, an opulent marble face and four towering minarets. The complex also houses the Islamic Research Centre, library, museum, lecture hall, cafeteria and the offices of the faculty of the Islamic University. Visitors to the mosque must leave their shoes at the door and they must be dressed appropriately in clothes which cover their body except for the hands and the head for men. Women should wear a scarf that covers their hair.
Margalla Hills National Park :
Margallah Hills National Park was established in 1980 to preserve and protect the flora, fauna, and scenery in its natural state. The national park presents remarkable diversity of the biological cultural and recreational resources and partly forms watershed for two drinking water reservoirs at Rawal and Kharpur. Its hills and forest plays an important role in providing clean air, fresh water, and comfortable environment.
4 km up the hilly drive, there is a turning to Margallah Viewpoint, go another half a kilometer and you will arrive at the parking lot. If you wish to refresh your self turn left to the stalls and a restaurant or go right to get the bird eye view of Islamabad.
Now drive along the main road for real driving fun for there are 12 hairpin bends and two double bends in the next 5 kilometers till you level off on the 7-kilometer long crest line. You will arrive at Chowki, 3725 feet elevations; a cool breeze will welcome you for most part of the year. Even in summer, it is usually pleasant. From here, a short trek up the pine hill is exhilarating.
Driving beyond chowki to Pir Sowaha, the hilly drive is on the gentler side climbing to 4020 feet above sea level. There is a restaurant here called Sohawa Heights, and a small hotel coming up next to the restaurant. There is also a CDA forest rest house. Pir Sohawa offers a bird eye view of the entire Rawal Lake. The roadside view also changes from bushes to pine trees and the sound of the rustling wind. The original name of Pir Sohawa is Kotla village, and it is the last village of NWFP.
While enjoying what the park has to offer, observe the simple instructions displayed on the board. These are concerned with the prevention of accidents, fires and protection of plants and wildlife.
Location :
From Blue area Jinnah Avenue, take the avenue between F6 and F7 to arrive straight to the Maraghzar road that leads to the mini zoo and up to the Margallah hills.
Additional Features :
The area of the park is 15,883 hect, alt 600-1604 meters; the sky line drive is up to 15 kilometers. In addition, there are 616 species of plants, 250 birds, and 35 mammals. There is a 140 km long trail as well.
Wildlife :
Mammals in the park include Asiatic leopard, Wild boar, Jackal, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard cat, Gray Goral sheep, Barking deer, Chinkara gazelle(rare), Red fox, Pangolin, Porcupine, Yellow throated marten and Fruit bats.
Birds in the park are Griffon vulture, Laggar falcon, Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Indian sparrow hawk, Egyptian vulture, White cheeked bulbul, yellow vented bulbul, Paradise flycatcher, Black partridge, Cheer pheasant, Khalij pheasant, Golden oriole, Spotted dove, Collared dove, Larks, Shrikes, Wheatears and buntings.
Reptiles in the park are Russells viper, Indian cobra and Saw scaled viper.
Museums
Lok Virsa Museum :
Location :
At Rawalpindi Islamabad highway on the lush green site of Shakarparian.
Display :
Folk and Cultural Heritage.
The Lok Virsa (National institute of folk and traditional Heritage) is charged with the preservation of folk and traditional culture of Pakistan. Visitors to the museum can see at first the crafts from far-flung areas arranged and displayed according to motif, area and use. It has a large display of embroided costumes, jewelry, woodwork, metalwork, blockprinting, ivory and bonework.
Traditional archietecture facades exhibiting such skills as fresco, mirror work, marble inlay, tile mosaic and stucco tracery are also displayed The biggest cultural event in spring each year in the federal capital is the Folk Festival of Pakistan held in the exhibition Hall at the Shakarparian complex. For one week visitors to the festival can see artisans and master craftsmen from different parts of Pakistan at work in aesthetically designed pavilions, creating the best examples of their craft. Some groups from remote regions charm the audience with traditional folk dances and music. Concerts of famous folk and classical singers are held each evening during the festival. The festival held in April each year. This is the only cultural gathering with that much diversity in Pakistan. Lok Virsa Heritage Reference Library is equipped with resource data on ethnography, anthropology, folk music, art, history and crafts and contains over ten thousand books on Pakistani culture and the social sciences and field reports based on original research. The Lok Virsa sound archive contains the single largest collection of recorded songs, ballads, epics and interviews pertaining to Pakistani culture. The institute's Audio-visual section produces video films of customs, traditions and folk performances for video Archive.
Pakistan Museum of Natural History :
Location
In the city of Islamabad.
Display
Natural History.
The Museum depicts early human history, geology, and wildlife of Pakistan. The exhibits are particular interest to students and children.
Islamabad Museum :
Location :
House #41, street #3, Sector E-7, Islamabad.
Display :
Archaeological.
Islamabad museum presents a long historic sequence of the land where Pakistan is situated today. Pakistan has been a seat of the worlds leading civilizations from the time immemorial. There is plenty of evidence to support this argument now on display in Islamabad Museum. For example, 20 million years old fossil remains, 2 million years old man-made stone tools, 7000 years old early human settlements which lead to the world famous Indus Civilization, Gandhara Grave Culture and Gandhara art, early Islamic settlement and Mughal period, their art and craft.
http://www.pakwatan.com/main/tourism/city_detail.php3?ID=4
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