Historical Places To Visit in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of those countries that are blessed with every gift of nature. Either it is mountains or plateau, lakes or valleys, rivers or sea, lush green plains to mighty deserts, everything here is majestically beautiful. It is a culturally enriched country having natural beauty, traditional festivals foods, and historical places to visit in Pakistan that are not less than wonders on earth. 

This country on earth is not less than a paradise for people who love to explore and travel. The old and historical places to visit in Pakistan tell the stories of different empires that ruled here. There are some big names in history who passed this land while on their expeditions. 

In this article, we are going to bring you up to the top 20 historical places to visit in Pakistan before your breath stops. This article will bring you closer to history and enhance your knowledge regarding Pakistan.

List of Top 20 Historical Places To Visit in Pakistan

Rohtas Fort

Qila Rohtas or Rohtas Fort is located near the city of Jhelum, Pakistan. It is just 15km away from Jhelum city and is a beautiful tourist destination and historical place. This Fort was constructed during the reign of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century after he took control of the Mughal Empire in 1538. 

The area of Rohtas Fort is spread over 70 hectares and is one of the largest forts in the Subcontinent. The building of the fort is still standing firm and with all the glory and it is due to the fact that Rohtas Fort was never attacked. 

Rohtas Fort is located about 4 hours from Lahore and 2 hours from the Capital Territory, Islamabad. The visiting hours for the fort are from 9 am to 5 pm and the entry to the fort is completely free. 

Taxila City

The ancient city of Taxila is located about 32 kilometers from Rawalpindi on the famous Grand Trunk Road (GT Road). The archaeological site in Taxila is the evidence of how an old and ancient civilization came out of the Indus Valley Civilization. 

Taxila is considered to be a very old city. Its origin is thought to be in 1000 BC and some ruins here are also estimated to be as old as 3360 BC. 

The entire city of Taxila was designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The ancient University of Taxila is considered to be one of the oldest universities in the world. Taxila is full of ancient structures including a cave, stupas, a monastery, and is spread over a huge area. 

There is a museum too having old and ancient things used by the ancient people. There is an entrance fee to the museum; 50rs for Pakistani tourists and 200 for foreign tourists. This museum operated from 9 am to 5 pm.

Taxila is having a strategic position for Pakistan as many industries and factories regarding Defense are present here. 

Hiran Minar

Hiran Minar or “The Deer Tower” was constructed in the memory of a pet of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the 17th century. The antelope named Mansraj was the dearest pet of Jahangir and was mistakenly killed during a hunting season. 

In the memory of his dear Mansraj, he ordered to build a minaret to commemorate it. The Hiran Minar is located in the city of Sheikhupura. The structure of the Hiran Minar complex is very interesting. It has four minarets that are 30 feet in length and the complex has a massive pool that increases its beauty.

Read More: Get to know about the stunning waterfalls of Pakistan.

Takht-i-Bahi

Pakistan is full of historical and ancient places. Its every corner depicts the ancient civilization. The province of KPK is also having some of the famous and historical places that one should visit and Takht-i-Bahi is one of those places. It is an archaeological site of a Buddhist Monastery located in the city of Mardan. 

Takht-i-Bahi was founded in the 1st century CE and the Buddhists stayed here till the 7th century. This ancient place was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. 

Takht-i-Bahi has four main areas. It has a Stupa Court having a cluster of stupas in the central courtyard. The second area consists of the monastic chambers. It has assembly halls and a dining area. After this, there’s a temple complex having stupas similar to Stupa Court. And at last, Takht-i-Bahi has a Tantric monastic complex. 

This place is a popular tourist destination for the people who have affection for history. There is no entrance fee for this ancient place.

Katas Raj Temples

Katas Raj Temples are located near Kalar Kahar on Kalar Kahar Road. It is about 24.5 kilometers far from the Kalar Kahar Motorway interchange. The Hindu Temples are said to be constructed in the 7th century or earlier. 

Katas is a complex of several samples. These temples are interconnected with the help of walkways. The complex of temples is surrounded by a pond which increases their beauty. Katas is the name of the pond and it is regarded as a sacred pond by Hindus. 

The famous epic Mahabharta also mentions these temples and the founder of the Sikh religion – Guru Nanak, often visited Katas Raj Temples. 

Katas Raj temples can be visited from 9 am to 5 pm and there is no entrance fee for these temples. 

The Noor Mahal

In 1872, the Nawab of Bahawalpur built the Noor Mahal during the British reign. Nawab Subah Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV built this palace for his wife. But his wife spent only one night in the Noor Mahal due to the affection of Basti Maluk Shah graveyard. It is located in the city of Bahawalpur and it is beautiful with attractive architecture. 

The interior and exterior of the Noor Mahal are really beautiful and captivating. The furniture for the elegant Noor Mahal was imported from England d and Italy at that time. The estimated cost that took Noor Mahal to complete was 1.2 million rupees and it was completed in 1875. 

The palace spread across an area of 44,600 square feet. It has 32 rooms, 6 verandas and 5 domes.

Lahore Fort

Lahore Fort is located in the walled city of Lahore and is also known as “Shahi Qila” or “Royal Fort”. It is one of the main attractions in Lahore with beautiful architecture and neighboring another Mughal Empire’s masterpiece, the Badshahi Masjid. 

The area of the fort expands to about 20 hectares. There are several tunnels that lead to the other places. It is one of the famous landmarks of Pakistan. 

Harappa

The city of Harappa is located about 24km from Sahiwal, Punjab. Harappa was the city of Indus Valley Civilization and it is believed that it was the home of nearly 23,000 people. This place was given the name of Harappa from a nearby village at the bank of river Ravi. 

