It is the sister city of Islamabad, and is essentially the older sister of Islamabad. To locals, it is simply known as Pindi.
For the visitor Pindi offers a slice of real Pakistan in contrast to Islamabad - however there are few tourist attractions of note in the city. Bahria Town, a wealthy suburb to the south of Pindi, offers a couple of attractions that warrant an excursion.
Rawalpindi, commonly known as Pindi is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Rawalpindi is adjacent to Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, and the two are jointly known as the twin cities because of strong social and economic links between the cities.
Rawalpindi is the fourth-largest city in Pakistan by population, while the larger Islamabad Rawalpindi metropolitan area is the country's third-largest metropolitan area.
Rawalpindi is located on the Pothohar Plateau, known for its ancient Buddhist heritage, especially in the neighbouring town of Taxila - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was destroyed during the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni before being taken over by Gakhars in 1493. In 1765, the ruling Gakhars were defeated as the city came under Sikh rule, and eventually became a major city within the Sikh Empire based in Lahore.
The city fell to the British Raj in 1849, and in 1851 became the largest garrison town for the British Indian Army. Following the partition of British India in 1947, the city became home to the headquarters of Pakistan Army hence retaining its status as a major military city.
Construction of Pakistan's new purpose-built national capital city of Islamabad in 1961 led to greater investment in the city, as well as a brief stint as the country's capital immediately before completion of Islamabad.
Modern Rawalpindi is socially and economically intertwined with Islamabad, and the greater metropolitan area. The city is also home to numerous suburban housing developments that serve as bedroom-communities for workers in Islamabad.
As home of Benazir Bhutto International Airport, and with connections to the M-1 and M-2 motorways, Rawalpindi is a major logistics and transportation centre for northern Pakistan.
The city is also home to historic havelis and temples, and serves as a hub for tourists visiting Rohtas Fort, Azad Kashmir, Taxila and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The word Rawalpindi consists of two Punjabi words; Rawal, and Pindi. The origin of the name may derive from the combination of two words:Rawal, meaning lake in Punjabi, and Pind, meaning village.
The combination of the two words thus means - The village of lake. Other sources have posited a Sanskrit origin of the city's name.
The region around Rawalpindi has been inhabited for thousands of years. Rawalpindi falls within the ancient boundaries of Gandhara, and is in a region littered with Buddhist ruins.
In the region north-west of Rawalpindi, traces have been found of at least 55 stupas, 28 Buddhist monasteries, 9 temples, and various artifacts in the Kharoshthi script.
To the southeast are the ruins of the Mankiala stupa – a 2nd-century stupa where, according to the Jataka tales, a previous incarnation of the Buddha leapt off a cliff in order to offer his corpse to seven hungry tiger cubs.
The nearby town of Taxila is thought to have been home to the world's first university. Sir Alexander Cunningham identified ruins on the site of the Rawalpindi Cantonment as the ancient city of Ganjipur, the capital of the Bhatti tribe in the ages preceding the Christian era.
During the Mughal era, Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Ghakhar clan, who in turn pledged allegiance to the Mughal Empire. The city was developed as an important outpost in order to guard the frontiers of the Mughal realm.
Gakhars fortified a nearby caravanserai, in the 16th century, transforming it into the Rawat Fort in order to defend the Pothohar plateau from Sher Shah Suri's forces.
Construction of the Attock Fort in 1581 after Akbar led a campaign against his brother Mirza Muhammad Hakim, further securing Rawalpindi's environs.
In December 1585, the Emperor Akbar arrived in Rawalpindi, and remained in and around Rawalpindi for 13 years as he extended the frontiers of the empire, in an era described as a glorious period in his career as Emperor.
With the onset of chaos and rivalry between Gakhar chiefs after the death of Kamal Khan in 1559, Rawalpindi was awarded to Said Khan by the Mughal Emperor.
The Emperor Jehangir visited the royal camp in Rawalpindi in 1622, where he first learned of Shah Abbas I of Persia's plan to invade Kandahar.
In the years following independence, Rawalpindi saw an influx of Muhajir, Pashtun and Kashmiri settlers.
Having been the largest British Cantonment in the region at the dawn of Pakistan's independence, Rawalpindi was chosen as headquarters for the Pakistani Army, despite the fact that Karachi had been selected as the first capital.
In 1951, the Rawalpindi conspiracy took place in which leftist army officers conspired to depose the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan.
