A Day in Islamabad: Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument

After the crowds and colour of Lahore, Islamabad feels calm, green and spacious. It is a planned city built from the 1960s at the foot of the Margalla Hills, and it is the natural place to rest for a night before the long drive into the mountains. Our guests spent a day here with Bilawal on their way north.

The Faisal Mosque

The Faisal Mosque is the city’s landmark. Designed by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay and completed in 1986, it looks more like a great desert tent than a traditional domed mosque, with four tall minarets at the corners. It was named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who supported the project, and for several years it was the largest mosque in the world.

• Visit in the late afternoon, when the light on the marble is softest
• Dress modestly; scarves for women are needed inside the prayer hall
• Friday midday prayers are very busy, so plan around them

The Pakistan Monument

On Shakarparian hill, the Pakistan Monument was opened in 2007. Its granite petals stand for the people of Pakistan: the four large petals represent the four provinces and the three smaller ones the territories. Inside the petals are murals of famous places and figures from the country’s history, and the terrace gives a wide view over Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The small museum next to it is a good introduction to Pakistan’s independence story.

More to see in a day

• Daman-e-Koh viewpoint in the Margalla Hills, for a wide view over the city and the Faisal Mosque
• Lok Virsa, the national heritage museum, for crafts, music and costumes from every region
• Saidpur Village, an old village at the foot of the hills with restaurants and a historic temple
• Taxila, under an hour away, if you missed it on the way from Lahore

For a fuller plan, read our Islamabad 2-day itinerary or see our Islamabad city tour. Ready to go? Book a tour.