Top 10 places to visit in Islamabad this year | Post Pandemic

Sanaullah Abro
Top 10 places to visit in Islamabad Capital of Pakistan Gofrixty

This list of the top 10 places to visit in Islamabad has been designed to help tourists to review visiting places of Islamabad quickly and available on one page. These places are enlisted in descending order and the ranking is based on the reviews of people who have visited these places and the author’s personal exposure and analysis of best places to visit in Islamabad. If you’re planning to visit Islamabad this year, then don’t forget to read this first. The top 5 places to visit in Islamabad are utmost important to have the know-how.

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10: Rawal Lake | Rawal Dam

Rawal Lake is the most out-ranked in the top 10 places to visit in Islamabad list. It is because of the rare facilities for the tourists at the site. Rawal lake is Pakistan’s artificial reservoir. This was built for the purpose to fulfil the water needs of the citizens of Pakistan’s two metropolitan twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad). This artificial lake is located within an isolated place in between Malpur Village, Bani Gala and Margalla Hills National Park. This lake covers 8.8 Squire Kilo Meters area. The lake takes water from Korang river, Shahdra stream, and many other small streams flowing from Margalla Hills. All these streams have been set to form this artificial lake which got outlet stream of Rawal dam.

At Rawal lake, which got entrance from the Rawal-chock has a beautiful view of the Dam outlet. This has natural beauty, a small park, running track and very rare tuck-shops. People visiting with their family, and wanted to have a picnic and have their own food to eat together outside in an open atmosphere will have this Rawal Lake a favourable place. But, educational institutes or bachelor parties, who wanted to enjoy in a crowd, are not recommended to go to this place. Because this has a comparatively low turnover of visitors and very calm and silent place to visit.

9: Shahdara Valley | Quaid-e-Azam University

Shahdara Valley is one of the most natural and organic, addition in the list located in between Margalla Hills near Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. This is placed at 9th number of the list of top 10 places to visit in Islamabad because of lack of tourists facilities at the site. Shahdara valley is one of the favourite places for hang-out, fresh air, organic view. Visitors can also enjoy hot and fresh crispy pakoras while hanging their feet in the fresh stream water.

There are few tuck shops and tea stalls available with limited and temporary sitting on the first come first served. Visitors can enjoy playing in stream water, children can make unlimited fun in the small stream water and elders can sit back and enjoy the beautiful views of the hidden nature of the big and tall mountains of Margalla hills.

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Going for Shahdara Valley, visitors will have to go from Pakistan’s top-ranked University (Quaid-e-Azam University). Shahdara is most of the times overcrowded, especially on weekend, that is because students and single males from Quaid-e-Azam University, Malpur Village, and Barakahu rush towards Valley as this is most accessible for them. So, visitors moving there with family are recommended to be more conscious and must try not to go there during weekends.

8: Margalla Hills National Park | Trail 3 & 5

On 8th of the places to visit in Islamabad list, there is Margalla hills national park which also includes beautiful and adventurous trails 3 and 5. The Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) is also a part of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and hence one of the favourite places to visit in Islamabad. The park includes the Margalla Hills, which form the foothills of the Himalayas, along with Shakarparian Park (Located just inapposite of Pakistan Monument) and Rawal Lake. Established in 1980.

The Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) covers approximately 17,386 hectares. The MHNP is mainly based on the mountainous areas of ICT. Tilla Charouni with a height of 1604m is the tallest peak in the park. Margalla Hills is a tourist destination, with Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa serving as popular hill stations, while Shakarparian Cultural Complex and Lake View Park are popular picnic spots. The park is rich in biodiversity, especially rich in Sino-Himalayan fauna, most notably grey goral, barking deer and the Leopard. Combined MHNP is home to around 600 plant species, 250 bird varieties, 38 mammals and 13 species of reptiles. PTDC is currently constructing a chairlift project in the park.

The most attractive and adventurous places of MHNP is trail 5. Visitors and local residents used to go for hiking and trailing on Trail 5, it is because of the greenery, and a small flow of a water stream along with the trail track. Visitors can also use this trail to reach Monal restaurant or Daman-e-Koh by foot. As both tail 3 and 5 are the easiest short-cuts to reach on the location of Monal Restaurant.

7: Ayub National Park | Jungle World

Ayub National Park is placed on 7th of the list of places to visit in Islamabad. It’s is because it is too big that it is hard to feel crowdy in the park. It has generally a normal turnover of the visitors, but because of the big area and wide facilities, it’s hard to say that the park is so crowdy and full of fun. Ayub National Park, commonly known as Ayub Park or historically Topi Rakh Park, named after the Pakistani president and general Ayub Khan, is a national park located on Jhelum road not far away from the old presidency in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

This park was established before the creation of Pakistan, and it covers an area of 2,300 acres. It’s claimed to be Asia’s largest park. It has a play area, a lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open-air theatre. This park host “The Jungle World” which is particularly popular among young residents of the city.

6: Lok Virsa Heritage Museum

Lok Virsa is Pakistan’s leading heritage museum which is administered and managed by the Lok Virsa National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage department. This heritage museum represents the history and culture of the country, Pakistan is consists of four provinces, Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khaybar Pakhtoon Khwa (KPK) along with northern areas including Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir. All these areas got their own history and very rich with their own culture and heritage. Thus all of these areas have been represented by Lok Virsa Heritage Museum. Visitors, who just wanted to get a general overlook of the history and culture of the country will need to must visit this place. As this is a true sense of artificially built museum to represent the history, culture, and heritage of all languages, areas, and group of peoples of Pakistan.