Rawalpindi later became the site of the Liaquat Ali Khan's assassination, in what is now known as Liaquat Bagh Park. In 1958, Field Marshal Ayub Khan launched his coup d'etat from Rawalpindi.
In 1959, the city became the interim capital of the country under Ayub Khan, who had sought the creation of a new planned capital of Islamabad in the vicinity of Rawalpindi.
As a result, Rawalpindi saw most major central government offices and institutions relocate to nearby territory, and its population rapidly expand.
Construction of Pakistan's new capital city of Islamabad in 1961 led to greater investment in Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi remained the headquarters of the Pakistani Army after the capital shifted to Islamabad in 1969, while the Pakistan Air Force continues to maintain an airbase in the Chaklala district of Rawalpindi.
The military dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq hanged Pakistan's deposed Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in Rawalpindi in 1979.
In 1980, tens of thousands of Shia protestors led by Mufti Jaffar Hussain marched on Rawalpindi to protest a provision of Zia ul Haqs Islamization programme.
A spate of bombings in September 1987 took place in the city killing 5 people, in attacks that are believed to have been orchestrated by agents of Afghanistan's communist government.
On 10 April 1988, Rawalpindi's Ojhri Camp, an ammunition depot for Afghan mujahideen fighting against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, exploded and killed many in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
More than 93 were killed and another 1,100 wounded; many believe that the toll was much higher.
Riots erupted in Rawalpindi in 1992 as mobs attacked Hindu temples in retaliation for the destruction of the Babri Masjid in India by Hindu extremists.
In March 2003, Pakistani authorities captured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of the September 11th attacks in New York City. On 27 December 2007, Rawalpindi was the site of the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Modern Rawalpindi is socially and economically intertwined with Islamabad, and the greater metropolitan area. The city is also home to numerous suburban housing developments that serve as bedroom-communities for workers in Islamabad.
In June 2015, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus, a new bus rapid transit line with various points in Islamabad, opened for service.
Rawalpindi features a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers, a wet monsoon and wet winters. Rawalpindi and its twin city Islamabad, during the year experiences an average of 91 thunderstorms, which is the highest frequency of any plain elevation city in the country.
Strong windstorms are frequent in the summer during which wind gusts have been reported by Pakistan Meteorological Department to have reached 176 km/h (109 mph). In such thunder/wind storms, which results in some damage of infrastructure.
The weather is highly variable due to the proximity of the city to the foothills of Himalayas.
The average annual rainfall is 1,200 mm (47 in), most of which falls in the summer monsoon season. However, westerly disturbances also bring quite significant rainfall in the winter.
In summer, the record maximum temperature has soared to 48.4 °C (119 °F) recorded in June 1954, while it has dropped to a minimum of −3.9 °C (25 °F) several occasions, though the last of which was in January 1967.
Social structures in Rawalpindi's historic core centre around neighbourhoods, each known as a Mohallah. Each neighbourhood is served by a nearby bazaar and mosque, which in turn serve as a place with diverse people can gather for trade and manufacturing.
Each Mohallah has narrow and short roads that are often unnamed. The grouping of houses around short lanes and cul-de-sacs lends a sense of privacy and security to residents of each neighbourhood. Major intersections in the neighbourhood are each referred to as a chowk.
South of Rawalpindi's historic core, and across the Lai Nullah, are the verdant and wide lanes of the Rawalpindi Cantonment. With tree-lined avenues and historic architecture, the cantonment was the main European area developed during British colonial rule.
British colonialists also built the Saddar Bazaar south of the historic core, which served as a retail centre geared towards Europeans in the city. Beyond the cantonment are the large suburban housing developments that serve as bedroom communities for Islamabad's commuter population.
The population of Rawalpindi is 2,098,231 in 2017. There are 84% of population are Punjabi and 9% consist of Pashto people and 7% others.
96.8% of Rawalpindi's population is Muslim, 2.47% is Christian, 0.73% belong to other religious groups. The city's Kohaati Bazaar is site of large Shia mourning-processions for Ashura.
The neighbourhoods of Waris Shah Mohallah and Pir Harra Mohallah form the core of Muslim settlement in Rawalpindi's old city.
Rawalpindi was a majority Hindu and Sikh city prior to the Partition of British India in 1947, while Muslims made up 43.79% of the population.
