TOP 10 MUST VISIT HISTORICAL SITES IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan is home to historical places, this 70-year-old country has a lot to offer when it comes to history and cultural diversity. 5,000-year-old ancient ruins, architecture spread over a thousand years and amazing cultural sites. Whatever your interest, there is something for everyone.

There are several places listed as UNESCO World heritage sites, which are the must visits along with others.

Join us on a journey to the top 10 must visit historical sites.

1. Lahore Fort

As you step into the Walled city of Lahore, there are several Mughal era sites. An aura of history engulfs you as you enter the Lahore fort and its never-ending charm. The 20 hectares wide fortress contains 21 historical monuments, including Royal Garden – The Shalimar Bagh, Naulakha pavilion, Sheesh mahal amongst the most notable.

The massive picture wall, 1450 ft long with 50 ft height, is the reason Lahore fort was inscribed as UNESCO world heritage site in 1981. It runs from Elephant Gate (Hathi pol Gate) to Quadrangle royal court, endowed with 116 mosaic pictures, depicting lifestyle of Mughal emperors, birds, animals, battles and the dance and music of the royal court. The largest mural of the world contains terracotta-based images embellished with fresco tiles and mosaic paintings, dating from the Jahangir period.

The first records of a fortified site go back to the 11th century. The structure as it stands today was built in 1566 during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. The fort is celebrated for its architecture, featuring a blend of Muslim and Hindu motifs. In the period of Shah Jahan, Persian floral marbles were inlaid for the further beautification of the fort.

The historically rich fort is a point of attraction for thousands of tourists around the globe. The vintage walls and gateways are an unforgettable experience.

2. Wazir Khan Mosque

Once known as The Royal trail, a pathway stretches 1.6 km from Delhi gate in the old walled city of Lahore; it stops at the front of another Mughal masterpiece, The Wazir Khan Mosque. Built in 1634 during the reign of Shah Jahan, the rectangular mosque, with 4 minarets and 5 domes built around the tomb of Muslim saint Miran Badshah. The complex consists of a large courtyard, a serai (caravansary), a hammam (bathhouses), a marketplace for calligraphers and bookbinders. It had political importance, as emperors used to offer their Friday’s congregational prayer at this destination.

Recognized as the most ornately decorated mosque from the Mughal era, this majestic piece of art is located in the center of historic Lahore, locally known as androon-e-shehar. Flanked by markets, homes, and small businesses alongside the narrow old streets. The walls of the mosque are a visual treat; embellished with the intricate faience tile work, called kashi-kari, fresco painting, stone, and lime plaster decoration, and Taza Kari – brick outline fresco. The domes have been adorned with calligraphy of Quranic verses, Persian poetry, and floral frescos, by the renowned khattats (master calligraphers) of the time.

The mosque is in the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites and is currently being restored with local and foreign financial contributions.

3. Rohtas Fort

Rohtas fort is one of the largest forts in the subcontinent and is recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. Qila Rohtas, another name of the fort, is 114 km away from the capital of the country, Islamabad.

Famous for its large defensive walls and huge, monumental gates. The 16th century fort has great significance, as an early Muslim military architecture in Central and South Asia. The fort was built by Sher Shah Suri, following his defeat of the Mughal Emperor, Humayun. The unique fort had been in continuous use until 1707, later reoccupied in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

The long, massive walls of the 16th century fortified complex at Rohtas are extended for more than 4 km; lined with bastions. There is a small village inside the fort, settled there after its reoccupation by Durrani and Sikh rulers. The historically rich fort is a point of attraction for locals and foreign tourists.

 4. Katas Raj

The temple complex of Katas Raj. The name ‘Katas’ is driven from the Sanskrit word ‘Katasha’ meaning ‘Tearful Eyes’. The legend says that the pool was created by a teardrop of the Hindu God Shiva when he wept over the death of his wife Sati. 

According to tradition, the Pandava brothers, central characters of the Mahabharata lived here during exile; that would have been 5,000 years ago. The primary set of buildings in this complex of seven temples are from the 7th century (built on top of a Buddhist temple). The 200 feet tall Buddhist stupa still survives and is said to be in existence from the 3rd century. The temples are believed to be inspired by the Kashmiri Temples, in structure and design. Across from the primary temple complex, there is a smaller Shiva temple with a newer building but a very old Shiv Lingam.

There is a 15th-century temple, a 17th-century haveli from the Sikh period, and the police station across from the complex is an 18th-century British era haveli. 5000 years of history in one amazing site.

5. Taxila

Taxila is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. There are 18 locations in the area which are world heritage sites, but only 5% have been excavated.

Taxila was an important city of ancient India with some ruins in the area dating back to 3,000 BCE. 

The strategically located city on the branch of silk road, connecting China to the west, ancient Taxila has remains of four meaningful settlement sites – Saraidala, Bhir, Sirkap, and Sirsukh. The city illustrates different stages of Urban development, as experienced in the time period of more than five centuries, alternately influenced by Persia, Greece, and Central Asia.

The archaeological complex had been a Buddhist center of learning for a long time and was rediscovered by Sir Alexander Cunningham in the mid-19th century. The collection of historical artifacts accumulated during excavation are displayed in the Taxila Museum. Most of the collection is of Gandhara art from the 1st to 7th centuries, including 4000 objects created by stone, stucco, terracotta, silver, gold, iron, and semiprecious stones.

