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Guide to Islamabad, Pakistan
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Islamabad
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Islamabad Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is a city established on lush greenery and rolling hills. Its twin city, Rawalpindi, is its so-called twin, where you will find frenetic drivers traveling slowly through the gridlock of the citys streets; Islamabad is somewhat the opposite. Its landscape is serene, spacious, and peaceful. You can visit a number of lakes with the beautiful hills of Pakistan as their backdrop. Though Rawalpindi seems to be the busier of the two, Islamabad is home to all the important public and governmental buildings, including numerous embassies which are why youll notice the large number of travelers coming into Islamabad and leaving frequently. But as you know now, Islamabad is the real jewel of the two, and offers an amazing mixture of picturesque views and culturally rich institutions. Islamabad is a modern city as well, founded in 1966, and has all the essentials to a wonderful experience for todays traveler.
When to go:
Islamabad experience quite beautiful weather throughout much of the year, though you might want to take some precaution in choosing the time of year for your trip. If you travel during early summer (June-July), you will hit immense heat, and itll drain the excitement right out of you. Winters are wonderfully cool, and you run into the least amount of rainfall. Late spring and late autumn are ideally temperate, and rainfall is quite low as well. Generally, if you avoid summer, youre bound to have a great experience in Islamabad.
Getting there and around:
Your flight will be arriving at Islamabad Airport, which a benefit to you is not too far from the city. Traveling into the city is a piece of cake, with transportation offered by buses and taxis. You can rent a car, and - take it from us - if youre planning on sight-seeing in the outer reaches of Islamabad, youre going to need your own set of wheels.
If youre planning on enjoying the inner city region of Islamabad during much of your visit, you can travel by taxi most of the time. Buses are available, though its not very convenient to have to abide by the scheduling. Take a taxi, and youll be quickly on your way.
Attractions:
Visit the Shah Faisal Mosque, where youll be amazed at the size and splendor of a building with such beautiful architecture. The Shah Faisal Mosque was designed by a Turkish architect as a tribute to the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The Mosque holds minarets which jut up towards the sky for 90 meters, and has an incredibly expansive prayer hall (one of the largest in the world) which can fit 10,000 people. Its outdoor (covered) areas can hold even more for significant events & occasions on the Muslim calendar.
The Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif is another beautiful place to visit, and was built on the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb to commemorate the Bari Imam. The anniversary of this figures death is remembered by festivities running throughout the first week in May. When you arrive, youll notice the beautiful backdrop of Pakistans hills. Another shrine worth noting is the Shrine of Syed Meher Ali Shah, where a mausoleum complete with dome and tall marble minaret stands.
Islamabads Rose & Jasmine Garden is fantastically beautiful site to visit, where youll encounter over 250 varieties of roses, and more than a dozen types of jasmine. Flower shows are held here through the year, especially in the spring.
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