The Baba Dyal Singh Gurdwara in Rawalpindi was where the reformist Nirankari movement of Sikhism originated. The city's Sikh population is small, but has been bolstered by the arrival of Sikhs fleeing political instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[52]
The city is still home to a few hundred Hindu families. Despite the fact that the vast majority of the city's Hindus fled en masse to India after Partition, most Hindu temples in the old city remain standing, although in disrepair and often abandoned.
Many of the old city's neighbourhoods continue to bear Hindu and Sikh names, such as Krishanpura, Arya Mohallah, Akaal Garh, Mohanpura, Amarpura, Kartarpura, Bagh Sardaraan, Angatpura.
Rawalpindi's Krishna Temple, built in the Kabarri Bazaar in 1897, and the Guru Balmik Swamiji Temple in Rawalpindi Cantonment, remain open to the public.
Other temples are abandoned or were repurposed. Rawalpindi's large Kalyan Das Temple from 1880 has been used as the Gov't. Qandeel Secondary School for the Blind since 1973.
The Ram Leela Temple in Kanak Mandi, and the Kaanji Mal Ujagar Mal Ram Richpal Temple in the Kabarri Bazaar, are both currently used to house Kashmiri refugees.
Mohan Temple in the Lunda Bazaar remains standing, but is abandoned and the building no longer used for any purpose. The city's Shamshan Ghat serves as the city's cremation grounds, and was partly renovated in 2012.
The city's Babu Mohallah neighbourhood was once home to a community of Jewish traders that had fled Mashhad, Persia in the 1830s. The community had entirely emigrated to Israel by the 1960s.
The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus is a 22.5 km (14.0 mi) bus rapid transit service that connects Rawalpindi to Islamabad. The Metrobus network was opened on 4 June 2015, and connects the Pak Secretariat in Islamabad to Saddar in Rawalpindi.
A second stage is currently under construction from Peshawar Morr Interchange to the New Islamabad International Airport. The system uses e-ticketing and Intelligent Transportation System wand and is managed by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority.
Rawalpindi is situated along the historic Grand Trunk Road that connects Peshawar to Islamabad and Lahore. The road is roughly paralleled by the M-1 Motorway between Peshawar and Rawalpindi, while the M-2 Motorway provides an alternate route to Lahore via the Salt Range.
The Grand Trunk Road also provides access to the Afghan border via the Khyber Pass, with onwards connections to Kabul and Central Asia via the Salang Pass.
The Karakoram Highway provides access between Islamabad and western China, and an alternate route to Central Asia via Kashgar in the Chinese region of Xinjiang.
The Islamabad Expressway connects Rawalpindi's eastern portions with the Rawal Lake and heart of Islamabad. The IJP Road separates Rawalpindi's northern edge from Islamabad.
Rawalpindi is connected to Peshawar by the M-1 Motorway. The motorway also links Rawalpindi to major cities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, such as Charsadda and Mardan. The M-2 motorway offers high speed access to Lahore via the Potohar Plateau and Salt Range.
The M-3 Motorway branches off from the M-2 at the city of Pindi Bhattian, where the M-3 offers onward connections to Faisalabad, and connects to the M-4 Motorway which continues onward to Multan.
A new motorway network is under construction to connect Multan and Karachi as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The Hazara Motorway is also under construction as part of CPEC, and will provide control-access motorway travel all the way to Mansehra via the M-1 or Grand Trunk Road.
Rawalpindi railway station in the Saddar neighbourhood serves as a stop along Pakistan's 1,687 kilometres (1,048 mi)-long Main Line-1 railway that connects the city to the port city of Karachi to Peshawar.
The stations is served by the Awam Express, Hazara Express, Islamabad Express, Jaffar Express, Khyber Mail trains, and serves as the terminus for the Margalla Express, Mehr Express, Rawal Express, Pakistan Express, Subak Raftar Express, Subak Kharam Express, and Tezgam trains.
The entire Main Line-1 railway track between Karachi and Peshawar is to be overhauled at a cost of $3.65 billion for the first phase of the project, with completion by 2021.
Upgrading of the railway line will permit train travel at speeds of 160 kilometres per hour, versus the average 60 to 105 km per hour speed currently possible on existing track.
