the bustling city of RAWALPINDI
Rawalpindi and Pakistan's capital Islamabad are jointly known as the "twin cities". Rawalpindi is located on the Pothohar Plateau, known for its ancient Buddhist heritage, especially in the neighbouring town of Taxila – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a gateway for northern Pakistan. The city is a home to historic havelis and temples, and serves as a hub for tourists visiting Rohtas Fort, Azad Kashmir, Taxila and Gilgit-Baltistan. Rawalpindi falls within the ancient boundaries of Gandhara and is in a region littered with Buddhist ruins.
Christ Church Rawalpindi
The Christ Church Rawalpindi was built in 1852 in the Gothic style. The church is considered among the oldest buildings in Rawalpindi.
Golra Sharif- Peer Meher Ali Shah
The Shrine of Meher Ali Shah is a 20th-century Sufi shrine that serves as the tomb of the Peer Meher Ali Shah.
Rawalpindi Railway Station 1881
Rawalpindi Railway station was opened in 1881, during construction of the Punjab Northern State Railway which began in 1870.
Rawal Lake
Located in the southeast of Islamabad, Lake Raval is a large lake with stunning natural views. Boating facility is available.
Sujan Singh Haveli is situated in the narrow old streets of Bhabra Bazaar. It was the outstanding creation of Rai Bahadar Sujan Singh who was a renowned businessman and well-known personality of Rawalpindi in 1890. Its construction started in 1890 and was completed in 1893. It was built on 24,000 square feet comprising 45 rooms including four big hall-like rooms lit in the evenings by huge lamps and chandeliers. This Haveli has two portions and has been attached with each other with small bridge (Chatti) and a narrow street passes under it. The two buildings were named as Sujan Singh and Manmohan Singh Haveli. The Haveli walls were specially decorated with antiques, Victorian furniture and a multitude of silver and gold-ware. The walls were bedecked with pictures of Rai Bahadur’s family. The four-storey building is divided into two parts on either side of the street and a steel-supported bridge connects both of them. The bridge is tastefully decorated with wood carved with artistic work on the roof, floors and windows that is simply marvellous.
Hidden Treasures of Rawalpindi
Sangni Fort: A remnant of the Mughal era
The Sangni Fort, perched on a picturesque location overlooking two rivulets, is most spectacular.
Shrine of saint Sahibzada Abdul Hakim built in 1993.
Located inside the fort is a shrine of Abdul Hakeem. He is believed to have come from Arabia via Iran to preach in the area.
Ruins of Pharwala Fort
Pharwala Fort is located in the Kahuta district which is about 40 KM from the city of Rawalpindi.
Pharwala Haati (Elephant) Gate
In 1519, Fort was briefly under the control of Mughal Emperor Babur, However It was returned to the Gakhars
Attock Fort: The Stronghold on the River
The Fort was strategically made in typical Mughal architecture, with the river on one side and the harsh jungle on the other.
The 150-year-old Poonch House
The 150-year-old Poonch House standing in the heart of Rawalpindi has served as a rest house for kings and princes (DAWN)
Wonderful historical monuments, Narali, Gujar Khan
Located about four kilometers north of Daultala town, the village houses a temple of Radhe Sham, including a water tank, more commonly known as the Narali Pond, and multiple Sikh and Hindu havelis. (Published in DAWN)
The Radhe Sham Temple & Water Tank
The Radhe Sham Temple is noted for being the tallest temple in Potohar.The Narali Pond is styled in ancient masonry.A huge water tank was built by Harnam Singh, in memory of his father Teja Singh and his uncle Sant Sahib Singh in 1929” (DAWN)
Babay Da Mehal: The Sikh palace of Kallar Syedan
‘Babay Da Mehal’, is the popular name for the ‘Bedi Palace’, built by Baba Khem Singh Bedi in the late 19th century. (DAWN)
The Shri Krishna Temple (1897)
The 150-year-old Poonch House standing in the heart of Rawalpindi has served as a rest house for kings and princes (DAWN)
Tench Bhatta, Oldest area in Rawalpindi
Oldest arean Rawalpindi ,Pakistan and one of the longest markets in continent Asia.
Over two centuries old: Bhabra Bazaar
The word ‘Bhabra’ derives from Sanskrit, indicating a merchant community belonging to Jain religion.
