History of Islamabad/Rawalpindi

Islamabad's map

• Islamabad, Pakistan's federal capital, is a new city standing back to back with an old one Rawalpindi which is the nothern most division of Punjab. the twin cities with contarsting charms.




• Islamabad is divided into well planned squares and rectangles contrasting sharply with Rawalpindi which sprawls across the map with the accidental irregularities of ancient human sattlements.




• Rawalpindi presents a sharp and total contrast to Islamabad's brave new world.




• It is at the end of famous Salt Range and is the gateway to the Silk Route.




• It is also the base camp of thrill seekers from the over the world, who buckle-up here, to meet the most deadly and treacherous peaks in the worl - The Karakorums.




• Rawalpindi is famous for being a strong militry cantonment, standing square on the ancient Grand Trunk Road, almost between Lahore and Peshawar.




• Rawalpindi was originally called Fetchpur Boari.



• The history of Rawalpindi dates back to antiquity.



• The Aryans , could, perhaps, be described as the pioneer invaders of this ares: for they started it all in the 15th century B.C.



• In 1008 A.D., Mahmood of Ghazna crossed the Indus, conqueredthis part of the country and gave it to the Chief of the Gakkhar tribe to rule. The site where the city stands today was then known as Rawalpindi, after the name of a small village where the Rawals, a wandering tribe, had sattled.



• On the basis of archaeological discoveries, archaeologists belive that adistinct culture flourished on this plateau as far back as 3,000 years.



• Containing four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autmn. The maximum rainfall occurs during the monsoon season fron July to Septmber. The average rainfall is about 1,044 millimeters per year, which more then 50% occurring in monsoon season.



• In the end Rawalpindi/Islamabad is presenting as a cultural symbol of Pakistan.