As a holiday destination, Pakistan has many things to offer – snow-covered mountains, serene natural lakes and huge deserts are just some of the elements. The country also has its fine share of beautiful historical monuments that hold an important place in its rich cultural heritage. When you visit the country, you would perhaps want to explore some of these historical attractions.
Mohatta Palace
The summer home of a Hindu Marwari businessman, the Mohatta Palace, was built in 1927 at Karachi in Sindh, Pakistan. The palace is considered an excellent combination of Islamic and British architecture and is one of the oldest buildings in Karachi. It is made up of pink stone from the Indian city of Jodhpur and yellow stone from Gizri in Pakistan. Since 1995, the palace houses a museum developed by the Government of Sindh.
Rohtas Fort
The Rohtas Fort was built by the Afghan King Sher Shah Suri close to the river Jhelum in Punjab, Pakistan. It is a historical garrison fort, located strategically atop a hill, and is known for its exceptional structure that reflects Islamic military architecture.
Ali Masjid
The legendary mosque Ali Masjid is located alongside the Khyber Pass on the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is believed that the mosque gets its name in the memory of Ali, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who is believed to have visited this place.
Bab-e-Pakistan
The historically important monument of Bab-e-Pakistan was built as a mark of respect for the Muslims who migrated to the newly-formed country of Pakistan in 1947. The building, which is located in Lahore, was first envisaged under the regime of Zia-ul-Haq but is still incomplete due to political challenges.
Minar-e-Pakistan
Minar-e-Pakistan means the ‘Tower of Pakistan’. The historically important public monument is located at Iqbal Park in Lahore and was completed in 1968. The Pakistan Resolution was passed here in the1940.
Lahore Fort
The Lahore Fort is located in Old Lahore in Pakistan. An important historical attraction, it is said to have been built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The fort was built strategically at a meeting point of Kashmir, the Afghan regions and Multan.
Iqbal’s Tomb
The historical tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal is located at Hazuri Bagh in Lahore. Considered an important national monument, it reflects simple yet impressive designs set in red sandstone and white marble.
Badshahi Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in the region, the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore is a major tourist attraction. It was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in around 1671-73 and boasts beautiful Mughal architecture. It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and can house around 100,000 worshippers at a time.
Quaid’s Residency
Quaid’s Residency was the residence of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah during the last days of his life. It is located at a hill station in Ziarat. The house is a wooden structure of great architectural importance.
Mazar-e-Quaid
The iconic Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi is the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. It was built in the year 1970, and is also the burial site of other important leaders such as Liaqat Ali Khan, Abdur Rab Nishtar, Fatima Jinnah and Nur-ul-Amin.
