I
and my family are travelling fanatic and we frequently travel to places within
Pakistan and sometimes on a foreign trip. In September 2015 we travelled on a marvelous
tour to the North End of Pakistan, till Khunjerab Pass, the 3000 KM long
journey starting from Karachi. On our
return from the Khunjerab Pass, we stayed in Rawalpindi for three days before
coming back to our home city Karachi.
Rawalpindi
commonly known as Pindi among locals is a city in Punjab adjacent to the
capital Islamabad. Rich in history Pindi is the 4th biggest city in Pakistan by
population. This city is linked to major cities of Pakistan with Motor Way
(M2), G.T Road (Grand Truck) and to China by Karakorum Highway. It too behaves
as a center point for the travelers who wish to go to Northern Area, Kashmir or
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. At that place are numerous expensive as well as
budget hotels and restaurants, so one can continue effectively in Pindi for
whatever length of time that one regard. There are various places in Pindi that
can be visited like Raja Bazar, Lal-kothi, Pindi Food Street, Nawaz Sharif
Park, Liaqat Bagh and many other places.
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| At Rawalpindi Food Street (Saddar) |
Adjacent to Pindi in the Pothohar Plateau is the capital city Islamabad. Being the capital of Pakistan it is the most developed and, well planned urban centers of Pakistan. Wide roads, high rise building, Government agencies, Parliament House, Parliamentarian Lounges, Prime Minister House and Presidential Palace are the icons of this metropolis. Since located at the foot of the Margalla Hills and gets plenty of rainfall that hit this city lush green and filled with trees. There are tons of places and spots that can be visited while staying in Islamabad. The places include are Lok Virsa Museum, Golra Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum, Pakistan Museum of Natural history, National Art Gallery, Daman-e-Koh, Shakarparian, Japanese Park, Rawal Lake, Fatima Jinnah Park, Pir Sohawa, Rose & Jasmine Garden, Margalla Hills, Faisal Masjid, National Monument, Imam Bari Shrine, Islamabad Zoo, Blue Area, Saidpur Village, Chattar bagh and many more. These are the most popular places in Islamabad and we have already seen these spots many times during our previous visits of Islamabad and Pindi.
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| Pakistan Monument Islamabad |
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| Faisal Mosque Islamabad at the background |
While staying in Rawalpindi on our return from Gilgit-Baltistan my cousin brother told us about a stunning and wonderful place at Margala Hills, called Shahdara. So we plan to have a picnic at that location. The journey started in the morning after breakfast. We put everything that is needed for the picnic in the luggage compartment of the car including home cooked curry (Chicken Karhai), Rita (Yogurt) and cold drinks and we bear to buy Nan (bread) on our way to Shahdara.
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| Centaurus Islamabad |
After filling up the petrol tank from a nearby petrol station we began travelling to Islamabad, travelling a few kilometers we entered the most progress and well-developed city of Pakistan the Islamabad. The wide roads surrounded by lots of trees make this city more fascinating and attractive. Moving around on these wonderful roads we reached Rawal lake. Rawal Lake which covers an area of 8.8 km² is an artificial reservoir that provides the water needs for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The primary water source of Rawal Lake is River Korang along with some other little streams coming from Margalla Hills.
Rawal
Park, adjacent to Rawal Lake is also an excellent spot for a picnic and lots of
people visit this place daily especially in the evening during hot summertime. We
have been to Rawal Lake and Park many times, thus we have no plan to stop here
at this time, so from Rawal Lake, we went travelling on Muree Road toward the
famous Banigala. Banigala is a beautiful residential area in Islamabad at the
foot of Margala Hills but is more famous in Pakistan because of the presence of
residential palace of Imran Khan, an ex-cricketer and a prominent political
leader. Reaching Banigala before Bhara Kahu we took a left turn and started
travelling on a paved but narrow road going up on the Margalla Hills, called
Shahdara Road. This route also goes to one of the largest Universities of
Pakistan “Quaid-e-Azam University”. Along the side of this road is Quaid-e-Azam
University Botanical Research Garden and the staff residential colony, there
were many University Buses going to and coming back from University providing a
nice travelling service to the pupils and staff of the University.
Situated along the road and subsequently traversing the University there is also National Institute of Psychology and National Centre for Physics. This route travels up along the hills with green plains on both sides of the road, this forms the journey toward Shahdara itself beautiful. In some places the route is narrow with a mountain on one side and the water stream on the other side, each vehicle has to pass over these narrow places one by one.
Covering nearly half way from Banigala, we stop at a local eatery to buy some bread (Nan) for our lunch and then went on our journey once more. After travelling for nearly an hour and a half from Rawalpindi (Shalay Valley) we stop at a very beautiful place, this is a lush green valley surrounded by mountains on both sides and cold water stream flowing in between.
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
Some cars are already parked at this place and we can spot people enjoying the adorable environment by sitting at different places. Alongside the water stream, there are small shops and restaurants that provide tea, coffee, food and cold drinks for the people visiting this place. On the opposite side where we stop there is a green plain a little up on the hill, so we decided to walk to that place for sitting. But to get to that point we have to cross the water stream and there is no bridge to cross it. We began walking down toward the stream, the route to stream is rough and there are stones on the way. After walking few steps there was a place where water was shallow and stones under the water are arranged in such a fashion that the stream can be traversed easily. We removed our shoes and began traversing the water flow, the water was frigid and the picnic baskets that we are holding in our hands making it a little hard to maintain balance while traversing. But we manage to cross it and in less than a minute we were on the other side of the stream. After climbing little up on the hill we reach the point where we have to sit.
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
We
put down the baskets we were carrying and spread the floor mat on the grassy ground.
Children took up playing around and we sat at the floor mat enjoying the surrounding.
The place where we were sitting is astonishing, in front of us, we can see the
water stream coming down from the mountains and passes from the place where we
were sitting, and the lush green mountains on both sides creating a
breathtaking environment. The breeze here is cold, fresh and unpolluted, the
aroma from the surrounding woods and the strait of the birds hit it a wonderful
space to spend time and to freshen up the mind. No wonder this place is called
Shahdara (the way of kings), with its lush green surrounding, high mountains
and clear water steam this place is truly “the way of kings”. The shopkeepers
there have placed the chair and table in the running water stream for the
people who desire to sit in the stream to have lunch or tea while cold water
keeps running under their feet.
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
While sitting there we discussed the beauty of this region as well as narrating our trip that we have recently finished to “the heaven on earth” the Hunza valley and the Khunjerab Pass (Pak-China Border). After spending some time we had our lunch that we have brought with us from home. And then we wandered about the place while children playing and sticking their feet soaked in cold water. The time goes by so quickly that the 4 hours we spend there just feels like a few minutes. Spending such splendid time we climbed back down toward the water stream and traversed it to reach our car.
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
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| Shahdara (Islamabad) |
Our journey back to our home started again along the same road by which we reached Shahdara. Loving the beautiful surrounding and the green plains we reach the Banigala turn and crossing Islamabad we happily made our home at Shelley Valley.
“Take only memories, leave only footprints.”
– Chief Seattle
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