Lok Virsa is a museum of history and culture in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is located on the Shakarparian Hills showcasing the living cultures of Pakistan. The museum opened in 1974 and became an autonomous institute in 2002 following the Lok Virsa Legal Status Ordinance, 2002. The museum consists of several buildings as well as an outdoor museum which can accommodate up to 3000 visitor’s turnover. This is highly recommended for foreigners, people who are interested in knowing the culture, heritage, and history of the country and people visiting Islamabad with their families particularly along with their children. Because this Museum can give youngsters an education of their origin and can recap them of their traditions.

5: Pir Sohawa | The Margalla Hills

The 5th of the list of places to visit in Islamabad is Pir Sohawa. It is located on Margalla hills ranges. Visitors can see and enjoy the full view of the Islamabad city from this point. Pir Sohawa is more enjoyable in the evening time.

The Margalla range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hills are a part of Murree hills. It is a range with many valleys as well as high mountains. On 6 January 2012, after almost six years, Pir Sohawa, the city’s highest tourist spot, received few inches of snowfall. Another measurable snow event occurred on 11 February 2016 where 2 inches fell after four years. This place is a comparative bit cold as of its Hight from the sea level.

4: Lake View Park

Lake view park is placed 4th in the list of places to visit in Islamabad this year. If you want to visit a wildlife park, an amusement park, adventure park, Formula motor car racing track, fishing and boating all in a single place. Then welcome, Lake View Park is the place you’re looking for.

Lake View Park is a wildlife park, amusement park and adventure park located near Village Malpur Rawal Lake, on Murree Road in Islamabad. It runs under the administration of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). This park also contains Pakistan’s largest birdcage. Which includes a variety of categories of the birds including imported and very rare birds as well. This place has a comparatively largest turnover of the visitors. You will find it always crowdy and full of amusement. Singers, musicians and other artistic people also sit there and add their skills and creativity in the amusement of the park. A favourite place for fishing and boating as well.

3: Daman-e-Koh

The 3rd number in the list of places to visit in Islamabad belongs to Daman-e-Koh. This is a viewing point and hilltop garden north of Islamabad and located in the middle of the Margalla Hills. Its name is a conjunction of two Persian words, which together means foothills. It is about 2400ft from sea level and almost 500ft from the city of Islamabad. It is a popular destination for the residents as well as the visitors to the capital.

Daman-e-Koh is a midpoint for tourists on their way to the higher viewpoint Pir Sohawa which is located at the top of Margalla Hills at an elevation of about 3600ft and ranked 5th in the list of places to visit in Islamabad. There is a plan of tourists department of the government of Pakistan to construct a chairlift from Daman-e-Koh to Pir Sohawa. Monkeys are a common sight during winter. Cheetahs are frequently reported to descend from higher hills of Murree during snowfall. Airblue Flight 202 crashed near here on July 28, 2010.

2: Faisal Masjid

Faisal Masjid is ranked as 2nd in the list of places to visit in Islamabad. The Faisal Masjid is the identity of Islamabad, the federal national capital city of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is Pakistan’s largest Masjid by area. Faisal Masjid is also Pakistan’s National Majid.

This Islamic place of worship is located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Islamabad. The mosque does indeed feature a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of the concrete shell and is inspired by a Bedouin tent. Faisal Masjid is a major tourist and religious attraction in Islamabad. Faisal Masjid also referred to as a contemporary and influential feature of Islamic architecture.

The construction of the Faisal Masjid began in 1976 after a $120 million grant from Saudi King Faisal, whose name the Masjid bears. The unconventional design by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay was selected after an international competition. Without a typical dome, the mosque is shaped like a Bedouin tent, surrounded by four 260 feet tall minarets. The design features eight-sided shell shaped sloping roofs forming a triangular worship hall which can hold 10,000 worshippers. Combined the structure covers an area of 54,000 square ft, the mosque dominates the landscape of Islamabad

1: Pakistan Monument (Old Shakar Parian) | Zero Point | Centaurus Mall

The top of the list of places to visit in Islamabad is none other, but Pakistan Monument. The most easily accessible tourists place which is located at the zero-point of the capital. The Pakistan Monument is a national monument and heritage museum located on the western Shakarparian Hills in Islamabad, Pakistan. The monument was constructed to symbolize the unity of the Pakistani people. It is dedicated to the people of Pakistan who sacrificed their “today” for a better “tomorrow”. Its elevation makes the monument visible from across the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area and is a popular tourist destination.

This monument has a beautiful drone view of a Moon and a star (the similar of Pakistan’s flag). Moreover, Visitors can get a clear view of the Zero point and nearer place of the capital from the point. There is also a museum for tourists. Which includes the monuments (A pure artistic work) related to the history and culture of Pakistan.

Furthermore, visitors can access to go to The Centaurus Mall Islamabad after they finish siting Pakistan Monument, as the mall is just close to the Monument. There, visitors can enjoy delicious food and do shopping from Pakistan’s leading and other multinational variety of outlets. Visitors can also book the tickets to watch the latest released movies in The Centaurus Cineplex (CC Cinema).

The Complete List of places to visit in Islamabad

  1. Pakistan Monument (Old Shakar Parian) | Zero Point | Centaurus Mall
  2. Faisal Masjid
  3. Daman-e-Koh
  4. Lake View Park
  5. Pir Sohawa | The Margalla Hills
  6. Lok Virsa Heritage Museum
  7. Ayub National Park | Jungle World
  8. Margalla Hills National Park | Trail 3 & 5
  9. Shahdara Valley | Quaid-e-Azam University
  10. Rawal Lake | Rawal Dam

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