 Rapidly
developing into a
large modern city,
Rawalpindi has many
good hotels,
restaurants, clubs,
museums,
playgrounds, and
many parks, of which
the largest is Ayub
National Park.
Rawalpindi is the
nearest major city
for the holiday
resorts and hill
stations of the
Galiyat area, such
as Murree, Nathia
Gali, and Ayubia. It
is also a common
starting point for
tourists visiting
Abbottabad, Swat,
Kaghan, Gilgit,
Hunza, Skardu and
Chitral. The best
way to see
Rawalpindi is by
wandering through
its bazaars, but you
should orient
yourself before
setting out. The
city has two main
roads: the Grand
Trunk Road runs
roughly from east to
west and is known as
The Mall as it
passes through the
cantonment; Murree
Road breaks north
from The Mall,
crosses the railway
and brushes the east
end of the old city
on its way to
Islamabad. the two
main bazaar areas
are Raja Bazaar in
the old city and
Saddar Bazaar, which
developed as the
cantonment bazaar
between the old city
and the Mall.
The crowded alleys
of the old city are
home to many
attractions,
including Hindu and
Sikh temples, Muslim
shrines, and the
headquarters of
Pakistani hijrah
(transvestite)
community, said to
be led by an elected
queen. Their
presence at births
and weddings is an
accepted tradition
in Pakistan, as it
is in India.
Rawalpindi has been
know as military
city since colonial
times and therefore
still remained Army
HQ after
independence in
1947. Due to this
also present in
Rawalpindi is the
Pakistan Army
Museum, providing an
interesting
experience about
warfare in the short
history of modern
Pakistan and the
pre-independence
colonial era.
Ayub National Park
is located beyond
the old Presidency
on Jhelum Road. It
covers an area of
about 2,300 acres
(9.3 km˛) and has a
play-land, lake with
boating facility, an
aquarium and a
garden-restaurant.
Rawalpindi Public
Park is located on
Murree Road near
Shamsabad. The Park
was opened for
public in 1991. It
has a playland for
children, grassy
lawns, fountains and
flower beds.
Rawalpindi cricket
stadium, built in
1992, has a grass
pitch, floodlights,
and a capacity of
15,000. The home
team is the
Rawalpindi Cricket
Association.Also
located in the city
is Rawalpindi Hockey
stadium. This small
but well built
facility plays host
to the national side
throughout the year.
Rawat Fort is
located 17 km east
of Rawalpindi, on
the Grand Trunk (G.T)
Road leading to
Lahore. Gakhars, a
fiercely independent
tribe of the Potwar
Plateau built the
fort, in early 16th
century. The grave
of a Gakhar Chief,
Sultan Sarang Khan
is located inside
the fort. He died in
1546 AD fighting
against the forces
of Sher Shah Suri.
If one dares to
climb the broken
steps inside the
tomb, one may get a
panoramic view of
the plateau and the
Mankiala
Stupa.Besides Rawat,
about an hours drive
from Rawalpindi on
the grand trunk road
towards the city of
Peshawar is Attock
Fort. This
impressive fort is
 easily visible and
located near the
Shrine 'Hazrat Jee
Sahib', the
tradition burial
grounds for the 'Bati'
Family of the
Paracha clan from
the near by
(deserted) village
of 'Malahi Tola'.
Sadly this
impressive Akbari
fort is not open to
the public as it is
in active military
use.
Pharwala Fort is
about 40 km from
Rawalpindi beyond
Lehtrar road. It is
a Gakhar fort built
it in 15th century
on the ruins of a
10th century Hindi
Shahi Fort. Emperor
Babur conquered the
fort in 1519 AD.
Later, in 1825,
Sikhs expelled
Gakhars from this
fort. Though the
fort is in a
crumbling state, it
is still an
attraction for
castle lovers. The
fort, being situated
in prohibited area,
is only open for
Pakistani visitors.
Rohtas Fort, a
UNESCO World
Heritage Site, is
109 km from
Rawalpindi. It is
located about 6 km
south-west of Dina
Town. Going from
Rawalpindi/Islamabad,
you have to turn
right from G.T. Road
to a narrow road
just before Dina
Police Station and
then go left until
you find the dry bed
of Kahan River. The
fort is visible from
this point. However,
you have to cross
the river to reach
it. During rainy
season, you need a
four-wheel-drive to
cross the river. The
fort is one of the
most impressive
historical monuments
in Pakistan. It was
built by Afghan
ruler Sher Shah Suri,
between 1540 and
1547 AD. It served
as a huge fortified
base for military
operations against
Gakhars by Sher Shah
Suri. It was later
used by Mughal
emperor Akbar and
Sikhs. Within the
huge terraced
rampart walls with
robust bastions and
twelve gates, is
located another
fortress, palaces
and ancillary
buildings. |
