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.