Islamabad

Pakistan's green capital, home to Faisal Mosque and the Margalla Hills trails, with the UNESCO-listed Gandharan ruins of Taxila close by.

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, set on the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The city was laid out on a grid in the 1960s, with sectors named by letters and numbers such as F-6 and E-7. It is leafy, fairly clean and quiet, and to the south it merges with historic Rawalpindi; together the two are known as the "Twin Cities". The main sights fall into three groups: first, Faisal Mosque, Saidpur Village and Margalla Hills National Park in the north of the city, where you can hike Trail 3 or head up to the viewpoints at Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa; second, the Pakistan Monument and the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum around Shakarparian, plus Rawal Lake; third, day trips into the surroundings: the UNESCO-listed Gandharan ruins of Taxila about 35 km west, the hill stations of Murree, Patriata and Nathia Gali to the northeast, and Rohtas Fort about 110 km south. Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov are the most pleasant months; May–Jun is hot, Jul–Aug is monsoon season, and the hills get snow in winter. Allow 3–4 days. Islamabad International Airport has flights to several cities in China. Check the Foreign Ministry's safety advisories before you go; dress conservatively when visiting religious sites, and women should ideally wear a headscarf.

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