History Of Rawalpindi City
Rawalpindi is the 4th largest city of Pakistan. It is in Punjab province and located in Pothohar region of Pakistan. Rawalpindi is in the northernmost part of the Punjab province, 275 km (171 mi) to the north-west of Lahore. Rawalpindi is also known as Pindi. Pindi is also known as twin cities along with capital Islamabad. In the 1950s, the city’s economy received a boost during the building of Islamabad (1959–1969) during which time Rawalpindi served as the national capital and its population increased from 180,000 at the time of independence. It is the administrative seat of the Rawalpindi district. The total area of the city is approximately 108.8 square kilometers (42.0 sq. mi). The City-District of Rawalpindi comprises seven autonomous tehsils. Rawalpindi is the military headquarters of the Pakistan Armed forces.
Rawalpindi is the 4th largest city of Pakistan. It is in Punjab province and located in Pothohar region of Pakistan. Rawalpindi is in the northernmost part of the Punjab province, 275 km (171 mi) to the north-west of Lahore. Rawalpindi is also known as Pindi. Pindi is also known as twin cities along with capital Islamabad. In the 1950s, the city’s economy received a boost during the building of Islamabad (1959–1969) during which time Rawalpindi served as the national capital and its population increased from 180,000 at the time of independence. It is the administrative seat of the Rawalpindi district. The total area of the city is approximately 108.8 square kilometers (42.0 sq. mi). The City-District of Rawalpindi comprises seven autonomous tehsils. Rawalpindi is the military headquarters of the Pakistan Armed forces.
Inhabitants of Rawalpindi District speak a great variety of Punjabi includes Pothohari, Majhi, Pahari, shahpuri, Dhani and Kashmiri. Although Urdu is also the mother tongue of few people but Urdu being a national language is spoken and understood by sizeable population. English is also known and spoken by many people of Rawalpindi. Pashto is also spoken of migrants.
As far as the history of Rawalpindi is concern, Rawalpindi has been from thousands of years, it is believed that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau as far in c1000BC. The nearby town Taxila has Guinness Book of World Record for its world oldest civilization and university. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Rawalpindi. In the succeeding years, Rawalpindi saw an influx of Muhajir, Pashtun and Kashmiri settlers. In late 50’s the city became the interim capital of the country after creation of a new planned capital of Islamabad in the vicinity of Rawalpindi which results most major central government offices and institutions relocate to nearby territory, and its population increases due to migrants from different part of country.
Rawalpindi has a big history in terms of assassinations. At first in 1951, Rawalpindi saw the assassination of the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan in Company Bagh which later turns its name as Liaquat Bagh Park. Then in late 70’s Prime Minister Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged in Rawalpindi jail. In 2007, Liaquat Bagh Park’s gate in Rawalpindi was also the site of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
The city has two main roads: the Grand Trunk Road and is known as The Mall as it passes through the cantonment, Murree Road breaks north from The Mall, its way to Islamabad. Murree road which has been has been a hot spot for various political and social events. Others roads are Said Purr Road, Liaqat road, Kashmir road, Bank road, Civil Line road, Jamia Masjid road, Sarfraz Road, College Road, Rawal Road, Band khana road, Iqbal road, circular road, Haider road, 4-7th roads etc. Liaquat Memorial Hall was constructed in memorization of late Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan. It features a huge auditorium and library. Art shows, public shows and stage Dramas are performed right here frequently. Garden Rawalpindi well-laid garden with sports facilities and children’s park has been developed near the community hall in Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi has its significance in terms of its forces headquarters. It has headquarters of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air force and also has an active airbase in chakala cantt of Rawalpindi.
The bazaars of the old city offer exciting bargains. You can leisurely browse in the quaint old shops in sadder bazaar, Moti bazaar, Raja bazaar and Kashmiri bazaar while Sarafa bazaar is famous for beaten gold and silver jewelry, brass and copper-ware. Numerous shopping bazaars, parks and a cosmopolitan population attract shoppers from all over Pakistan and abroad. Rawalpindi Population is combination of people having different background. The crowded alleys of the old city are home to many attractions, including Hindu, Sikh temple’s and Mosques. Art council of is also located near Rawalpindi cricket stadium. People of Pakistan came here from all over the Pakistan and settled here for a long period of time. Local people of Rawalpindi known as Pothwari people. The city is home to several industries and factories. Rawalpindi city has its own culture specially after developing into a large city, Rawalpindi has International Airport, and Railway station International sports ground, good hotels, restaurants, clubs, museums and parks. Rawalpindi forms the base camp for the tourists visiting the holiday resorts and hill station of galiyat area such as murree, nathia gali, kotli, Muzafarabad, Bagh, Abbottabad, Swat, Kaghan, gilgit, hunza, skardo and chitral.
Rawalpindi has many old and new hospitals, universities and parks which made the city more important in terms of health from other cities. People came here from different cities for better facilities of their treatments. It has separate hospitals of heart and lungs which make the city more superior. Rawalpindi has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan which shows that the city has better education environment than other cities. Rawalpindi has both public and private educational institutions. Most educational institutions are gender-based, from primary to university level. The major institutes of Rawalpindi are Arid agricultural university, Fatima jinah women university, Army medical and Rawalpindi medical colleges, University of Eng. and technology etc.
Rawalpindi has many good hotels, restaurants, clubs, museums and parks. It has many important places for foods which show the true heritage of Punjab which is famous for its dishes. The main places are food street, kartar pura, banni chowk and sadder. Along with the food streets there are many parks here in Rawalpindi which enhances the beauty of city including the Ayub National Park, Liaquat Bagh, Nawaz Sharif Park, Jinnah Park, Rumi Park, 502 Park, triangular Park and Children Park.
