ENVIRONMENT / LIFESTYLE / TOURISM  0

14 Best Places to Visit in Islamabad

BY AHBLOG · PUBLISHED JUNE 4, 2021 · UPDATED FEBRUARY 26,
2024

Speaking of Pakistan specifically, when it comes to

tourism, Islamabad has the best tourist places in
the country. Islamabad is the second most
beautiful capital in the world and has lots of
famous places to visit in Islamabad. The city is lush
green, astonishingly attractive, and the beautiful
capital of the country and offers heartbreaking
views of the mountains. Apart from this, the city is
also packed with lots of tasty restaurants,
impressive hotels, fun shopping malls, historic
places, and interesting sightseeing areas. In
addition to that, the capital is rich for having the
top colleges, best schools, top housing societies,
real estate companies, and universities in
Islamabad.

If you are in a search of a place that can offer you

exceptional recreational activities at affordable
pricing? We are here to help you.

Now, let’s get started with the history and culture of

Islamabad.

History & Culture of Islamabad

Islamabad means the “City of Islam” and is located

on Pothohar Plateau on the northern side of the
Punjab region. It has a population of almost
1,129,000 and is known for the most historical and
best Islamabad picnic points. Weather-wise, the
city has a humid subtropical climate including four
seasons: summer, winter, spring, and autumn. And
the good thing is that you can enjoy all weather
and try outdoor activities since there are several
parks in Islamabad. Normally, the people will tell
you that there is one more season in this city, called
the rainy monsoon season. Islamabad’s weather is
highly unpredictable and can change at any time.
Combined with the weather and its amazing spots,
it makes for an interesting place to be. You can
also read about best shopping malls in Islamabad.

Here is a compiled list of all the picnic spots and

Islamabad beautiful places to visit.

List of Top 14 Places to visit in

Islamabad:
Name Location Established
Year

Garden Avenue،
1. Lok Virsa
Shakarparian Rd, Islamabad, 1974
Museum
Islamabad Capital Territory

Shakarparian Hills، Srinagar

2. Pakistan
Hwy, Islamabad, Islamabad 2007
Monument
Capital Territory

Shah Faisal Ave, E-8,

3. Faisal
Islamabad, Islamabad 1986
Mosque
Capital Territory 44000

4.
Margalla Hills, Islamabad
Margalla ———
Capital Territory 44000
Hills

5. Neela Nila Sandh, Rawalpindi,

———
Sandh Punjab

Murree Rd, LAKE VIEW PARK,

6. Lake
Islamabad, Islamabad 2010
View Park
Capital Territory 49510

Daman -e- Koh Rd, E-7,

7. Daman-
Islamabad, Islamabad ———
e-Koh
Capital Territory 44000

8. Saidpur Saidpur, Islamabad,

———
Village Islamabad Capital Territory

9. Local
——— ———
Bazaars

10. Food
——— ———
Places

11. Korang
River Korang Banigala Islamabad ———
Banigala

Main Grand Trunk Rd, Defense

12. Giga
Housing Authority Sector F 2016
Mall
DHA Phase II, Islamabad

13. The 9KM Pir Sohawa Road,

2006
Monal Islamabad

14. The
4 Jinnah Avenue, F 8/4 F-8,
Centaurus 2015
Islamabad
Mall

1. Lok Virsa Museum

Lok Virsa is the best heritage museum of

Islamabad, located 5.2 km away from Shakarparian
Road. Spanning over a total area of (20,000) sqft., it
was established in 1982 and is currently being
managed by the Lok Virsa – National Institute of
Folk & Traditional Heritage. The main purpose of the
museum is to represent the traditions and culture
of Pakistan. There are a variety of cultural items in
the museum including pictures, statues, pottery,
textile work, and music. Apart from this, it also
consists of a library that has a tremendous
collection of books about culture, history, folklore,
ethnicities, and traditions. It’s also famous for
hosting exhibitions to present antique jewelry, shiny
metalwork, block printing, stunning woodwork, bone
work, and horn products. Lok Virsa is the best place
to visit as it is listed as the top historical places in
Islamabad.

