Shah Allah Ditta Caves
شاہ اللہ دتہ غاریں
Ancient caves at the foot of the Margalla Hills, said to be over 2,000 years old. They were once meditation caves for Buddhist monks and are surrounded by towering old banyan trees.
Shah Allah Ditta Caves lie beside the village of the same name on the western outskirts of Islamabad. The rock walls contain several caves believed to date from the Buddhist period, and faint traces of murals can be seen inside. They were later used by Hindu and Islamic ascetics. The surroundings include huge ancient banyan trees, Mughal-era water tanks and remnants of an old road, and the atmosphere is serene. Entry is free and visitors are few. It is about 30 minutes by taxi from the city centre and pairs well with a visit to Taxila on the same day.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Jaulian Monastery
- Golra Sharif Railway Museum
- Golra Sharif Shrine
- Dharmarajika Stupa
- Khanpur Dam
- Sirkap
- Taxila Museum
- Faisal Mosque