Islamabad is said to be a barren
place regarding culture and heritage because the capital city of Pakistan has
no history or historical background.
Before May 24, 1960, when President
of Pakistan Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan approved master plan and laid
foundation of this city, there was a massive jungle with some parasitic small
villages like Saidpur, Golra, Noorpur Shahan, Shah Allah Ditta Village, home of Syed Mehmood Shah, the father
of Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi Bari Imam [now
Shakarparian] and Baghan village [now Aabpara] etc.
This jungle was located at the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau and at the foots of the Margalla Hills with some hilly towns like Pir Sohawa
which is the highest point of Margalla Hills. Elevation of Margalla Hills is 540 meters (1,770 ft).
The modern capital city of Islamabad now has replaced this
Jungle.
Gegraphically, Islamabad and the ancient Gakhar city of Rawalpindi stand side by side
and are commonly referred to as the Twin Cities, where no exact boundary exists
between the two cities.
To the northeast of the city lies the hill station of Murree, and to the north
lies the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Kahuta lies on the southeast, Taxila, Wah Cantt, and Attock District
to the northwest, Gujar Khan, Rawat and Mandra on the southeast, and the metropolis
of Rawalpindi to the south and southwest. Islamabad is located 120
kilometers (75 mi) SSW of Muzaffarabad,
185 kilometers (115 mi) east of
The capital city of Islamabad expanses an area of 906 square
kilometers (350 sq mi). A further 2,717 square kilometers
(1,049 sq mi) area is known as the Specified Area, with the Margalla
Hills in the north and northeast. The southern portion of the city is an
undulating plain. It is drained by the Kurang River, on which the Rawal Dam is located.
Margalla Hills are natural bodyguards of Islamabad but very
few people know that these Hills are great treasure of history and have special relations with the great victorious,
Alexander the Great.
Margalla Hills have the honor to welcome Alexander the Great
in this area.
History tells us that once; Margalla Hills and its
surrounding areas are core points of ancient Gandhara Civilization. This area
has rich archeological background.
There is a trail which is going towards heights of Margalla
from village Shah Allah Ditta. Muslim ruler of India, Sher Shah Suri
constructed a “Bawli” [water well] on this trail to facilitate travelers as
well as residents of the village but now this well is in dilapidated condition
and no department of capital is willing to repair it.
“Lousar Bawli” is located in Haripur district of
Khyber-Pakhtunkhaw province. It is also said that once this trail was a road
for trade caravans coming to Rawalpindi from Kabul, Afghanistan via Taxila.
Near this bawli, another historical place “Buddha
Caves” are located which are called “Shah Allah Ditta Caves” also.
Historians
and researchers have declared that these caves are part of Gandhara
Civilization and high priests and followers of Buddhism used these 2500 years
old caves for their prayers “Gayan”.
Some yards away from these caves, shrine of Shah
Allah Ditta is situated who was alive in Mughal Era. A large number of
followers of Shah Allah Ditta still come here from different parts of the
country annually.
According to historians, Alexander the Great also
used this way to enter subcontinent around 326 BC. Raja Ambhi of Taxila
welcomed Alexander the Great near these caves on ancient Kabul-Rawalpindi
Highway. A stony throne is can also be seen here which was possibly used for
welcome ceremony of Alexander the Great.
Near this throne and caves there was a garden
namely “Sadhoo Garden” but now only remains of this garden can be seen. Time
has destroyed this beautiful site but it is heard that new civil administration
is now stepping ahead to restore this ancient heritage.