Moreover, the ruins present in the Harappa date back to the bronze age. Harappa was established in 2600 BC along the Indus River Valley. This city had a very modern civilization. The people of Harappa had their own writing system, urban centers, and modern social and economic system. 

The Harappans were the traders of agricultural products and they also had cotton textiles. The student of history should visit this place as it is highly enriched with the lifestyle of Harappans.

Mohenjo Daro

Another series of Indus Valley Civilization is Mohenjo Daro. It is an archaeological site located near the city of Larkana in Sindh. Mohenjo Daro is considered to be the largest and the oldest settlement of Indus Valley Civilization that was built around 2500 BC. It was discovered in 1921.

Mohenjo Daro is also known as ‘Mound of the Dead Men’. It was given the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. 

Minar-e-Pakistan

Pakistan Resolution was passed on 23rd March 1940 in a large assembly gathering organized by the All-India Muslim League that took the decision to have a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent. After seven years, history was made and Pakistan came into existence.

Twenty years later, to commemorate this memory, the construction work to build a monument on the site of Resolution Day was started. After eight years, the Minar-e-Pakistan was completed. 

It is a 62-meter high minaret that is a symbol of the independence of Pakistan. The Minar-e-Pakistan is a perfect depiction of modern and Islamic architecture. The design of Minar-e-Pakistan was made by famous Russian born architect, Nasreddin Muran-Khan. 

It is located in the Iqbal park near to Badshahi Masjid and Lahore Fort. Thousands of visitors pay a visit to this monument every year. Without the inclusion of this commemoration in the list of historical places to visit in Pakistan, the history of our country is incomplete.

Wazir Khan Masjid

 The walled city of Lahore is full of old and historical buildings that were built in the Mughal Era. One of those ancient buildings in the Masjid Wazir Khan. One can reach the Masjid Wazir Khan by passing through the Delhi gate. 

Wazir Khan Mosque is magnificent in beauty and has four minarets about 33 meters high and five turnip shaped domes. This mosque was built on the orders of Governor Wazir Khan in 1634 and was named before him. 

It is one of the most beautiful mosques in Pakistan. It is a stunning piece of art and a marvelous addition to Islamic heritage. 

Kot Diji

Pakistan has a huge list of ancient and historical forts. Every fort has its own history and beauty. So, here we are to discover another fort present in Sindh. 

The Kot Diji Fort is located on a hill in Kot Diji, Sindh. This fort is one of the oldest forts of Pakistani history. It was built by Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur in 1785-95. But it is believed that the remains date back to 3300 BC that places the remains before the Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan Civilization.

Unlike the other forts, this fort gets fewer tourists. The remains and the fort can be accessed from Khairpur city. 

Derawar Fort

The Derawar Fort was built by a Hindu Rajput, Bhati of Jaisalmer. Derawar Fort has forty bastions that are clearly visible from miles away in the Cholistan Desert. The walls of the fort are thirty meters high and have a circumference of 1500 meters. 

It remained under Hindu Rajput and was later captured by the Nawabs of Bahawalpur in 1733. The fort is still in a good condition and its walls are firm yet. 

Ranikot Fort

The Sindh province in Pakistan has a list of beautiful and historical places that attract many tourists around the country and world. The Ranikot Fort is yet another that one must visit in his lifetime. Ranikot Fort is thought to be the largest fort in the world and is also known as the Great Wall of Sindh.

Ranikot Fort is located about 90 kilometers far from the District Hyderabad.

Tomb of Jahangir

The tomb of Mughal Emperor Jahangir took 10 years to build and its construction was completed in 1637. It is a beautiful landmark in the outskirts of Lahore. The tomb walls are beautifully decorated with inlaid marble and floral frescoes. The surroundings of the tomb are enriched with lush green grass gardens. 

Despite the floods and other pollutants, the tomb still stands in very good condition after more than 370 years. Tourists can visit this marvelous place from 9 am to 7 pm. 

Baltit Fort

If someone says that the northern areas of Pakistan don’t have any historical places, then he is surely wrong. The Baltit Fort is located near Karimabad, Hunza. It was founded in the 8th century and the Mirs of Hunza inhabited there until 1945.

The fort has a Tibetan architecture and is present on a hilltop and claims a marvelous view. It is a popular tourist destination as thousands of people visit the northern area of Pakistan. 

Shalimar Gardens

The Shalimar Garden is the gift of Mughals to Lahoris. It is a Persian garden complex and is also a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The Mughals granted the rights of Shalimar Garden to the Arain Mian family for their services. General Ayub Khan nationalized the Shalimar Gardens in 1962.

Makli Necropolis

With an area of more than 10 square kilometers, Makli Necropolis is considered as the world’s largest funeral site. 

This ancient heritage is located in the city of Sindh, Thatta. The official name of the Makli Necropolis is “ Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta”. The site is the house of nearly 500,000 to 1 million tombs that were built within the period of 400 years.

Nagarparkar Jain Temples

Nagarparkar Jain Temples is a collection of abandoned temples from the 12th to 15th centuries and are located very close to the desert border of Pakistan and India. 

These temples are the symbols of Jainism – an ancient religion of the Subcontinent and are considered as the unique historical places of Pakistan. The temples are enriched and express the Jain architecture. 

There are 14 temples including the Gori Temple, which is the oldest existing Jain frescoes in the world. 

Begum Shahi Mosque

The Begum Shahi Mosque was built between 1611 to 1612 under Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the honor of his mother, Mariam Zamani. Begum Shahi Mosque is also known as the “Mother of all Mosques”. 

It is a small mosque near the Lahore Fort and is one of the beautiful and historical landmarks of Lahore. It is also Lahore’s oldest surviving Mughal Era architecture. 

These are some of the ancient and historical places to visit in Pakistan. If someone loves to have an adventurous life and is fond of traveling, then he must explore these historical places to visit in Pakistan.