Hands down to history lovers, better yet even if you don’t know much about. These historical stories are going to spike up your interest for sure!
A list of famous historical places in Pakistan you should consider visiting this Holiday Season.
These are not just structures but places that hold countless memories of people both alive and dead, every wall has stories locked inside it. every cave has something to tell. if we look close enough, try to hear the silence of the emptiness, there is anything but silence. so many words and stories that were never discovered yet. Historical places can be truly fascinating if looked for the right things.
1. City Of Cut Stone
Taxila or Takshashila is a city in the Pothohar region of Punjab, Pakistan. Located in the Taxila Tehsil of Rawalpindi District, it lies approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area and is just south of the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Old Taxila was for a time the capital city of ancient Gandhāra, situated on the eastern shore of the Indus River—the pivotal junction of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia; it was possibly founded around 1000 BCE. The city was part of the Achaemenid empire’s Hindush colony, between ~550 – 326 BCE. In 326 BCE, the city was conquered by Alexander the Great who gained control of the city without a battle since the city was immediately surrendered to the Macedonian Empire.
By some accounts, Taxila was considered to be one of the earliest (or the earliest) universities in the world. The school consisted of several monasteries without large dormitories or lecture halls where the religious instruction was provided on an individualistic basis. Others do not consider it a university in the modern sense, in that the teachers living there may not have had official membership of particular colleges, and there did not seem to have existed purpose-built lecture halls and residential quarters in Taxila, in contrast to the later Nalanda university in eastern India.
2. The Abandoned Fort
Derawar Fort is a fortress in Ahmadpur East Tehsil of Bahawalpur District in the Punjab, Pakistan. Approximately 20 km south of the city of Ahmedpur East, the forty bastions of Derawar are visible for many miles in the Cholistan Desert. The walls have a perimeter of 1500 metres and stand up to thirty metres high.
The fort is a massive and visually stunning square structure built of clay bricks. The walls have a length of 1500 meters and stand up to thirty meters high. There are forty circular bastions, ten on each side, which stand 30 m high and are visible across the desert for many miles. Each bastion is intricately decorated with patterns cut into the brick. The interior provides evidence of structures decorated with tile and fresco artwork.
Derawar is just one example of the wide variety of forms derived from square brick. These particular forms date back to between the 16th and 18th centuries, though some renovations date as early as the 9th century.
3. Palace Of Lights
If you’re a history buff or have an interest in old and modern architecture, you need to add the once-princely state of Bahawalpur to your travel bucket list. This historic city is known for its magnificent and stunning palaces. Among them, Noor Mahal certainly stands out as the most impressive reminder of the opulence of the royal family of Bahawalpur.
Noor Mahal, which translates to “Palace of Light,” is a magnificent historical monument located in Bahawalpur. Built in the late 19th century, this architectural gem serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and the artistic brilliance of the region.
This Mahal was built in the middle of a large lush green garden, consisting of 32 rooms that cover an area of 44,600 sqft. Furthermore, it includes 14 in the basement, 6 verandas, and 5 domes. The history and biography of the Abbasi Family, together with pictures, were given on the walls of the palace.
In September 2001 by the Government of Pakistan’s Department of Archeology, the building was declared a “Protected Monument”. This beautiful building is one of the hidden gems of Bahawalpur. The construction style is inspired by Italians, the luxurious interior, colorful artwork displayed on the walls, and attractive exterior make this place a unique piece of historical architecture.