2. Pakistan Monument

It’s also a heritage museum, like Lok Virsa, located

in Islamabad. Its construction started in May 2004
and by 23 March 2007, it was completed and
inaugurated by General Pervez Musharaf – the
president of Pakistan at the time. It covers a total
area of 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) with a state-of-
the-art design that represents Mughal architecture.
It has a petal-shaped structure that looks like a star
and crescent moon from above the two things in
the country’s flag. It is also a popular destination for
tourists and locals alike, who want to learn more
about the history and culture of Pakistan. If you are
planning to visit Islamabad, you might want to
check out some of the best real estate companies
in Islamabad that can help you find a suitable
accommodation near this amazing attraction.

The Pakistan monument consists of a wax museum,

audio-visual archive, reference library, conference
hall with a capacity of 62-seats, and an auditorium
known as Panorama Hall. If you are looking for
Islamabad beautiful places, Pakistan monuments
should be on the top of your list. You can also read
about northern areas of Pakistan

3. Faisal Mosque

Faisal Mosque is the epitome of Islamic

architecture that is located in the foothills of the
Margalla Hills. Faisal mosque is located a few
minutes away from PIMS, one of the best
government hospitals in Islamabad. The mosque
consists of eight sides of concrete shell-shaped
sloping roofs, creating a triangular prayer hall that
can contain 10,000 persons at one time. The
construction of the mosque started in 1976 and was
completed by 1986, at a construction cost of US 120
million. It has 4 minarets; each of height almost 90
m (300 ft). It covers a total area of 1,400,000 sq. f.t
with an influential piece of Islamic architecture.
Globally, it is listed as the fifth-largest mosque and
the largest one in the entire Asia region. It is one of
the best place in list of Islamabad famous places.
Get to know about Schools in Islamabad.

4. Margalla Hills

Margalla Hills is a part of the Himalayas range,

located on the stunning north side of Islamabad.
It’s a picture-perfect place that is a must-visit
location point for tourists and travelers. It has picnic
points, viewpoints, trails, and restaurants that
attract everyone to come and enjoy nature. This
range is home to many birds, including laggard
falcons, peregrine falcon, robins, sparrows, shrikes,
kites, crows, Indian sparrow hawk, larks, paradise
flycatchers, black partridge, pheasants, spotted
doves, Egyptian vultures, falcons, hawks, eagles,
Himalayan griffon vulture, kestrel, white-cheeked
bulbul, etc. Therefore, for all the bird lovers, it’s the
perfect place. You can also read about housing
societies in Islamabad.

5. Neela Sandh (Waterfall)

Islamabad has beautiful waterfalls besides hills,

scenic views, and contemporary infrastructure. One
of the most famous waterfalls in Islamabad is
Neela Sandh. It’s a waterfall located at mouri
syedan and almost 40 kilometers away from
Islamabad. It gives a stunning view with the
surroundings of tall trees, greenery, and lush green
mountains. As its name, Neela Sandh has blue
crystal water that shines like pearls in the daylight
and gives the waterfall a stunning view. The most
mesmerizing part of it is the dripping water from
the top. If you are thinking about the best places to
visit near Islamabad, Neela Sandh is one of the best
options to choose in list of Islamabad famous
places. You can also read about the best hill
stations in Pakistan.

6. Lake View Park

Easily approachable from Murree Road and

located at the edge of Kashmir Highway and
combined with Rawal Lake; this park is known to be
one of the best Islamabad outing places. Rawal
Dam is also a picnic spot and one of the most
famous and visited dams in Pakistan.

The best thing about Lake View Park is the

dedicated BBQ spaces, where you and your family
or friends can throw a BBQ party and enjoy the
stunning view at night with taste. Besides all this, it’s
the perfect place for the kids as there are a lot of
swings and other amenities in the park including
passenger road train, paintball battlefield, boating
arena, motorsports ranch, horse riding mobs, ibex
club, rock climbing gym, and motorsports ranch. All
of the above amenities make this park one of the
best places to visit in Islamabad. If you are
planning to visit Islamabad, read our blog on Hotels
in Islamabad for accommodation.

