A planned green capital at the foot of the Margalla Hills
Islamabad was built in the 1960s as a planned capital, and its grid of green sectors sits at the foot of the forested Margalla Hills. The Faisal Mosque, a tent-like modern design with four pencil minarets, is one of the largest mosques in the world. The Pakistan Monument and Lok Virsa Museum explain the country's history and folk culture, and hiking trails climb into the hills to viewpoints such as Daman-e-Koh and the hilltop restaurants of Pir Sohawa. The Buddhist ruins of Taxila are a short drive away.