FAISAL MOSQUE ISLAMABAD
The eye-popping Shah Faisal Mosque 2nd largest mosque in the world reflects an eclectic blend of ultramodern and traditional architectural design styles
Faisal Mosque Islamabad
It is the sixth-largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of Margalla Hills
Murree the Queen of Mountains
Murree is a mountain resort town, located in the Galyat region of the Pir Panjal Range,
Taxila Museum
The museum is home to a significant and comprehensive collection of Gandharan art dating from the 1st to the 7th centuries CE.
Narar-Kotli Sattian
Nestled between the pine trees at 1,980 feet in the Himalayas, the 117-year-old Narar Forest Rest House
Rawalpindi Parks
Rawalpindi is famous for its beautiful parks. Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres and has a playland, lake with boating facility, an aquarium and a garden-restaurant. In 2008 Jinnah Park was inaugurated at the heart of Rawalpindi and has since become a hotspot of activity for the city. Liaquat Bagh, formerly known as the “company bagh” (East India Company’s Garden), is of great historical interest. The first prime minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated here in 1950.
SIGHTSEEING BUS TOUR OF TWIN CITIES
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Mr Asif Mehmood Advisor to CM on Tourism and PHAs inaugurated the double decker tourism bus service for the twin cities at Allama Iqbal Park in Rawalpindi on 18th August 2020.
ISLAMABAD-RAWALPINDI SIGHTSEEING BUS
Enjoy Twin City Ride with TDCP !
The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) is operating Sightseeing Bus from Allama Iqbal Park and Shamsabad bringing tourists to Constitution Avenue via Shakarparian. During the tour, travellers can visit and enjoy many attractions. The main attractions on the bus route will include Faisal Mosque, Marghrzar Zoo, Daman-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Shakarparian, Rose and Jasmine Garden, Allama Iqbal Park and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In addition to that TDCP book tours for all destinations of Punjab and Pakistan. Do not miss the opportunity!!!
- The temples of Rawalpindi: Old wisdom in a new world by Taimur Shamil Oct 16, 2015, DAWN
Nicholson’s monument, Shiraz Hassan, Dawn, November 16th,2014
Pindi’s Railway Station — stark reminder of bygone era, Aamir Yasin, September 17, 2017 DAWN
The bustling shrine of Bari Imam, Aamir Yasin, May 15, 2016 DAWN
- Towering above the little forest, Dr Raheal Ahmad Siddiqui January 26, 2020, The NEWS
Of sahibs and forest rest houses – II, Omar Mukhtar Khan, September 25, 2016 the NEWS
Piplan: a Hidden Jewel of Ancient Taxila, Amjad Iqbal January 21, 2018, Published in DAWN
Trip to Kotli Sattian and Karor, Omar Mukhtar Khan Apr 14, 2020 DAWN
Footprints: The Myth of the Present: published in DAWN Saad Sayeed, January 29, 2017
The Sikh palace of Kallar Syedan by Muzammil Shah Published in DAWN on 06 Sep, 2015 02:26pm
- The 150-year-old Poonch House published in DAWN
Over two centuries old: Bhabra Bazaar buildings a relic of past Published in Tribune
Bhumman Shah — the lost piece of Sikh legacy, published in Daily Times by Tania Qureshi
The falling temples of Bhera published in Tribune by Zulfiqar Kalhoro February 11, 2011
Rare Buddhist antiquities discovered at Taxila, Published in DAWN on November 22, 2004
Jaulian university — a Remnant of Gandhara Heritage, Amjad Iqbal, June 02, 2019
‘Pakistan is an attraction for Korean Buddhist pilgrims’ Amjad Iqbal November 23, 2019 Daily DAWN
Korean monks in city for ‘spiritual peace’Bilal Ghauri,I November 20, 2019
Sujan Singh Haveli: one of the classic buildings of Rawalpindi by Nasir Iqbal
Sangni Fort: A remnant of the Mughal era by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro Published in DAWN on 25 Jul, 2015
Sangni Fort: A silent chronicler of Mughal, Sikh eras published in The NEWS on 20 july 2021
Rawal lake temple: A forgotten past published in Tribune by Zulfiqar Kalhoro January 13, 2011
