Are you excited about knowing the best places to visit in Islamabad? I will be sharing some of the top tourist attractions in Islamabad. This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. According to a study done by a website “toptenfindings.com”. Islamabad is the world’s second beautiful city. Moreover, it is the capital city of Pakistan. It has a lot of natural beauty. I will be sharing some of the best places to visit in Islamabad. I will focus more on the natural places. The famous places of Islamabad are the Margalla hills, Margalla national park, Zoo, Saidpur village, valleys, Shah Allah Dita caves, waterfalls, freshwater ponds, hiking/trekking trails, dams, and much more. These places are blessings for nature lovers…
So, are you excited to know more?
I assure you that these places are worth visiting and the best places to visit in Islamabad.
The Margalla Ridge trails
These hills in Islamabad are very much famous for their hiking trails. The Margalla national park has an area of 43000 acres approximately. Moreover, the ridge trail is 44 kilometers. It connects Islamabad with Haripur. According to the experts, 35 kilometers of the ridge trails falls in KPK. The Margalla national park is one of the best places to visit in Islamabad as it is full of nature and helps you get strong spiritually.
In addition, 6 trails are set to be the main trails. But, there are many other trails in the Margalla national park. Apart from that, there are many loop trails for hikers. I keep on sharing the information on my social media accounts. You can follow my Instagram for regular updates. I would love to share whatever I know about the trails and Margalla hills.
Trail 1 or Kalinjer Trail
Trail 1 or Kalinjer trail starts near the NDU sector E-8. But, the Kalinjer trial is very beautiful and also has water streams flowing in the monsoon season. There is a spring in the midway of this trek. This trail leads to Sandhoori which is also a very famous village. Nowadays the Kalinjer or trail 1 is shifted near trail 2. The trail to Sandhoori via Sinyari is 9km. It takes 3-4 hours to reach the village.
Trail 2 Margalla hills
This trail starts near the Marghzar zoo. This trail leads to Damn e Koh and takes about 1.5 hours. The total distance is about 5km. Many people go there for cycling as well. You can also try if you have a mountain bicycle.
Trail 3 to Monal
Trail 3 has a length of 6km approximately. It starts near sector f-6 and leads towards the monal restaurant Islamabad. The highest point of this trail is the tower point. It has big network towers by cellular companies. It will take 1.5 hours for an average hiker to reach the top. The fireline trail is hard but very refreshing.
Trail 4 Dhok Jeevan loop the best place to visit in Islamabad
This hiking trail was inaugurated in January 2021. The trail is 8km long approximately. It takes 2 hours to reach the top. The Dhok Jeevan loop is worth experiencing and it takes 4 hours to complete the loop. This trail is also famous because the leopard “Shehzadi” was seen there many times. The trail 4 selfie point is famous for visitors to take photographs. But, the trail is safe and worth visiting. The leopard is a very shy animal. You should visit the trail in daylight. The newly opened trail is one of the best places to visit in the capital city.
Trail 5 Darga Janglan
This is one of the most visited trails in the Margalla national park. Because trail 5 is easy to hike and has a water spring that flows throughout the year. The ficus spring has become an attraction for visitors. Most of the families visit this trail on the weekend and the parking is fully occupied.
The length of the trail is about 7-8 kilometers depending on the route you choose. It takes 2 hours to reach monal Islamabad.
Trail 6 Near Faisal Masjid is also one of the best places to visit in Islamabad
This trail starts near faisal masjid. The trail is about 8km. It takes to an hour to reach the top. Further, trail 6 was closed recently because of the leopard “Shehzadi”. The Margalla hills wildlife management says that Shehzadi has marked territory on trail 6. For safety precautions, they have closed it temporarily.
These are some of the best places to visit in Islamabad for hiking and trekking. There are many other trails that I keep on sharing.
Which are the best hiking trails to visit in Islamabad?
Well, every trail has fun and adventure. But, these three hiking trails get more attention from the people. All of the hiking trails are safe for visitors. It is always good to visit the trail in daylight. Also, the IWMB has set up timings for trail opening and closing. This is just for the safety of visitors.
Waterfalls in the capital city
Apart from the lush green hiking trails, Islamabad is blessed with many waterfalls. These waterfalls are the best places to visit in Islamabad. The waterfalls are mostly in the territory of the Margalla hills. If you want to know more about waterfalls in the Margalla Hills towards Haripur; Noori waterfall, Black waterfall, and many more.
The Bruti waterfall is top place to visit in Islamabad
This is a beautiful waterfall near Bari Imam shrine Islamabad. The Bruti waterfall has many water springs at the top. In the monsoon season, the water level rises and it becomes a summer delight for visitors. Here is the complete information about the location and directions of the Bruti waterfall. The Bruti waterfall is one of the best places to visit in Islamabad.
