Editing Islamabad (section)

==Tourism==
{{Main|Tourism in Islamabad}}
[[File:Faisal mosque on the eve of 27th Ramadan.jpg|thumb|Faisal Mosque during [[Ramadan]]]] 
[[Faisal Mosque]] is an important cultural landmark of the city and that attracts many tourists daily. Faisal Mosque built in 1986, was named after the Saudi Arabian King, [[Faisal bin Abdul Aziz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urdumania.com/world-in-urdu/shah-faisal-mosque-the-biggest-mosque-in-pakistan.php |title=Shah Faisal Mosque: The Biggest Mosque in Pakistan &#124; Urdu Pakistan |access-date=8 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928042301/http://www.urdumania.com/world-in-urdu/shah-faisal-mosque-the-biggest-mosque-in-pakistan.php |archive-date=28 September 2010 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> It also serves the purpose of accommodating 24,000 Muslims that pray at this mosque. Faisal Mosque that is designed by the Turks and financed by the [[Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]] includes calligraphy of Quranic verses along the walls of the mosque.

One of the landmarks for tourists is the [[Pakistan Monument]] built in 2007 located in Islamabad. This tourist attraction represents the patriotism and sovereignty of Pakistan. The design is shaped as a dome with petal-shaped walls that are engraved with arts portraying Pakistan's other tourist landmarks such as the [[Badshahi Mosque]], [[Minar-e-Pakistan]] and [[Lahore Fort]].

[[File:Daman-E-Koh.jpg|thumb|[[Daman-e-Koh]] Park]]
Islamabad holds some of Pakistan's most prestigious museums such as [[Lok Virsa Museum]], Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage [[Shakarparian]] Park and prominent galleries such as the [[National Art Gallery, Pakistan|National Art Gallery]] and Gallery 6.

The Islamabad Museum contains many relics and artifacts dating back to the [[Gandhara]] period of the region, an intriguing fusion of Buddhist and Graeco-Roman styles. The living culture of Islamabad and Pakistan is best explored at [[Lok Virsa Museum]], as well as the Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage in [[Shakarparian]] Park.

Islamabad is built upon civilization and architecture that ranges from the 10th Century to the modern era. As Islamabad is situated on the [[Potohar Plateau]], the remains of civilization descending from stone-age era include the Acheulian and the Soanian traditions and these are tourist landmarks. Islamabad has an array of historic landmarks that reflect the Hindu civilization that dates back to the 16th Century with examples such as [[Saidpur, Islamabad|Saidpur]]. Saidpur that is situated in Islamabad has progressed from a village to a sacred place that includes temples where the Hindu Mughal Commanders worshipped.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islamabadthecapital.com/culture-of-islamabad/ |access-date=8 March 2020 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228205435/http://www.islamabadthecapital.com/culture-of-islamabad |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Margalla Hills National Park]] is located in the North sector of Islamabad and is in close proximity to the [[Himalayas]]. The National Park includes of picturesque valleys and scenic hills that include various wildlife such as [[Himalayan goral]], Barking deer and [[leopards]]. Flanked by wildlife and vegetation, Margalla Hills National Park also includes accommodation and camping grounds for tourists.
=== Recreation ===
[[File:Islamabad - Faisal Mosque.jpg|thumb|Faisal Mosque as seen from Margalla Hills]]
Located in the city, the [[Faisal Mosque]] is the largest mosque in South Asia and the sixth–largest mosque in the world. Built in the year 1986, it was named after the late king of [[Saudi Arabia]], Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz, who backed and financed the construction.
[[File:Trail 3 Margalla Hills Islamabad.jpg|thumb|Trail 3 Islamabad]]
The most famous and oldest hiking track of Islamabad is Trail 3. It starts from the Margalla Road in sector F-6/3. Due to steep hills, the trail is exhausting to some extent. The course leads to the point where it goes up to the Viewpoint and is about a 30–50 minutes track. After the Viewpoint it continues for another easy-going 45 – 60 minutes and reaches the Pir Sohawa, where there are two restaurants for food, ''The Monal'' and ''La Montana''. In total, it is approximately a one-hour and thirty minute walk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cda.gov.pk/about_islamabad/trails/default.asp|title=Hiking Trail 3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711120951/http://www.cda.gov.pk/about_islamabad/trails/default.asp|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Shah Allah Ditta village is a centuries-old village and a union council of the Islamabad Capital Authority. The village is named after a dervish who belonged to the Mughal era. It is estimated to be 650 years old approximately. It is also home to ancient caves that reflects the previous civilizations. The 2500-year-old Buddhist caves at the foot of Margalla Hills are located in west of Taxila, east of Islamabad and in the central area of Khanpur. A spring, a pond and a garden still exist near the Shah Allah Ditta Caves. There are some banyan trees in the garden, while all other fruit trees are gone. The water from the same spring was used to irrigate the garden adjoining the caves. During the Mughal period, when India was the centre of Sufism originating from Arabia and Central Asia, a saint named Shah Allah Ditta stayed in this garden and was entombed here. The place formerly attributed to sadhus, monks, or jogis is today known for the famous Sufi Shah Allah Ditta. A short distance from these caves is also an ancient baoli (stepwell) in the village of Kanthila, which is said to have been built by [[Sher Shah Suri]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-09 |title=Shah Allah Ditta caves – relic of ancient Buddhism |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2360839/shah-allah-ditta-caves-relic-of-ancient-buddhism |access-date=2023-02-24 |work=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705020116/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2360839/shah-allah-ditta-caves-relic-of-ancient-buddhism |url-status=live }}</ref>