Islamabad Travel Guide

Islamabad Travel Guide

Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. It is a very beautiful city with great places to stay, a variety of shopping, and interesting things to do.

Local customs

Islamabad is a very modern city, and even though it is in a Muslim country, women don’t have to dress as conservatively as they would in other Muslim cities, or in the countryside.

In many hotels, you might notice a sign pointed off at an odd angle that reads “Qibla” or “Qiblah.” This sign points to Mecca to show Muslims which direction to pray.

Keep in mind that if you’re traveling to Islamabad during the month of Ramadan, most of the restaurants are closed during the day, and only open for Iftar – the meal celebration that they have after dark.

Dangers

Islamabad is in an active seismic zone, so earthquakes are an everyday reality. Keep in mind that the best place to be in an earthquake is under a doorframe and that there are often strong aftershocks.

Things to do

Daman-e-Koh mountain and gardens – Daman-e-Koh is in the hills just outside of the city. It is great to visit in the summer because it is above the oppressive heat of the city. There is also beautiful gardens there that are run and maintained by the government and are free to enter.

Rawal Lake – Rawal Lake is a very beautiful lake located in Islamabad Park Area. A dam was built on this lake accross Korang River in 1962 called Rawal Dam. It has a storage capacity of 47,500 acre feet and covers 3.5 square miles. It is an ideal place for picnicing, fishing and boating. There is a terraced garden on the lake side. The highest point in the garden offers a great view of the lake, Margalla and Murree hills.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about travel information for Islamabad.