Rawalpindi is served by the Islamabad International Airport. The airport is located in Fateh Jang, Attock. It offers non-stop flights throughout Pakistan, as well as to the Middle East, Europe, North America, Cenral Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The City-District of Rawalpindi is sub-divided into one Municipal Corporation Two Cantonment Board and Seven tehsils:
- Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi City
- Rawalpindi Cantonment Board Rawalpindi Cantt.
- Chaklala Cantonment Board Chaklala Cantt.
Rawalpindi also holds many private colonies that have developed themselves rapidly, e.g. Gulraiz Housing Society, Korang Town, Agochs Town, Ghori Town, Pakistan Town, Judicial Town, Bahria Town which is the Asia's largest private colony, Kashmir Housing Society, Danial Town, Al-Haram City, Education City.
Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres (930 ha) and has a playland, lake with boating facility, an aquarium and a garden-restaurant. Rawalpindi Public Park is on Benazir Bhutto Road near Shamsabad.
The Park was opened to the public in 1991. It has a playland for children, grassy lawns, fountains and flower beds.
In 2008 Jinnah Park was inaugurated at the heart of Rawalpindi and has since become a hotspot of activity for the city. People from as far out as Peshawer come to Jinnah Park to enjoy its modern facilities.
It houses a state-of-the-art cinema, Cinepax, a Metro Cash and Carry supermart, an outlet of McDonald's, gaming lounges, Motion Rides and other recreational facilities. The vast lawns also provide an adequate picnic spot.
Rawalpindi is situated near the Ayub National Park formerly known as Topi Rakh or keep the hat on, is by the old Presidency, between the Murree Brewery Co. and Grand Trunk Road.
It covers an area of about 2,300 acres (930 ha) and has a play area, lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open-air theater. This park hosts The Jungle Kingdom which is particularly popular among young residents.
Liaquat Bagh, formerly known as the company bagh (East India Company's Garden), is of great historical interest. The first prime minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated here in 1950.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Banazir Bhutto was assassinated here on 27 December 2007. She was the youngest and the only women to be elected as prime minister of Pakistan.
Rawalpindi Public Park also known as Nawaz Sharif Par) is located on Murree Road. The park was opened in 1991. It has a play area for children, lawns, fountains and flower beds. A cricket stadium was built in 1992 opposite the public park. The 1996 World Cup matches were held on this cricket ground.
In mid-2012 3D cinema, The Arena, started its operations in Bahria Town Phase-4 in Rawalpindi.
Rawalpindi Golf Course was completed in 1926 by Rawalpindi Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs of Pakistan. The facility was initially developed as a nine-hole course. After several phases of development, it is now a 27-hole course and the biggest in Pakistan.
From the clubhouse, there is a panoramic view of Faisal Mosque, the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Major domestic golf tournaments are regularly held here.
Playland is another public park parallel to Ayub Park
Islamabad International Airport is located within the city of Rawalpindi. Daily flights to and from various international and local destinations are available. A new airport to the west of the city is under construction but several years from completion.
Rawalpindi has its own central railway station, with regular sevices to many destinations within Pakistan.
Rawalpindi has extensive road networks, linking it directly to various major cities such as Lahore, Peshawar and Taxila to the north. Apart from that the twin city, which Rawalpindi is otherwise called, has a complete structure of traveling around in the city through local buses.
However, this is not a recommended mode of transport to tourists. Taxis are cheap, and you'll be looking at around Rs600 or so for a trip from Ghakar Plaza to the outer sectors of Islamabad, so travel within Rawalpindi will be around Rs200 per trip.
This is very affordable for a foreign tourist. Make sure you agree the price before getting into the taxi.
Skyways and Daewoo are 2 of the nicer long-haul operators. Skyways offer some direct services to/from Islamabad and Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi. Daewoo has its own terminal on the road from Islamabad just outside Rawalpindi. You can call the Daewoo Station in advance for booking.
You can travel to Peshawar, Lahore, D I Khan, Murree, Sialkot, Abottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Multan, and recently they have started service between Karachi and Hyderabad.
Coach is a very comfortable way to travel in Pakistan, and is very popular for travellers between Rawalpindi and Lahore. You will receive a small meal on the coach, and a first class ticket is between Rs1000-Rs3000.
Rawalpindi is a large sprawling city, however the centre that is focused on Raja Bazaar is walkable but easy to get lost, so a GPS or compass isn't a bad idea. There are many auto shops for repairing vehicles of tourists.