Not to mention that this UNESCO world heritage site is just 32 km away from the capital city, Islamabad. 

6. Takht-i-Bhai

The 1st century Buddhist monastery is a well-preserved archaeological site, listed among the UNESCO world heritage sites since 1980. The ruins reside at the top of a 500 ft small hill, almost 15 km away from one of the oldest cities of the sub-continent, Mardan.

The archaic site is considered as the most imposing remnant of Buddhism in Gandhara. The earliest inscriptions found indicated Gonophores, the Indo-Parthian King of the time. The complex has four main areas; a stupa court, monastic chamber, temple complex and tantric monastic complex, also the residence and meeting halls; the buildings are constructed from local stones, mortared with lime and mud. During the excavation of the site, in 1907, hundreds of statues and sculptures were unearthed, found in British museum.

Climb the mountain a little more and it will lead you to the viewpoint, to overlook the ruins and the town below. Once known as the heart of Gandhara civilization is now an attraction for tourists, historians, archaeologists, and Buddhist across the world, for being an archaeological wonder and antiquity it reserves. This spellbinding place is a must stop for tours going to Swat or Chitral.

7. Mohenjo-Daro

“Mound of dead” is the modern-day name of the largest city of Indus Valley civilization, one of the earliest ones in the world, built around the 26th century BCE. The excavation of the city started after its rediscovery in 1920s, later designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.

The well-structured city was an advanced municipality, constructed with sophisticated engineering and Urban planning. The city had two parts, the citadel and the lower city, most of them were built of baked bricks. A proper drainage and sewerage system, fortification, water supply and wells were unearthed during the excavation of 300 hectares.

It is believed from some sources that the city collapsed after the river changed its position, but no one knows the exact reasons for its destruction. The one of the earliest and modern cities of the world is situated in Larkana, Sindh, considered as a worth visiting place for its artefacts and incredible remains.

8. Derawar Fort

The forty bastions of the fort visible from miles away in the Cholistan desert, make this 9th century architectural heritage a true phenomenon. The fortress is 130 km south to the city of Bahawalpur. The enormous structure of 30 meter high walls, spanned over 1.5 km are built with red bricks, glowing, and striking in the scorching summers of Cholistan. It stands right next to a dry riverbed, covering hundreds of archeologist sites and mysterious remains of Indus valley civilization.

The complex structure of the fort consists of an underground tunnel network, connecting Derawar to other forts in the desert, once accessible through staircase had served as a secret escape for the rulers, during battles and envisions.

There is a local legend about the lost treasure of Derawar, a treasure beyond the wildest dreams of the richest king, hidden by Prince Rawal who built the fort in 850. The fort was later conquered by the Nawabs of Bahawalpur in 1733 AD and rebuilt to how it looks today. Upon the closer look, the intricate carved motifs can be observed on the interior and exterior structure of the fort.

An annual off-road Cholistan Desert jeep Rally is established near the fort which brings a flock of national and international visitors to this compelling castle, in the winter season.

9. Makli Necropolis

Makli is one of the largest funerary sites in the world, housing more than 500,000 to 1 million graves built over 400 years. The ancient site is situated near Thatta city, an old capital of lower Sindh. The historic setting features large funerary monuments belonging to royals, Sufi saints, and esteemed scholars. As an “outstanding universal value” Makli made its place among the UNESCO world heritage sites in 1981.

The Sufi saint, poet and scholar Shaikh Jamali named this place as Makli – the little Makkah, after hearing the story of a Haj pilgrim who stopped at site and erupted into spiritual ecstasy, later he established a Sufi gathering at the place and was eventually buried there.

The great influence of Muslim, Hindu, Persian, Mughal, and Gujarati can be witnessed in the architecture of the tombs. These structures are notable for their fusion of these diverse influences into a unique local style. Chaukandi style is the most employed one, which incorporates slabs of sandstone, carefully carved into intricate designs by the stonemasons.

The earliest tombs display the shape of a pyramid, as three to six slabs stacked on one another. The evolution in designs and patterns has been observed, as the more complex and Arabic patterns with biographical information emerged.

10. Altit Fort

The 1100 years old fort is perched at the top of a hill, about 1000 ft above the Hunza River, known to be the oldest monument of the region. The fort was home to the Mirs, the hereditary ruler of Hunza. Conserved and well-maintained Altit fort consists of small rooms, dungeons, a royal pond, and a royal garden.

The third floor of the fort was rebuilt during the reign of Nazim khan, in 1892. New rooms were constructed in British colonial style on the front elevation, with lime wash and color glass panel window. The exquisite wooden carvings embellish the doors, windows, and balconies of the fort. Altit fort has a strategically constructed Shikari tower, which allowed the kings to overlook their Kingdom and wacthout external threats of the time. The local tales and their interesting depiction by the fort guides are quite famous and an integral part of the tour.

Before the entrance to the fort there is a small vocation center, recently established for the study of music and arts, and right after that is a small market, lined shops of antique stones, handcrafted jewellery, traditional outfits, and organic jams and oils.

The town of Hunza has cheerful inhabitants, famous for their hospitable and inviting nature. Summers, autumns, and not to forget cherry blossoms are considered as the right times to experience heaven on earth.

The ancient fort has received the UNESCO Asia pacific Heritage Award for cultural Heritage conservation in 2011.