Islamabad is a
relatively young
city compared to the
other cities.
However, the views
from the sculpted
gardens of
Islamabad's Shakar
Parian Hills, the
fascinating Heritage
Museum, and the huge
marble Shah Faisal
Mosque are the major
highlights of the
modern city. To the
west of Islamabad is
the town of Taxila,
dating from 500 BC
with heavy Buddhist
and Sikh(home to a
shrine, among the
most important in
the Sikh faith)
influences.
Sculptures here show
a strong Greek
influence, a result
of Alexander the
Great's journey
through the region.
The commercial
center of Islamabad
is known as the Blue
Area and runs along
the length of Jinnah
Avenue. Its eastern
end runs into
Parliament Road,
where the majority
of government
buildings are
located.
The city is very
green, with much
afforestation of
what was formerly
scrub forest and
open ground. The
city's pleasant
climate has enabled
the introduction of
many exotic plants
into the area. There
is also much
wildlife in the
north in the
Margalla hills,
which have been
turned into a
national park.
Islamabad's
architecture walks a
tight-rope between
modernity and
tradition. The
Saudi-Pak Tower is a
good example of the
combination of
modern and
traditional styles
into one building.
The city is also
home to the Faisal
Mosque, which is
well-known for its
architecture and
immense size.
Quaid-i-Azam
University is also
located in the
capital city along
with numerous
government buildings
and foreign
embassies such as
the National
Assembly building,
the Supreme Court
building, the
President's official
residence (Aiwan-e-Sadr)
and the Prime
Minister's
secretariat. Another
landmark is a giant
silver-colored Globe
statue, installed in
2004 to mark
Pakistan's hosting
of that year's SAARC
Summit. Recently,
Atkins UK have
designed a striking
building for the
capital, the
Centaurus,
reflecting the
margalla hills
surrounding it. Not
only will this be
the tallest and most
impressive structure
in Islamabad, second
only to proposed
taller skyscrapers
in Karachi and
Lahore, but will
also truly put
Pakistan's beautiful
capital city on the
global architectural
map.
General
- Margalla hills
- Islamabad Zoo
- Shaker Parrian
- Rawal Lake
- Murree Hills
Museums
- Pakistan
Museum of Natural
History
- Islamabad
Museum
- Lok Virsa
Museum
- Pakistan Army
Museum(Rawalpindi)
- Museum of
Pakistan
Mosques and
Shrines
- Shah Faisal
Mosque
- Daman-e-Koh
- Golra Sharif
- Bari Maam
- Panja Sahib
(Taxila)
Government
Buildings
- Supreme Court
of Pakistan
- National
Parliament of
Pakistan
- President's
official residence
(Aiwan-e-Sadr)
- Prime
Minister's
Secretariat
Parks
- Fatima Jinnah
Park
- Rose and
Jasmine Garden
- Lotus Lake
- Japanese Park
- Chattar Bagh
Main Markets
- Chinatown
- Jinnah Super
Market
- Abpara
- Karachi
Company/G-9 Markaz
- Super Market
- Sitara Market
- Blue Area
- Peshawar Moore
- G-10 Markaz
- G-11 Markaz
- F-10 Markaz
- F-11 Markaz
- G-8 Markaz
-mainly second
hand automobiles
market
- I-8 Markaz
- I-9 Markaz
- I-10 Markaz
- I-11 Markaz
Sporting
facilities
- Jinnah Sports
Complex
- Liaquat
Gymnasium
- Margalla
cricket Ground
- Rawalpindi
cricket stadium
- Islamabad club
golf course
- Yachting
facility at Rawal
lake
- Islamabad club
tennis courts
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