To travel eg. Raja Bazaar to Saddar its best to jump into a tuk-tuk. Buses are an option for going up or down Murree Road, but working out how to get a bus to more far flung parts will require some Urdu. A trip to Bahria Town is best done in your own car or a taxi, armed with a map.
Rawalpindi is not blessed with an extensive architectural history. However the city is an interesting place to wander, especially if you are based in Islamabad and are looking for some hustle and bustle.
- Ayub Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Grand Trunk (G.T.) Road. It covers an area of about 2,300 acres and has a play area, lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open air theater. It also hosts The Jungle Kingdom, which is an animal themed park and zoological garden.
- Nawaz Sharif Park is located on Murree Road near Shamsabad. The Park was opened in 1991. It has a play area for children, lawns, fountains and flower beds. A cricket stadium was built in 1992 opposite the Public Park. The 1996 World Cup cricket matches were held on this cricket ground.
- Jinnah Park is located near Kachehri Chowk.Mcdonalds,Pappasalis,Cinepax and COSMO Cash and Carry are built inside this park
- Eidgah Sharif
- Shah Chun Charagh
- Army Museum at the end of Murree road, being refurbished. The Army Museum was established in 1961 to collect and display material, relating to the Pakistan Army and the British Indian Army.
There are various things you can do in Rawalpindi. A few of them are:
Plan a trip to Raja Bazar, Bara Bazar and Murree Road. Although the traffic gets horrible at times, but you will find such amazing stuff at amazing prices that you'll forget the pain. Be careful in Raja Bazar in particular - it is not recommended for lone female travellers.
Go to Ayub Park, have a pleasant walk around, it will give you hours of walk in green meadows without having to worry about anything else. If you take the family along, you can eat snacks and even take you own for added fun.
Head to Bahria Town to the south of Pindi - this new-build suburb offers a mini golf course, karting track, a luxury spa, and a strange copy of Trafalgar Sqaure in Safari III.
Plan a visit to Rawat Fort 15 kms away off the Grand Truck Rd
Jinnah Park A park located on the Jail Road and houses a McDonald's franchisee and Cinepax exhibition centre. It also has a dedicated play area, lawns, fountains, flower beds and a jogging track stretched across the boundary wall.
The park contains many good restaurants such as McDonald's papa salis and Diva restaurant. There are few cricket pitches and big COSMO cash and carry store.
Cinepax, next to Jinnah Park. Modern western style cinema complex showing a range of south Asian and Hollywood films.
Taxila tourist train, Rawalpindi train station. On the first Sunday of each month a tourist train possibly steam makes its way from Pindi to Taxila, stopping at Golra Sharif station where there is a small museum.
From Taxila a coach can take you to Khanpur dam - or you can check out the Taxila museum and ruins. The train leaves Pindi around 9am, returning in late afternoon. Rs 1,200.
Mashaa allah girls college, cungi no.20 adyala road rawalpindi, kecheri to jail. government of punjab registered and pindi board affiliated educational institute
Saddar Bazar is the most versatile, modern and easily approachable market place of Rawalpindi. Its connected to Mall Road on one side, city to the other, and railway station on the 3rd side. Saddar Bazar has certain good looking plazas, banks, fun houses for children and has a few recreational parks for children and elderly
Gakkahr Plaza is one of the most renowned shopping markets in Saddar Rawalpindi. You can buy leather jackets, trousers, all sorts of garments, kameez salwar, khussas, sandals and all gents garments from Gakharr Plaza.
Unfortunately, on 20 December 2008, Gakhar Plaza was completely gutted down by a huge fire.
Close to Gakhhar plaza, you will find Jabbar Tailors which is one of the oldest tailors in Rawalpindi. Mostly busy with military uniform stitching.
Metro Shoes. A well known shoe shop.
Computer and Mobil Phone: Plazas at 6th Road, and Sadar are the major markets, where one can find many computer items and other electronic items.
College Road near Liaqat Bagh sells electronic components for electronic enthusiates.
Most economical market in Rawalpindi is Raja Bazaar where you can find most of the things at very economical rates.
Sheikhs Mall, Adam Jee Road Saddar Rawalpindi,KFC Basement Saddar. Sheikhs Mall is one of the largest shopping malls of the twin city.