The Shumber waterfall is one of the best places to visit in Islamabad
This is a seasonal waterfall and starts near the Shah Dara picnic point. Also, the Shumber waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls in Islamabad. It has water ponds and the water is crystal clear. But, it’s at the peak in the monsoon season and dries for the rest of the year. Here is the complete information about the directions and location for the Shumber waterfall.
The Bissa waterfalls comes in the best places to visit in Islamabad
These waterfalls are in the village Karore near Kotli Satiyan. There are 3 waterfalls one after the other. The names are as follows. Bissa 1, Bissa 2 and Bissa 3 waterfalls Karore Kotli Satiyan. It takes 2 hours to reach there. The local people have done parking arrangements for the tourists. They charge you 50 PKR for a bike and 100 PKR for a car. The hike is not too much but you have to walk for 40-45 minutes to reach the Bissa 3 waterfall. The other two are at a distance of 15-20 minutes from the parking area.
The Ramli water ponds
This place starts near the Quaid e Azam university professors colony. Now, there is a single road heading towards the water ponds. Ramli is also a nice place for enjoying a day out in nature. I will not recommend this place to families. The place is small and gets crowded.
Angoori is among the best places to visit in Islamabad
Angoori is also famous for its water springs. The Angoori dam is famous for picnics. But, I would recommend visiting this place from Jandala Naval farm houses towards Soon Garh and Sahin. There are water streams and beautiful landscapes in this area. Here you can read more about Angoori.
The Saidpur village
This is an old village in Islamabad. This place is famous for its food restaurants and natural landscapes. Also, the Rama Mandir is an old heritage. This temple is now open to the public but has different pictures from the independence movement of Pakistan. Moreover, Saidpur village has a rock climbing area. There is a water spring known as Saidpur waterfall near the hiking trail of Saidpur village and the hike ends at the Monal restaurant. T This village also comes in the best places to visit in Islamabad.
Shah ALLAH Ditta Caves
Sadhu Ka Bagh or the Shah ALLAH Ditta caves is also one of Islamabad’s famous places. The remains of Buddha are found in the caves. The structure of the caves is beautiful. It is getting popular because of the food restaurants and the natural ambiance. These caves have historical importance and are among the best places to visit in Islamabad.
There is a jeepable track from Shah ALLAH Ditta caves towards the Khanpur dam. The views are very beautiful and soul-refreshing. The zip line is very famous in Sadhu Ka Bagh, it’s worth experiencing.
Talhar Village
Talhar is a beautiful village on the Pirsohara monal road. This village comes one kilometer before monal. There is a left turn on the way to Monal and there is a single road leading to the village. This place is very peaceful and naturally beautiful. It has water springs for swimming, the water is not very deep but always take safety precautions. It is a good place to visit with family for a picnic and enjoying the weekend holidays.
Nilan Bhotu
This place is famous for the shrine of Sufi saint Bari Imam and natural fish ponds. The Nilan Bhotu is a beautiful valley covered with lush greenery and water streams. But, this place has so much to explore. Moreover, the road is now completely ready. You can visit by car easily to experience the amazing landscapes of Nilan Bhotu. I have written a complete guide for Nilan Bhotu. This valley is one of the best places to visit in Islamabad.
The Dino valley Islamabad is also near this village which will be going to be a great tourist attraction. Especially for the kids and families. The Dino valley is at a distance of 22km from Islamabad zoo and 12 kilometers from the monal restaurant.
Rawal Dam
The city of Islamabad has two major dams. Rawal Dam is the famous one because of its location and accessibility. It is a beautiful place to visit with friends and family. Also, you can enjoy the nature walk near Rawal Dam if you enter it from the Bani Gala side. In addition, there is a small park near Rawal chowk. The Ankara park is also very good for walk and exercise. I have a written a complete blog post on fishing, boating, and other activities at Rawal dam.
Simly Dam
The Simly dam is at a distance of 40 kilometers from Islamabad. The Simly dam or lake is near Neela Sandh. It has beautiful landscapes on the way. This route can be used as an alternate path to reach the Murree hills. There is a guest house that can be booked if you are a government official/reference. Otherwise, you can camp there and enjoy your meal with friends.
Fatima Jinnah Park
This is one of the finest parks in Islamabad. This park has an area of 750 acres. It covers the whole F-9 sector of Islamabad city. It has an excellent environment for exercise and other physical activities. They have small parks and rides for kids. The ambiance is great. Further, there is a cricket ground that can be booked for matches from the capital development authority.
In addition, the mega zone offers other fun activities like bowling, swimming, and a gym for the visitors. You can enjoy the weekend with friends and family. The Fatima Jinnah Park is probably one of the best places to visit in Islamabad city.
For more information and suggestions, stay connected… I would love to know your views about the best places to visit in Islamabad. Write me in the comments sections below… Have fun!