7. Daman-e-Koh

Daman-e-Koh is a hilltop garden located in the

heart of Margalla hills. It’s about 2400ft from sea
level and 500ft from the capital. It’s the highest
point from where you can see the whole city. It’s
also a stay point for the tourists on their way to Pir
Sohawa. You can also enjoy the scenic view of the
Faisal Mosque from the top of Daman-e-Koh. In
2007, it was further developed by the Capital
Development Authority to offer more facilities and
convenience to visitors. If you are fond of a quiet
and peaceful environment, you must visit this
amazing point to see the capital of Pakistan in one
frame and to enjoy the silence of nature. Get to
know about Provinces of Pakistan.

8. Saidpur Village

Islamabad has many beautiful places but Saidpur

is one of its kind. The community has been
renamed an ‘Arts and Craft Village,’ with the goal of
preserving its centuries-old cultural history. It does
go through encouraging tourism in the region in
order to highlight how locals used to live and still
do! If you get the opportunity to visit the village, you
will notice the stark difference between the rush
and bustle of modern-day life in Islamabad and
the town’s ancient historical way of life. There are
two temples in the village that are over 200 years
old. A gorgeous yellow Sikh shrine and a Hindu
temple are among them. The village’s cultural
mixtures have been retained in extraordinary
shape, much as the structures. The village’s
architecture represents the fading relics of four
main civilisations: Gandhara, Ashoka, Mughal, and
Greek. Personally, I enjoy the variety of events that
the community provides on a regular basis. The
residents are also quite kind to any visitors that
come to see them. Many people go for a hike or to
look at the oldest clay-model of train in Islamabad
which was of pre-partition time period. Giving the
entire thing a terrific finishing touch. In the
suburban village of Saidpur on the outskirts of
Islamabad, there is a 120-year-old handmade clay
train. In 1901, Lal Mohammad Khan made this steam
engine model of a train using clay with his bare
hands which still stands today. Saidpur Village is
without a doubt one of the most gorgeous spots to
visit in Islamabad!Islamabad, as I mentioned at the
beginning of this article, offers a plethora of
amazing things to see and do! Also get to know
about real estate companies in Pakistan.

9. Local Bazaars

Islamabad is a city with sectors dividing residential

and community areas. Each sector, phase, or town
has its commercial areas that are known as the
markets or in common language bazaars. The
main purposes of these markets are to provide the
necessities of our daily life. However, some of the
bazaars have taken more popularity in a very short
time as the residents of the city are foodies and
love shopping. Therefore, a lot of markets like Super
Market – Sector F-6, Aabpara Market – Sector G-6,
Karachi Company – Sector G-9, Jinnah Super
Market – Sector F-7, and Sunday Market – Sectors
G-11, H-9 are the point of shopping for the
community of Islamabad. These markets are the
most crowded areas and top places in the city.
Looking for more fascinating content? Check out
historical places in Pakistan.

10. Food Places

Amazing scrumptious food places like Kohsar

Market or Jungle Spot or 1969 or F7 Markaz provide
a hub of delicious restaurants in Islamabad. With
top of the line food and unparalleled taste in
Islamabad outing places. From desi to Chinese to
continental, all these food places in Islamabad
provide the most comfortable environment. You will
find a great soothing ambiance in Islamabad, with
lush green Margalla Hills and rivers flowing by. The
restaurants have steaks, thai food and
mouthwatering cheesy burgers. A markaz is
essentially a sector’s commercial district, where
anything from stores to marketplaces to food may
be found. Almost every neighbourhood in
Islamabad has its own markaz, so you can just go
to the one nearest to your hotel. Islamabad’s
markets are teeming with real eateries and street
food, and they’re open 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. You can also read about famous
restaurants in islamabad.