It deals in All Imported Garments- Imported From Hongkong,Thailand,Italy,France,UK,imported and stylish jewelry, men's branded suiting, branded shoes, children's branded suitings, complete range of ladie's western dresses, party wear and under garments.
Midway Centrum Shopping Mall, 6th Road & Murree Road. until 8pm. If you are looking for a multifloor shopping mall, with escalators, shiny floors and lots of shops this is a good option, especially in the Summer, when the bazaars are baking hot.
Lots of clothing shops covering male and female fashions, and a good option if you are looking for a comparatively relaxed shopping experience.
A visit to Rawalpindi makes a pleasant change from Islamabad's restaurant scene. As you might expect Pindi offers some excellent places for top-notch Pakistani food, and offers better value than you find in Islamabad.
You'll almost certainly be the only non-Pakistani customer, and you can expect the staff to go out of their way to be hospitable.
Fortress Street, Next to Rawalpindi cricket ground, off Stadium road, until late. A good collection of Pakistani restaurants popular with families and couples - including a nice outdoor grill serving sheesha around low tables (Shahinshah).
Plenty of parking and feels secure - and very little traffic. cheap.
Namak Mandi, 2nd Flr, Zarkoon Plaza, Saddar area (just off main Murree Road before junction with GT road), ☎ 051-5522167. lunch until late. Excellent upscale Pakistani / Afghan restaurant. Dual western seating / lounging on cushions setup. Air conditioned also makes for a good choice in summer. The fact it is always busy is testament to the great food, atmosphere and service. Meal around Rs600.
Mei Kong, 32 Haider Rod, Saddar area. Western quality Chinese restaurant set away from the main road. Extensive menu covering all the Chinese bases. Seafood is a bit of a specialty, the honey prawns being particularly good and even lobster is available.
Perhaps Pindi's nicest restaurant. Note that the portions are all designed for 2 people to share, so ask for half portions as necessary. Around Rs600 per person for a decent meal.
Cafe dine light, Rawal Plaza, Commercial Market Road, look for a plastic camel. 7-11pm. Sheesha bar cum restaurant - popular with Pindi's young and rich - a possible place to order a steak or a burger, but better to head here after eating for some ice cream, sheesha and people watching.
Separate area for mixed groups. There are some other smokey sheesha places in the same building if you want a puff after 11pm.
Rahat bakers & pizzeria, between Bank Road & Haider Road, Saddar. very popular bakers and Pindi's best place for pizza (Rs.650). Outdoor eating area.
Mini golf club restaurant -Sizzle'n'spice, Bahria Town Phase IV, until late. Memorable setting on the terrace of the minigolf course, with a small lake, flamingos, and Greek statues. Good selection of Pakistani food (BBQ and curries mainly). Popular with Pindi's middle classes. About Rs700 per person for a good sized meal.
Texas Steak House, (Ground Flr, Zarkoon Plaza, Saddar). lunch & dinner. Pindi isn't the place to go for a good steak - but if you are looking for one then this uncomplicated family restaurant is probably your only choice. Serves a range of western food, including sizzling hot-plate style steaks.
Asian Palace, Midway Centrum shopping mall, 6th Road & Murree. Set in the middle of Pindi's only western style shopping centre this family friendly place is not a bad choice for a quick lunch or ice cream.
Savour Foods, Gordon College Road
.
Kala Khan Nehari House, Kartarpura, Near Banni Chowk. Kala Khan Nehari House is the oldest and authentic Nehari breakfast and brunch restaurant in Rawalpindi serving delicious and traditional breakfast for over more than 3 decades.
Kala Khan Nehari House is located at Kartarpura, near Banni Chowk, the heart of Rawalpindi city. The Kartarpura has significant importance as being cultural/traditional hub of the city.
The shop is also at just about 8 Km distance from the capital city, Islamabad that makes it a good meeting point for the twin city.
House Metro, Empire Heights II, Crescent Mall II, Bahria Town Rawalpindi. 1PM -2 :30 AM. Based on Retro theme from the 70’s House Retro provides a blend of colorful and artistic ambiance that brings back the memories of yester years for many who have a tooth for exotic food, aesthetics for lively environment and zest for family entertainment.
If you think you have any of the above palates, then this is one celebrated place for you and your family.
Be it tasteful variety of food at Retro Cafe, a game of Pool or Snooker, Gaming Zone fun for youngsters or a Movie of your choice in a personalized E-theater’s comfortable environment, House Retro offers complete entertainment with ultimate vibrancy and joy.
