by Gulrukh Tausif

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2010

Travel destinations: Islamabad, Pakistan

An American diplomat stationed here once described Islamabad as a place “the size of a Washington cemetery and twice as dead.” This unflattering description stuck for many decades but then the city developers decided to take advantage of the natural scenic beauty that the city is blessed with and use it to attract tourism. Today, Islamabad has shed its reputation as a slumberous little town and is a burgeoning tourist hub with many wonderful tourist spots.

♣ Faisal Mosque:

Sightseeing in Islamabad should surely start with a visit to the Faisal Mosque, a grand architectural landmark at the north end of Faisal Avenue. Due to its elevated position, the mosque is visible from miles around. Its location is extremely picturesque as it has the very green Margalla hills as its backdrop. I have visited the mosque several times and have always been awestruck not only by its grandeur and size but also by the scenic beauty of its placement. As every Pakistani who has ever watched azan-e-Isha on PTV is well aware, the main hall of the mosque has a spectacular chandelier and the walls are decorated with mosaics and Quranic calligraphy. Too bad it is off limits for tourists as the doors of main hall remain firmly shut outside prayer times. But still one can easily spend hours in the open courtyards of the mosque to take in beauty of the surroundings and splendor of its magnitude.

♣ The Monal at Pir Sohawa:

The Monal is the most popular tourist spot in Islamabad right now. Named after an exotic pheasant bird, the resort certainly lives up to its namesake. It offers its visitors a unique blend of terraced seating arrangement, good food, live music, and an unparalleled view of Islamabad. The view alone is worth the steep upward drive which can test the durability of your car brakes and prowess of the person behind the wheels. The good news is that the twining road is in excellent condition and well lit at night. Located in Pir Sohawa, at the very edge the hillside, Monal is about 5000 ft above sea level offering crisp mountain air mingled with the smoky aroma of barbeque being grilled.  The place is extremely popular among Islooites and foreigners alike especially after sunset. Visitors throng the place to savour the serenity of the Margalla hills and enjoy a breathtaking bird's eye view of the city as it glitters in the dark nights.

♣ Daman-e-Koh:

Daman-e-koh is also a scenic tourist spot developed

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