Friday, December 31, 2010

Pakistan Monument




The Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, Pakistan, is a national monument representing the nation's four provinces and three territories. After a competition among many renowned architects, Arif Masood’s plan was selected for the final design. The blooming flower shape of the monument represents Pakistan's progress as a rapidly developing country.

The four main petals of the monument represent the four provinces (Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh), while the three smaller petals represent the three territories (Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas).

The Monument has been designed to reflect the culture and civilization of the country and depicts the story of the Pakistan Movement, dedicated to those who sacrificed themselves for future generations.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Wazir Khan Mosque

The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, is famous for its extensive faience tile work. It has been described as ' a mole on the cheek of Lahore'. It was built in seven years, starting around 1634-1635 AD, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan.

It was built by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, a native of Chiniot, who rose to be the court physician to Shah Jahan and later, the Governor of Lahore. He was commonly known as Wazir Khan. The mosque is located inside the Inner City and is easiest accessed from Delhi Gate.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal

The Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal (The poet of the East and the thinker of Pakistan) is located in Hazuri Bagh, Lahore, Pakistan, just to the left of the main entrance of Badshahi Mosque. The rectangular shaped tomb is made of red sandstones.

The architecture reflects a combination of Afghan and Moorish styles. A large number of visitors visit the mausoleum every day to offer Fatiha and pay tributes to Allama Muhammad Iqbal for his services.


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Mohenjo-Daro


Mohenjo-daro was one of the largest city-settlements in the Indus Valley Civilization which thrived in ancient times along the Indus River. Mohenjo-daro itself is located in Larkana District in the modern-day province of Sindh, Pakistan. Built around 2600 BCE, the city was one of the early urban settlements in the world, existing at the same time as the civilizations of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Crete. The archaeological remains of the city are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been referred to as an "ancient Indus Valley metropolis".

The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan, 53.5 °C (128.3 °F), was recorded here on 26 May 2010. It is also the highest reliably measured temperature in the continent of Asia, and the fourth highest temperature recorded on earth.

 

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Minar-e-Pakistan


Minar-e-Pakistan (or Yadgaar-e-Pakistan) is a tall minaret in Iqbal Park Lahore, built in honor of the Lahore Resolution.

It reflects a blend of Mughal and modern architecture, and is constructed on the site where on March 23, 1940, Lahore Resolution demanding the creation of Pakistan. It was seven years before the formation of Pakistan.

The large public space around the monument is commonly used for political and public meetings, whereas Iqbal Park area is ever so popular among kite-flyers. The tower rises about 60 meters on the base, thus the total height of minaret is about 62 meters above the ground.

The unfolding petals of the flower-like base are 9 meters high. The diameter of the tower is about 97.5 meters (320 feet).

Badshahi Mosque



The Badshahi Mosque or the 'Emperor's Mosque', was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore. It is one of the city's best known landmarks, and a major tourist attraction and characterizes the beauty and greatness of the Mughal era.

Capable of accommodating over 55,000 worshipers.

It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan, after the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

The architecture and design of the Badshahi Masjid is closely related to the Jama Masjid in Delhi, India, which was built in 1648 by Aurangzeb's father and predecessor, Emperor Shah Jahan.

The Imam-e-Kaaba (Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais of Saudi Arabia) has also led prayers in this mosque in 2007.






Mizar-e-Quaid






The Quaid-e-Azam`s Mausoleum is a prominent and impressive landmark of Karachi.

Nearby are the graves of the “Quaid-e-Millat”.

Liaqat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Quaid`s sister, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.

It was built between 1960 and 1970 by the Pakistani architect Yahya C. Merchant.
Area: 61 acre (3100 m²)
Established:
June 2, 1970

Faisal Mosque







The Shah Faisal Masjid in Islamabad, Pakistan, is among one of the largest mosques in the world. It is renowned for both its size and its architecture covering an area of 5,000 square meters with a capacity of 300,000 worshippers.

Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay's designed it.

Construction of the mosque began in 1976 by National Construction of Pakistan, led by Azim Borujerdi, and was funded by the government of Saudi Arabia, at a cost of over 130 million Saudi riyals.

It is located at the end of Shaharah-e-Islamabad, putting it at one end of the city and in front of a magnificent backdrop provided by the Margalla Hills.

It is a focal point of Islamabad, and famous and recognized icon of the city.

The Historical Khyber Pass


The Khyber Pass is the mountain pass that links Pakistan and Afghanistan at an altitude of 1,070 m or 3,510 feet.

Throughout history it has been an important trade route between Central Asia and South Asia and a strategic military location.

The summit of the Khyber Pass is 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) inside Pakistan at Landi Kotal and it cuts through the northeastern part of the White Mountains
or Koh-e-Safaid - extension of the Hindu Kush range.

For centuries, it has been a trade route between south and north Asia.

Every stone in the Khyber has been soaked in blood. Rudyard Kipling called it "a sword cut through the mountains."