Lahore to Lahore hai, but what about Islamabad?

Faisal Mosque

A warm cup of tea, a gentle cool breeze grazing past your skin, the pitter patter of raindrops beginning to land on your window from the dazzling clouds that seem to change color every time you look at them. That’s a normal day in Islamabad.

Construction began in the 1960’s with Islamabad now being ranked as a Gamma world city. Located ideally between the foothills of the gorgeous Himalaya mountain range and Rawal Lake, this scenic and peaceful city holds a diverse set of natural attributes that few other cities in Pakistan may boast about.  Sweet water streams riddle the Margalla hills along with its famous trekking tracks. The hills also happen to house the 82 acre Islamabad Zoo and family recreational area at its very base. Rawal Lake houses facilities for sports lovers from all ends of the spectrum, with everything from extreme water sports to fishing alongside ATV’s and paintballing. No matter what your taste, Islamabad is sure to deliver.

National Monument

Islamabad may easily be called the heart of this warm and culturally diverse nation.  With people from every corner of the country calling Islamabad their home, a taste from every corner, every culture of Pakistan lays awaiting discovery. Home to Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Saidpur Village, the capital holds a vast array of architecture spanning from modern Islamic, traditional Sub continental to British Colonial. The proud home of the Faisal Mosque, a wonder of architecture ranked the 6^th largest mosque in the entire world, the capital pays homage to the nations’ history with the Pakistan monument which is a must visit when in the city. Housing various technological parks, the headquarters of all major communication operators, the major top ranked Universities of the country and the third largest stock exchange and airport in the nation, the city is second to none in terms of technological advancement mixed with the warmth and courtesy that is inherent to Pakistanis, making every time you visit, seem like you’re coming home.

Located on the Potohar plateau, the region is believed to be one of earliest human inhabitation sites in all of Asia, with ancient artifacts dating from 100,000-500,000 years ago being discovered in the cities outskirts. Excavations around the Soan River have provided evidence of inhabitation all the way back to 5000 BC. The armies of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane and Ahmad Shah Durrani all passed through the area leaving behind their traces on their conquests of the Indian Subcontinent. Forts, temples, pagodas and shrines are located all over the plateau within driving range, the historical richness of the city and its outskirts are nothing less than a treasure trove for those who value history. Last controlled by the British who made Asia’s largest cantonment in the region before Pakistan gained it’s independence, tinges of British architecture may easily be seen in the twin city of Rawalpindi, located at a 15 minute drive away from the capital.

National Art Gallery

If it’s a quiet evening that one’s in the mood for, the central Fatima Jinnah Park never disappoints. With biking and jogging tracks incorporated throughout the immense Park consisting of an entire sector, a peaceful walk or biking in the cool breeze that is ever present in the city, never seems to lose it’s charm. A cup of coffee sitting in the veranda of Gloria Jeans, watching the sun go down over the mountains in the distance with the aroma of barbeque sizzling in the air, is all one needs at the end of a long hard day to unwind.

Islamabad, the capital of a nation of 117 million, is perhaps the most diverse and versatile city of Pakistan, being both peaceful and entertaining. The combination of the scenic beauty coupled with it’s modernism goes hand in hand with the warmth and kindness of it’s inhabitants. A second home to all those who have had the chance to visit, Islamabad’s beauty, both in terms of the land and people,  will surely make a place in anyone’s heart and keep it long after they have gone.

Serena Hotel

 [Note: This post was originally written for a NUST Science Society event.]