If you are a person who wants to experience historical heritage then Pakistan is a region rich in cultural history and diversity. In this article, you will find beautiful historical places in the Pakistan of Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan.
The beauty of Pakistan is famous all around the world. A huge number of tourists from all over the world visit Pakistan every year. From the northern areas of Pakistan to the cultural heritage every part of Pakistan holds immense beauty. Historical places in Pakistan are a top tourist attraction for people who want to explore ancient civilization.
The historical places in Pakistan exceptional and worth watching buildings and almost all of them have preserved beautifully. Their essence is still alive. Therefore, historical places in Pakistan hold history and creativity to attract visitors.
Here is a list of the top 15 historical places in Pakistan from all the four provinces that need to be on your travel list if you are planning a visit to historical places in Pakistan.
Historical places in Punjab, Pakistan
1. Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens
Both these places are beautiful symbols of the artistic sense of the Mughal dynasty. These attention-grabbing places reflect the unforgettable Mughal Era. The well-known fort was completely rebuilt in the 17th century. Some of the most magnificent and major highlights of the fort were constructed by Emperor Jahangir.
One of these is the Picture Wall that is beautifully decorated with mosaics, tiles, and frescoes. The Lahore Fort covers an area of above 20 hectares and is located in the northern end of Walled City- a famous city of Lahore. The Shalimar Gardens is Royal Mughal Gardens with worth-seeing beautiful constructions, lawns, and fountains. Shah Jahan built it in 1642.
2. Rohtas Fort
Rohtas Fort is a famous historical place in Pakistan and was constructed in the 16th century. It is a clear reflection of the traditions and the cultural heritage of Pakistan. It is located in Jhelum and was built by Afghan King Farid Khan also known as Sher Shah Suri. The fort follows Afghan-Persian architecture and took 8 years to build.
The main highlights are the gigantic gates and walls. There are 12 gates of Rohtas Fort. Anyone who wants to visit Rohtas fort must know the famous worth-watching sites inside the fort-like Haveli Man Singh, Phansi Ghat, Rani Mahal, Museum, Royal Mosque, Talaqi, Shishi, and Langer Khana Gates.
3. Minar-e-Pakistan
Minar-e-Pakistan, situated in Lahore, is a famous historical place in Pakistan. It was built to commemorate the Lahore Resolution on 23rd March 1940 that was a demand for a separate homeland for Muslims. The most interesting aspect of this masterpiece is that it took eight years in its construction and the base is about 8 meters above the ground.
It demonstrates real beauty and is a blend of Mughal and contemporary architecture. The artificial lake and the marble mountains give an extremely beautiful look to this place. It is one of the most visited historical places in Lahore city and from all over Pakistan. Particularly, the view in the night is amazing.
4. Taxila
The archaeological site in Taxila reflects how an ancient civilization originated from Indus Valley Civilization. It depicts various stages of development influenced by Central Asia, Persia, and Greece. Moreover, it is believed that this site was used by Alexander the Great as an entry point during this conquest of the region.
The city is considered about 1000 BCE old and some of the ruins suggest it is 3360 BCE old. In addition to this, the University of Taxila is thought to be the oldest university in the world. In 1980, the whole city was entitled to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located close to Islamabad and you can easily plan a visit from the capital to see this famous historical place in Pakistan.
5. Hiran Minar
HiranMinar is a situation in Sheikhupura. It is located at a distance of 40km away from the city of Lahore. It is one of the most popular historical places in Pakistan in terms of visits. This masterpiece was built by the 4th Mughal King, Jahangir. It is also rumored to know as the tomb of Mansraj- a pet deer of King Jahangir.
Therefore, it is known as Hiran Minar up to this day as it was dedicated to the king’s pet deer. It is surrounded by a lake and the beautiful architecture makes visiting its worthy endeavor. The tomb is about 30 meters above the ground. It is only a one-hour drive from Lahore which makes it an easy day’s getaway.
6. Noor Mahal
This more than 150 years old palace is located in Bahawalpur. It was built by Nawab Subah Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV for his wife but she spent only one night here due to the proximity of Basti Maluk Shah graveyard. After that, this beautiful palace was used as a state guest house or for meetings.
Noor Mahal covers an area of 44,600 square feet and has two stories. It has 32 rooms, 14 of which are in the basement. It contains 6 verandas and 5 domes as well. It is known as one of the most famous historical places in Pakistan.
Historical places in Sindh Pakistan
7. Mohenjo Daro
The list of famous historical places is incomplete without including Mohenjo Daro. It is one of the largest cities of Indus Valley Civilization. This ancient city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built around 2500 BCE. But it remained undiscovered for over 3700 years and was found by archaeologists in the early 1920s.
It is situated in the city of Larkana in Sindh Pakistan. It shares many common aspects of the civilization of Harappa. Mohenjo Daro is built from mud and baked bricks and it is believed that it is one major ancient urban settlement whose urban settlement plans were followed by other civilizations including Ancient Egypt.