In Pakistan there is a big fascination with these large fast-food chains, particularly Pizza Hut, McDonalds, KFC, and Subway. As a tourist, it is recommended to try the local food, as these fast food chains do not live up to their hype, and are in ways cleaner establishments than local restaurants.
They are also quite overpriced, with combo meals costing around Rs 300, whilst this is still a mere £2.50 or $5. Very competitive with any branch of these restaurants found in the Western world, it compares poorly with the Rs 7 (6p or 11 cents) you could expect to pay for a naan bread at the local market.
The first McDonalds opened in Rawalpindi at Jinnah Park. It is huge with a lot of parking spaces and it is open late. KFC is the best place for getting international-style fast food, and it is situated just in the cantonment area of the city and also has a big parking area.
Eating in these chains is more of a statement of status in Pakistan than anything else, and you will notice that there is usually quite a fashion parade in many of these establishments!
In Rawalpindi, do as the Pindites do! Grab a bag of the most yummy and juicy local sweet called jalebee from Gratto on Murree road, or the luxuriously garnished icecream from Chaman at Saddar, or the famous samosas from Karim hotel, or fresh from the pan halwa poori from Satelitown, or rabri, milky drink from nirala in Saddar .Its a never-ending list!
Alcohol in Pakistan is forbidden but one can find drinks at many modern hotels like Pearl Continental(PC), Shalimar Hotel and Flashman Hotel.
There are no bars and night clubs in Rawalpindi, but all the big markets are open late. Drinking culture in Pakistan is essentially soft-drink culture, where Pepsi is traditionally the drink of choice. It is impossible to avoid Pepsi advertising throughout Pakistan.
Be warned as a traveller about the cleanliness of bottles - always drink from a straw, and always request that bottles be opened in front of you, as a cleanliness measure. Drinking culture also revolves around tea, called chai in Urdu, and this is available everywhere and anywhere.
Coffee is not impossible to come by, however iced coffee tends to be the popular coffee drink of choice.
The locally available drinks are:
- Sharbat of Imli and Alu Bukhara, Plums.
- Shakar Kola, drink made from brown sugar.
- Sugar Cane Juice.
- Lemonade.
Do not drink from places with flies.
Rawalpindi has one hotel 5 star hotel. It is called Pearl Continental or more famously known by its acronym PC. Other that this one can go to Hotel Shalimar, Flashman, de mall.
Rawalpindi is not necessarily as safe as it's sister, Islamabad. Islamabad has higher foreign tourist traffic, and thus has become accustomed to it, however foreign tourists are somewhat rare in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan on the whole is not recommended to lone young female travellers, however Pindi is relatively safe for larger groups of females, or mixed gender paired-travellers. For female travellers, it is highly recommended to purchase a shawl upon arrival in Pakistan, even better to bring one over on your flight, for airport arrival purposes.
It is not necessary or expected for you to wear this on your head at all times, however to avoid unwanted attention, and gain local respect, cover your chest with this shawl, i.e. drape it across your neck.
Also attempt to purchase/wear a long shirt/top, that covers your backside region - this again, will draw away unwanted attention.
Avoid flashing large amounts of cash around - Rs 1000 notes are commonplace, however the haggling process is often easier when you show the limited cash you have, e.g. I only have Rs 200 on me.
Keep your larger notes on the inside, and only allow small notes to be seen, for example, when paying taxi drivers, purchasing items, etc.
Do not feel compelled to give money to all beggars, not matter how young or needy. Of course exercise discretion, and it not unacceptable to give them money, however, the beggars are regulars in Pindi, and have their regular locations, and are known to beg in the same place, everyday - with a new outfit each day.
If you have more time on your hands, go to Murree. Murree is one of the hottest attractions, attraction wise, temparture wise its very cold where you can spend even weeks if you'd like to; every day is a new day.
Archeology lovers can visit the ruins of Taxila, 28 km from Rawalpindi. Taxila houses many ruins of Buddhism; most important is that of Julian University. A beautiful museum holds the artifacts of that time. Taxila also offers many beautiful stone utensils.
- Taxila Ruins
- Rawat Fort
- Stupa in Mankiala
Tourism Observer
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing informative and valuable information,keep on updating these types of informative things.
Rent A Car Islamabad without Driver
Post a Comment