"The history of all previous societies has been the history of class struggles"
~ Karl Marx
Pakistan is located on the northwestern side of the South Asian subcontinent. The soil of this place has been a place of attraction for many tourists since ages. It's a profound blend of landscapes, like forests, deserts, and plateaus extending from the coastal areas of the Arabian Sea. According to Britannica, Pakistan has ranked 33rd for having a total area of 881,889 km2 (340,509 sq mi) with a total of 97.14% lands, 2.86% water, 1046 km (650 mi) coastline, and four borders associated with Afghanistan to the northwest and north, Iran to the west, China to the northeast, and India to the east and southeast.
Pakistan is a country that is ruled by a lot of empires including Alexander the Great, the Seleucid, Maurya, Kushan, the Hindu Shahi, the Umayyad Caliphate in southern regions, the Ghaznavids, the Mughals, the Delhi Sultanate, the Durrani Empire, and the Sikh Empires. Every empire has its history and places (forts, mosques, roads, gardens) that were built by the "king" of that time. For example, Badshahi Mosque, Taj Mahal, and Hiran Minar were built during the Mughal Empire. Similarly, the Rohtas fort was built by Sher Shah Suri during the Suri Empire.
After the division of the subcontinent in 1947, some of the historical places were allotted to the northwestern side of the South Asian region, which is Pakistan. These facts, historical places, and geography of Pakistan are the reasons that make our country a paradise for people who love to explore the world and its history.
The rich history oozes out of all the historical buildings from across the country, depicting tales of war, love, peace, bravery, and strength.
Ranging from breathtaking deserts, lush green plains, breath-taking archaic landscapes, attractive hill stations, majestic mountain ranges, beautiful lakes, famous dams, and historical mosques, Pakistan has it all.
In this blog, we are going to talk about the historical places in Pakistan. Below we have mentioned some of the famous historical places of Pakistan that are playing a massive role in boosting tourism.
Tourism in Pakistan
Pakistan is geographically and ethnically diverse, consisting of a large number of historical and cultural heritage sites. For the past few years, the tourism industry has been gaining popularity because of the incumbent government of Pakistan, as they have declared a judgment to end No Objection Certificates for foreign tourists seeking to visit certain parts of the country. A famous magazine CN Traveler has also published an article in which Pakistan was top-ranked to be the best holiday destination to visit in 2021 as well as in an article of "The Independent" Pakistan is also declared as the second-highest potential adventure destination.
List of historical places in Pakistan
1. Rohtas Fort
Rohtas fort also known as "Qila Rohtas" is a military-constructed fort, dating back to the 16th-century, located at Jhelum in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It was constructed by Raja Todar Mal during the reign of Sher Shah Suri. The fort is famous among people because of its stunning large walls and many monumental gateways. It is the first fort in Punjab that was marked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997. The fort is spread in a total area of 70 hectares, surrounded by 4-kilometer-long walls that were supported by 68 bastion towers and 12 gates. It is known as the toughest fort in Pakistan because it can hold a maximum force of 30,000 men. The Qila Rohtas is considered to be the largest fort in south Asia.
If you are a person that loves to discover history, you shouldn't miss this aesthetic and one of the best historical places in Punjab, Pakistan called Qila Rohtas.
2. Hiran Minar
Hiran Minar also known as "The Deer Tower" is a complex located in Sheikhupura, Punjab province of Pakistan that was built in the 17th-century during the presence of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The Tower lies 40 kilometers from the city of foodies, "Lahore". The design of the complex is just beautiful as it comprises 4 minarets/towers that are 30 feet high. It was built in a scrub forest to experience nature and wilderness. It is known as one of the most beautiful places in Pakistan because of its massive pool and pavilion view that gives it a stunning look and grace. Sheikhupura Fort is also a historical place that is situated 6.9 km away from this complex.
3. Katas Raj Temples
Katas Raj, also known as "Qila Katas" is a complex of multiple Hindu temples that are joined with each other by walkways. The most attractive thing about this complex is the pond which is called Katas - regarded as sacred by Hindus. It's situated near Kallar Kahar with an altitude of 2,000 feet. It's about 100 kilometers from another famous historical place, "The Tilla Jogian complex" - a Hindu pilgrimage destination. A lot of rumors are famous about this Qila and the pond. As a lot of people said, the pond was created by the tears of the Lord of Hindus "Shiva" that he shed to his late wife - Sati (Dakshayani). The temple explains the story of the Shiva that is why this complex has a part in the famous Hindu epic poem known as Mahābhārata.
4. Mohenjo Daro
If we talk about an archaeological site in Pakistan, Mohenjo Daro takes the first place. The word Mohenjo Daro means "Mound of the Dead Men". It is located in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It was built in 2500 BCE and was abandoned in the 19th century BCE as one of the oldest settlements of the Indus Valley. It was also one of the earliest major cities in the world. It is located in the center of the Indus River and the Ghaggar-Hakra River. It was rediscovered in 1920, and UNESCO declined Mohenjo Daro as a World Heritage Site in 1980. Because of material decay, salt action, precipitation infiltration, and poor sewerage, the site is deteriorating continuously.
5. Takht-i-Bahi
Takht-i-Bahi is a Buddhist monastery that was found in the 1st century CE and is commonly known as the "throne of water spring". In Persian, Takht means 'throne' and Bahi means 'spring' or 'water'. It's an Indo-Parthian archaeological site located in Mardan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Buddhists used Takht-i-Bahi as their religious place from the 1st to the 7th century. Later on, in 1980 it was also considered to be a World Heritage Site. The best thing about this complex is that it has four different sections. The first is Stupa Court which consists of clusters of stupas situated at the central courtyard. The second section consists of monastic chambers, assembly halls, and a dining area. Then comes the temple complex which consists of Stupas, the same as the Stupa Court. The last one is the tantric monastic complex, which contains small, dark cages with low opening gates. There are a lot more places to visit in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but you should visit this place if you love to explore history.
So, this was the list of historical places in Pakistan that are being most visited by the locals and tourists. You can also read our blog about places to visit in Peshawar.
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