Islamabad Holiday
Pakistan's modern identikit capital
Traditions and culture in Islamabad
Islamabad was named as the new capital of Pakistan in 1960, replacing Karachi following the creation of the country in 1947.
The decision was taken for a number of reasons, not least because the city is 750 miles inland and less vulnerable to attacks and closer to the GHQ of Rawalpindi.
Despite its relatively young history - which is characterised by its straight, purpose-built roads - relics have been found dating back to around 5000BC, suggesting it was frequented during the Stone Age.
Similarly, the architecture in the city is a hybrid of the old and the new, as demonstrated through buildings such as the Saudi-Pak Tower and the Pakistan Monument and Faisal Mosque.
Things to do in Islamabad
Anyone deciding to take a holiday in Islamabad will be struck by its distinctly suburban and understated atmosphere, although the typical buzzing South Asian metropolis feel can be sampled in Rawalpindi, a mere 15km away.
It is fair to say that most travellers who book flights to the city tend to use it as a base to head off elsewhere, but there is much to be said for its grassy parklands and impressive restaurants.
Day-trips are always a possibility and there are fascinating archaeological sights to be taken in at Taxila, where Buddhism and Graeco-Buddhist art began their evolution.
Furthermore, tranquillity and a break from the crazy urban lifestyle can be found along the forested ridges known as the Galis, which are less developed and offer pleasing hill stations.
Weather in Islamabad
No holiday guide to Islamabad would be complete without a look at its climate, which tends to be fairly variable throughout the year.
It is not uncommon for the daily low temperature to sink to around 2C in January, while the average daily high can hit a blistering and humid 40C in June.
In addition, half of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August, with the remainder of the year seeing just 50mm of rain.
Destination checklist for Islamabad
Islamabad has a population of 805,000.
The city is five hours ahead of GMT time.
The official currency is the rupee.
Urdu and English are the official languages spoken.
The city's international dialling code is +051.
