Between history, culture, and the great outdoors, Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is a city with little to do with discoveries and will share its treasures with you. What are the popular places to visit in Islamabad? What to do in and around Islamabad? This is what we will find out here.
1. THE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Coming from Islamabad Airport in Pakistan, you may see on your way a large granite monument made up of 4 large petals and three smaller ones that appear to be blooming. The petals have a specific meaning since the four largest represent the four provinces of the country, namely Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, and the smallest of the three territories, namely Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and the Tribal Regions. Do not hesitate to stop here during your visit to Islamabad.
2. FAISAL MOSQUE
Another essential place if you decide to visit Islamabad: the Faisal mosque. This worship place is at the foot of the Margalla Hills, which we will discover a little further. Emblem of the city, this mosque built between 1976 and 1986. It takes its name from the king of Arabia, who contributed financially to its development. This beautiful structure surrounded by four minarets can accommodate 74,000 people.
3. The mausoleum of Meher Ali Shah
If you don’t know what to do in Islamabad, we suggest exploring the Meher Ali Shah Mausoleum in Gora, not far from the city. Meher Ali Shah was a spiritual master and poet who disappeared in 1937. A marble mausoleum was built in his honor. And the faithful are always present, every day, to meditate on his grave.
4. THE LOK VIRSA MUSEUM
What to visit in Islamabad? We invite you to visit the Lok Virsa Museum, a place that will allow you to learn more about Pakistani culture and its history and traditions. Nine galleries welcome you to present photos, statues, embroidery, music, wooden objects, etc. A real opportunity to get to know Pakistan.
5. PAKISTAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Another museum to visit if you are still looking for what to do in Islamabad is the Museum of Natural History of Pakistan. Like the Lok Virsa Museum, it is divided into galleries. There are 5 of them here, namely the Bio gallery, the Thethys gallery, the Eco gallery, the Palaeo gallery, and the precious stones gallery. The first four mentioned are respectively dedicated to fauna and flora, rocks, mountains and aquatic life, botany and zoology, and, finally, fossils. This museum offers a wealth of information about Pakistan and its natural treasures.
6. RAWAL LAKE
If you were going to take a tour of the Rawal lakeside, an artificial lake. It is prevalent among locals and tourists alike. It has a leisure center where you can rent a boat, fish, or admire a magnificent sunset. If you want to have a picnic outside the city to enjoy a moment in the heart of nature, this place is perfectly indicated.
7. MARGALLA HILLS
Another great place if you are looking for things to do in Islamabad, Margalla Hills. This mountain range is found in the national park of the same name. It is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts who can appreciate a great space and admire, during their walk, extremely varied fauna and flora. These are indeed almost 300 species of plants. The Margallas is also a very popular place for bird watchers as there are vultures, hawks, black partridges, golden orioles, and cheer pheasants.
8. TASTE THE LOCAL SPECIALTIES
Finally, let’s finish our visit to Islamabad by getting to know Pakistani specialties. Here, the traditional dish is a Kahari of chicken breast served with rice. It is cooked with cumin, garam masala, green cayenne pepper, plain yogurt, cream, and lemon. To taste this, go to the Andaaz restaurant, a delightful place that serves local dishes.
Transport in Islamabad is expensive, so if you plan to stay for a long time, arrange to have your own motorcycle, car, etc. At Carlay, you can rent a car according to your needs and desire. Our rental rates will not put a dent on your budget.
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