Best Tourist Places to Visit near Islamabad
Islamabad is the gateway to all the beautiful places of the Northern area of Pakistan. If you are visiting Islamabad, here are the best Tourist places near Islamabad that you must visit.
Murree Hills:
Murree is almost 50 Km from Islamabad. It just took an hour or two to reach Murree by car or bus (preferably Daewoo Express). There are many routes to Murree, but Murree Expressway is the quickest one.
Because of the cooler temperatures in the summer and snowfall in the winter visitors come to visit Murree all year round. The famous Tourist attractions to visit in Murree are Changla Gali, Nathiagali, Ayubia, Mall Road, Pindi Point, Bhurban, and Ghora Gali.
Siri Paye Meadows:
Siri Paye Meadows is the lush green meadows at an elevation of 3,000 meters covered by snow-capped mountains and beautified by a brilliant blue lake.
It takes a five-hour drive from Islamabad via the Hazara Expressway or the N-35 to Shogran and then jeeps can be rented to reach there by covering the remaining 6 KM journey.
These meadows are the best camping spot in the summer season. If you are not a fan of camping you can stay at Pine Park Shogran and the Arcadian Sprucewoods Resort.
Taxila:
One of the most visited destinations near Islamabad is Taxila. It is the house of the Gandhara Civilization which is only 30 KM away from the North-West of Islamabad. It takes almost 40 to 45 minutes to reach there.
In 1980, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was also ranked as the top tourist destination in Pakistan by "The Guardian" newspaper. The best time to visit Taxila is winter if you want to see archeological remains while avoiding the sun.
Mughal Gardens
Mughal Gardens was constructed during the era of Emperor Akbar. It is located in the city of Wah and is less than an hour’s drive away from Islamabad. These gardens have beautiful architecture and innovative designs.
Mughal Gardens have large-sized pools with a water distribution system that is still intact. You can see a lot of Himalayan Mahseer swimming in the crystal clear water of ponds.
Ayub National Park
Ayub National Park is historically known as ‘Topi Rakh’. It is about half an hour’s drive away from Islamabad and one of the must-visit tourist places near Islamabad. This park is the largest national park in Pakistan and a very popular picnic point. There is a Jungle Kingdom in this park which has a rare collection of animals and birds. Ayub Park also has large gardens with restaurants, a lake with a boating facility, and an open-air theater.
