Islamabad, the capital city of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is located in the northern area of the country on the Potohar Plateau. The city is a recent built to replace the Capital from Karachi to Islamabad. It is lush green, modern and carefully planned. The master plan of this most modern city was prepared in 1960 and construction was started in October 1961. Before, it was a small village, a part of which still exists with its special look of mud houses and typical village life. The city came into life on 26 October 1966, when the first office building of Islamabad was occupied.

The spacious and peaceful city gives ample opportunities for walking, jogging, hiking and trekking around Islamabad in the Margalla Hills. There are many exciting tourist destinations in Islamabad :

Parks and Gardens :

It has several beautiful parks, which beautify the city. The 20,360 sq. meters wide Rose And Jasmine Garden is famous for its roses. It has 250 different varieties of roses as well as a dozen types of Jasmines. the

Shakarparian hills are situated near Zero Point, at a height of 609 meters, offering pleasant and sweeping vistas. Daman-e-Koh, a low hill overlooking Islamabad offers panoramic view of Islamabad. One can also enjoy picnics or leisure walks to Murghzar Mini Zoo, located at the foot of Daman-e-Koh viewpoint. A display corner of Pakistan Museum of Natural History and a Japanese style children’s park have also been established near the Zoo.

Mosques and Shrines :

Shah Faisal Mosque is spread over 1,89,705 sq. metres with 88 meters high minarets and 40 meters high main prayer hall. This beautiful mosque was designed by a renowned Turkish Architect, Vedat Dalokay and named after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif (Bari Imam), located in the Noorpur Shahan, is famous for the mirror-studded shrine of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, popularly known as Bari Imam. The shrine was originally built on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Shrine of Pir Meher Ali Shah of Golra Sharif is located 18 km from Rawalpindi, in sector E-11 of Islamabad. He was born in 1859, preached and spread the message of Islam during the turbulent times in South Asia. He also wrote beautiful prose and poetry in Persian, Arabic and Punjabi languages. His mausoleum was recently reconstructed comprising of a dome, and a high minaret built with marble.