Islamabad: the city that was drawn before it was built

A short history

Karachi was the capital after 1947, and it was a poor fit — a long way south, hard to reach from much of the country, and uncomfortably entangled with business interests. A new capital was planned near Rawalpindi instead.

The master plan came from the Greek architect Konstantinos Doxiadis, who laid the city out on a triangular grid with its apex pointed at the Margalla Hills. Construction began in the 1960s; the government moved up from Karachi to Rawalpindi first, then into Islamabad in 1966. The city was formally established on 14 August 1967.

That grid is still how the place works. Sectors run alphabetically and numerically — F-6, G-9, E-11 — each about four square kilometres. It takes a day to stop finding this strange and start finding it useful.

Places worth your time

Faisal Mosque

Finished in 1986 to a design by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, and shaped like a tent rather than a dome. It holds 74,000 people and sits against the hills. Go at dusk.

Margalla Hills and Daman-e-Koh

A national park on the city's doorstep, with a viewpoint looking straight down over the sectors. The trails start within the city and are busy at weekends for good reason.

Saidpur village

A settlement roughly five hundred years old, now inside the city limits, with Hindu temples still standing in it.

Pakistan Monument

Opened in 2007. Four large petals for the provinces and three small ones for the territories, carved on the inside with scenes from the country's history.

Rawal Lake

A reservoir on the eastern side that does a quiet job of keeping the city's microclimate liveable.

Before you go

The obvious arrival and departure point for the north. Flights to Skardu and Gilgit go from here when the weather allows. Spring and autumn are the best months; June is very hot.