Islamabad is a green, planned city at the foot of the Margalla Hills, with Faisal Mosque, hiking trails and the best base for travel to the north.
Islamabad was built in the 1960s, and it is the least typical city in Pakistan: orderly, tree-lined and calm. The Faisal Mosque, with its tent-like shape, was completed in 1986 and is one of the largest mosques in the world. The Margalla Hills National Park, on the city edge, has trails from short strolls to half-day hikes.
Administratively, Islamabad is a separate Capital Territory, but we list it here because it sits on Punjab's Potohar plateau and is where most itineraries start.
Highlights
- Faisal Mosque
- Daman-e-Koh viewpoint
- Saidpur Village
- Lok Virsa heritage museum
