Mai Qamro Mosque, Islamabad: The Gakhar Mosque on UNESCO's List

Mai Qamro Mosque is a small three-domed stone mosque just west of Bagh Jogian village, on the right bank of the Soan river in Islamabad Capital Territory, facing Pharwala Fort across the water. Described as the oldest mosque in Islamabad, it dates from the early 16th century and is linked to the Gakhar chief Hathi Khan and his wife, Mai Qamro. After restoration work that began in 2022, it was added to UNESCO's World Heritage tentative list in 2026. The last stretch of road is poor, but the mosque itself is now cleaned up, guarded and open to visitors.

This guide covers the Gakhar history behind the mosque, what to look for in the building, the UNESCO listing, and how to plan a visit with Pharwala Fort.

Who built Mai Qamro Mosque?

The Gakhars were the clan who ruled much of the Pothohar plateau for centuries from their stronghold at Pharwala on the Soan. In the early 16th century, the time of Babur's arrival in India, their chief at Pharwala was Hathi Khan.

The sources tell the founding in two slightly different ways. UNESCO's tentative list entry says the mosque was built by Hamad Khan, also known as Hathi Khan, in honour of his wife Mai Qamro. The Friday Times and the Associated Press of Pakistan say Mai Qamro built it herself. Either way, it carries her name, and that is the point heritage writers stress: Gakhar women were notable patrons of building and public works.

UNESCO's entry names two of them. Mai Qamro is remembered for this mosque, and Rani Mangho, wife of Sultan Sarang Khan, for wells, baolis and caravanserais, and for establishing a capital at Dhan Gali in Kallar Syedan.

The Friday Times adds that graves of Gakhar chiefs and soldiers who died resisting Babur are found near the remains of the eastern wall, and that the later mosque of Sultan Sarang Khan at Rawat was modelled on this one.

How old is it?

UNESCO and the Friday Times place it in the early 16th century, the Friday Times more precisely in the first quarter of that century. In August 2026 the federal minister at the reopening of the Gakhar sites described it as about 450 years old, which would be later in the century. "Early 16th century" is the date the formal UNESCO submission uses, so it is the one to quote.

What is not in doubt is its type. UNESCO describes it as an example of local mosque architecture "prior to the initiation of grand mosque architecture adopted by Mughals", and the Friday Times notes its debt to Lodhi building of the period.

What to look for in the building

The mosque is modest in size, and that is part of its interest. From UNESCO's description:

• Three squat domes over a rectangular prayer hall, which opens to the front through three archways.
• Semicircular merlons (a crenellated edging) on the parapet above the central entrance.
• Two recessed arches on either side of the central doorway, with cut-brick ornament.
• Rubble stone, lime mortar and surkhi plaster, with traces of the original lime plaster still visible on the façade.
• Walls that slope slightly inward towards the top.
• A large courtyard around the mosque, enclosed by a wall with towers.

Stand in the courtyard and look across the river: the mosque was placed in a prominent position with a clear view of Pharwala Fort, and that relationship between mosque and fortress is one of the things the UNESCO entry highlights.

What condition is it in now?

Much better than a few years ago. In 2022 the Friday Times reported serious damage: the southern dome had collapsed, the northern and western walls were cracked, vegetation covered the roofs and the southern entrance needed urgent repair.

Conservation began in 2022 under a federal development project of about Rs54 million covering the Gakhar sites on the Soan. By August 2026, the Express Tribune and APP reported, the work had included repairs and preservation, landscaping, CCTV cameras, security guards and gardeners, seating for visitors, and the recovery of about 48 kanals of illegally occupied land, now fenced and laid out as gardens. The mosque is protected under the Antiquities Act, 1975, and managed by the Department of Archaeology and Museums.

Why is it on UNESCO's tentative list?

Pakistan submitted Mai Qamro Mosque to UNESCO's tentative list on 11 May 2026, under criterion (iv), as "a rare and well-preserved example of regional mosque architecture associated with female patronage in South Asia". It was one of a group of Gakhar sites listed at the same time: the Tomb of Sultan Muqarrab Khan at Bagh Jogian, Pharwala Fort and Rawat Fort.

A tentative listing is the first step, not World Heritage status. It means Pakistan intends to nominate the site, and it brings attention, but the full inscription process takes years. See our guide to UNESCO sites in Punjab for the wider picture.

How do you get to Mai Qamro Mosque?

Bagh Jogian is in the south-eastern part of Islamabad Capital Territory, on the Soan, on the opposite bank from Pharwala Fort. The most reliable way to find the mosque is by map pin: Wikipedia gives its position as about 33.620 N, 73.297 E.

• Drive. There is no public transport to the site, so a car or motorbike is the practical choice.
• Expect a rough final stretch. In August 2026 the federal minister said the local route of about 2 km to the sites was in poor condition and should be upgraded to a carpeted road. Drive it slowly, and take more care after heavy rain.
• Visit in daylight. We could not confirm opening hours or an entry fee. Guards are now posted at the site, so ask them.
• Dress modestly and take off your shoes before entering the prayer hall. It is a mosque, not only a monument.

Pairing it with Pharwala Fort and the Gakhar sites

The obvious pairing is Pharwala Fort, which you can see from the courtyard. Reaching the fort from Bagh Jogian has traditionally meant wading the Soan, which depends on the water level; our Pharwala Fort guide explains the crossing and when to avoid it. The Tomb of Sultan Muqarrab Khan, also at Bagh Jogian and also on the new tentative list, makes a third stop.

On the way back, Rawat Fort on the GT Road completes the Gakhar story, with Sultan Sarang Khan's tomb and the mosque said to have been modelled on Mai Qamro's. Our day trips from Islamabad guide has other ideas for the same side of the city.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, for anyone interested in Islamabad's history before Islamabad. It is a short, quiet visit, the setting above the Soan is lovely in the cooler months, and the restoration means you can now see the building properly rather than through weeds. It also changes how you think about the capital, which most people assume has no old buildings at all.

It is not a grand monument, and the road is still poor, so if you want one big Mughal sight for the day, Rohtas or Lahore will satisfy you more. For families, go with Pharwala and a picnic in mind, and check the river before letting children near it. More ideas are on our experiences page.

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