8. Makli
Makli is a necropolis that is situated in the historic city of Thatta, the former capital of medieval Sindh. It is a vast funeral site, considered the largest in the world, and is a famous historical place in the world. People from all over the world visit Pakistan to see the phenomenal tombs.
The site covers an area of about 10km and has about 500,000 tombs. These tombs were built over a period of 400 years and are associated with Sufi saints and admired scholars. It was founded when Sufi saint Sheikh Jamali allotted this place to a Sufi gathering site and was eventually buried here. Later on, in the 14th century, Trakhan ruler Jam Tamachi was buried then and a tradition started.
In Makli Necropolis, the most magnificent and architecturally significant tombs were built in the Mughal Era. It is located at a distance of two hours from both Karachi and Hyderabad and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
9. Mazar-e-Quaid
It is one of the most popular tourist sites in Karachi city and all over Pakistan as well. It was built in the memory of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. It is also known as Jinnah Mausoleum or National Mausoleum. The mausoleum contains the tomb of Jinnah’s sister Fatima Ali Jinnah, Mother of the Nation, and is an iconic symbol of Karachi. Moreover, the tombs of many other famous personalities from history are also located here.
The mausoleum was designed in the modern style and is adorned with white marbles that make it a masterpiece of art. The interior contains a beautiful four-tiered crystal chandelier gifted by China. The mausoleum is surrounded by a huge 53-hectare park. It is one of the most famous historical places in Pakistan.
Historical places in KPK Pakistan
10. Takht-e-Bahi
Many famous historical places are located in KPK too and Takht-e-Bahi is one of them. It is an archaeological site of a Buddhist Monastery and is situated in Mardan. This site too is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered exceptionally preserved throughout these years.
Takht-e-Bahi was founded in the 1st Century and depicts the Buddhist history of that time. It is located on the top of a hill at about 152 meters high. There are four major parts of this place which are Stupas courts, monastic complex, tantric complex, and a temple complex.
11. Islamia College
It is also a famous historical place in Pakistan and is located in the historical city of Peshawar. It was built by Nawab Abdul Qayyum and George Kepel. It was built with the vision to serve as the best educational building of the time and as a platform to boost the much-needed political activities of that time.
It is still in Peshawar and is providing the best knowledge of the present era. During the struggle for independence of Pakistan, Quaid visited Islamia college three times.
12. Mahmud Ghaznavi Mosque
Mahmud Ghaznavi was a famous Muslim Emperor in history and this mosque is built on his name. This mosque is about 1000 years old. It is situated in Swat at a distance of about 7km from Mingora on the GT road towards Peshawar. It is one of the oldest mosques in the Northern areas of Pakistan and was discovered by an Italian archaeologist in 1985. The mosque is a splendid symbol of Muslim architecture.
It is the tomb of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi who defeated Raja Gira here and embraced martyrdom. This tomb is famous among the local people and surrounding areas as Ghazni Baba tomb. This historical mosque is a top tourist attraction for tourists in Swat. It is a famous historical place in Pakistan.
Historical places in Balochistan
13. Quaid-e-Azam Residency
Quaid’s Residency is a famous historical place in Pakistan. It is located in Ziarat, one of the best vacation spots in Pakistan, Balochistan. It holds great historic importance as Quaid-e-Azam stayed there during his final days. The surrounding rich green yards, chinar trees, and flower gardens give an aesthetic and worth-seeing view.
It has the remains of the Father of Nation. It was later used by Agent to the Governor-General as his summer headquarters. This place is a must to visit the historical place when you are in Ziarat.
14. Nindo Damb
NindoDamb shares similarities with Harappa Civilization. It is a site of the Kulli culture of Balochistan. Hills of different heights are located in this area and this place consists of buildings that represent ancient architecture. The central hill consists of large stones and boulders.
This hill was considered a monument because the summit of the hill is accessed through a staircase from the stage. The archaeological remains of this place suggest a blend of two cultures.
15. Pirak
It is an archaeological site that belongs to Indus Valley Civilization. It is located in the south of Sibi east of the Nari River. This hill is about 8 meters above the ground and covers an area of twelve acres. It was excavated by a team of French archaeologists. Structures of the unburnt block associated with a large stage were found.
Pottery wares adorned with fingertip impressions were also found. This site has signs of some very old ironwork as well. Different seals were additionally found.
Conclusion
Pakistan is a famous tourist attraction due to its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Many archaeological sites are located in Pakistan including many of the most ancient civilizations in the world. These places hold a prominent position in the culture of Pakistan. Many people visit these historical places every year from Pakistan and all around the world. By reading this article till the end you will be able to know about the famous historical places in Pakistan from all the four provinces of Pakistan.
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