11. Korang River Banigala

Bani Gala is a beautiful locality in Islamabad, that

harbours some of the wide ranging hills and river. It
is also close to Rawal and Simli dam. The Korang
River is a watercourse in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
It rises in the Murree Hills and flows south to
Islamabad. The artificial Rawal Lake in Islamabad
was created by combining the Korang Stream with
a few other tiny streams flowing from the Margalla
Hills. Rawal Dam’s outflow stream is the Korang
River. Korang river also has a number of fish
Between Korang Town and Judicial Colony, this
creek crosses the Islamabad Express Highway. The
landscape of this stream is stunning, and the Loi
Bhair Wildlife Safari Park is situated on the lovely left
bank of the Korang Stream. Before reaching the
Grand Trunk Road, this creek enters the Soan River.
Now a huge cricket ground is also under process in
Bani Gala, near to the river. Some of the most
Islamabad beautiful places are Banigala. Also
check out best Museums in Pakistan.

12. Giga Mall

Visit Giga Mall Islamabad for a pleasant shopping

excursion with the family or to see a movie at the
Giga Mall cinepax. There are over 200 national and
international brands to choose from. Giga Mall
Islamabad has altered the shopping experience of
millions of customers each year since it first
opened its doors in 2016. Giga Mall, a national and
international leader in entertainment, retail, and
attractions, is one of the most popular tourist sites
in the country. One of the largest malls in
Islamabad that was launched on 22 March 2016. It
is constructed at a total area of 4 acres. The Giga
Group was founded by Haji Abdul Rahim Giga
Pardesi in 1956. It has many brands, cinema and
food court. It has a spacious car parking space.
Facility of Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and toilets is also
available. It has 16 floors, being one of the famous
places in Islamabad. You can also read about
Cafes in Islamabad.

13. The Monal

The Monal Restaurant Islamabad is a benchmark

project of Monal Group of Companies. It was
established in 2006 and since then Monal has been
the priority of visitors to sit and dine among the
attractive sceneries. It is located at 9KM Pir Sohawa
Road, Islamabad.

Monal is one of the famous Islamabad places to

visit. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor
dining facilities to its guest with an exclusive view of
the capital city Islamabad from the top of Margalla
Hills.

However, Monal Peshawar is also one of the

famous places to visit in Peshawar, but the
Islamabad branch has more attraction as it is
located amid breathtaking views of Margalla Hills.
The opening and closing timings of the restaurant
are 9 am to 12:30 am.

14. The Centaurus Mall

The Centaurus Mall has become an identity and

landmark of the Islamabad. Currently, it is the best
and famous shopping mall in the capital city. The
Mall is located in at 4 Jinnah Avenue, F 8/4 F-8,
Islamabad. Situated in a prime business hub of
Islamabad, the Centaurus Mall promotes lucrative
business ideas in Pakistan.

The construction work on The Centaurus Mall was

started in 2006, and completed in 2015 at the cost
of PKR 15 billion. Moreover, the Mall is one of the
most beautiful and attractive infrastructures in
Islamabad due to its unique and fancy design. It
consist of a 4-story shopping mall hosting national
and international brands outlets of cloth,
cosmetics, shoes, and food; and also a cinema is
there for entertainment of the visitors. The two
residential towers, a 5-star hotel, and a corporate
tower add more to the importance of the
Centaurus Mall making it one of the best places to
visit in Islamabad.

Summing Up:
So this was the list of top picks of the best places in
Islamabad. If you are planning to visit Islamabad,
these all places should be on your list. Visit these
amazing places in Islamabad and let us know what
your reviews are about any of them. If you are a
resident of Islamabad you must read our blog
about the famous Picnic spots in Islamabad.

FAQs
What is the Specialty of
Islamabad?
The Specialty of Islamabad is that it is one of the
most beautiful capitals in the world. It host many
attractive and historical places.

What is the special places of

Islamabad?
There are various special places in Islamabad
depend on your mood and priority. If you love
nature, you can visit Margalla Hills, and if you want
to see an epitome of infrastructure, you can visit
the Centaurus.

Read more related blogs:

Mountain Ranges in Pakistan
Online Shopping Websites in Pakistan
Deserts of Pakistan
Tourism Companies in Pakistan
Swimming Pools in Islamabad

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