Rawalpindi has borne many famous international players in different sports which include the world fastest bowler in history of cricket Shoaib Akhter, one of the best hockey forward Shakeel Abbasi and other players which represented the national teams on international circuit. The city have many sports venues includes Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, KRL Cricket Stadium, Army Hockey Stadium, Army Football Stadium, Municipal Football Stadium, Jinnah Park.
Rawalpindi is chaotic but relatively dust-free. The weather is highly variable due to its location. Rawalpindi faces very moderate type of climate having long and hot summers, short and wet winters. In Monsoons and spring season people of Rawalpindi enjoy the weather of this city. Few years before people of Rawalpindi faces a better weather but now due to cutting of trees and establishment of industries and new housing society the numbers of trees and greenery almost vanish from a large area.therfore a big difference happen in weather of Rawalpindi.
The bustling city of Rawalpindi has a lot more to offer than a traffic mess, broken roads and haze-filled atmosphere. The city’s history spreads over several millennia. Archaeologists believe that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau even 3,000 years ago.
The archaeological remains found here prove the existence of a Buddhist community contemporary to Taxila, but less celebrated than its neighbour.
Historians believe that the ancient city fell victim to the devastation caused by the Huns. The first Muslim invader, Mahmud of Ghazni (979-1030AD), gifted the ruined city to a Gakkhar chief, Kai Gohar. The Gakkhars were a fiercly independent tribe of the Potowar Plateau. The town, however, being in the route of invaders, could not prosper and remained deserted until Jhanda Khan, another Gakkhar chief, restored it and named it Rawalpindi after the village Rawal in 1493.
Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Gakkhars till Muqarrab Khan, the last Gakkhar ruler, was defeated by the Sikhs in 1765. The Sikhs invited traders from other places to settle here, which brought the city into the limelight.
Following the British victory over the Sikhs and occupation of Rawalpindi in 1849, the city became a permanent garrison of the British army in 1851. In the 1880s, a railway line to Rawalpindi was laid, and a train service started on January 1, 1886. The need for a railway link arose after Lord Dalhousie made Rawalpindi the headquarters of the Northern Command and the city became the largest military garrison in British India.
In 1951, Rawalpindi saw the murder of the first elected prime minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, in Company Bagh, later named after him. Today, Rawalpindi is the headquarters of the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force.
The modern city has everything that one can desire – good eateries, playgrounds and shopping centres.
Though many shopping centres have opened all over the city, two main bazaars, Raja Bazaar in the old city and Saddar, which developed as the cantonment bazaar between the old city and the Mall, continue to attract a large number of visitors every day.
For a traditional Lahori breakfast, Banni or Purana Qila offers the best ‘siri paiyay’ ‘nihari’ and ‘chanay’.
Commercial Market, off main Murree Road, is fast becoming the hub of business activity in the city and besides some good restaurants, one can shop here for quality clothes.
The crowded alleys of the old city like Purana Qila, Bhabra Bazaar, Lal Kurti, Banni and inner areas of Saddar, are home to many attractions, including ancient Hindu and Sikh temples.
Some of the old houses in these areas, though dilapidated, are a tribute to the master artisans and masons of yesteryears. The beautiful construction and woodwork survive even today, despite the passage of over a century and the fact that no effort has been made by their current owners to preserve these buildings.
Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road, covering about 2,300 acres or 9.3 square kilometres, and has a lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and the Play Land.
Rawalpindi Public Park, located on Murree Road near Shamsabad, was opened to public in 1991. It consists of the Play Land, grassy lawns, a jogging track, fountains and flowerbeds.
The cricket stadium, built in 1992 opposite the public park, has seen some of the world’s top cricket teams play one-dayers and test matches here.
There are many forts and other places of tourist attraction a few kilometres outside the city limits. Rawat Fort is located 17 km east of Rawalpindi, on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road leading to Lahore. Gakkhars built the fort, in the early 16th century.
The grave of Gakkhar chief Sultan Sarang Khan is located inside the fort. He died in 1546 AD in a battle against the forces of Sher Shah Suri. Up from the broken steps inside the tomb, is a panoramic view of the plateau and the Mankiala Stupa.
Pharwala Fort is about 40 km from Rawalpindi beyond Lehtrar Road. It is also a Gakkhar fort built in the 15th century on the ruins of a 10th century fort. Mughal emperor Babur conquered the fort in 1519 AD. In 1825, the Sikhs took over the fort. Though crumbling away, it is still an attraction for castle lovers and the artistic.
Rohtas Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site, is 109 km from Rawalpindi. It is located about 6 km southwest of Dina.The fort is one of the most impressive historical monuments in Pakistan. It was built by Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri between 1540 and 1547 AD. It served as Suri’s fortified base for military operations against the Gakkhars.
It was later used by Mughal emperor Akbar and the Sikhs. Within the huge terraced rampart walls with robust bastions and twelve gates, is located another fortress, palaces and ancillary buildings.Rawalpindi also served as the interim capital after Islamabad was declared the nation’s new capital in the 1960s and was still being constructed. So the infrastructure was shifted to Rawalpindi from Karachi, the previous capital of Pakistan, and then was moved to Islamabad.
The bustling city of Rawalpindi has a lot more to offer than a traffic mess, broken roads and haze-filled atmosphere. The city’s history spreads over several millennia. Archaeologists believe that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau even 3,000 years ago.
The archaeological remains found here prove the existence of a Buddhist community contemporary to Taxila, but less celebrated than its neighbour.
Historians believe that the ancient city fell victim to the devastation caused by the Huns. The first Muslim invader, Mahmud of Ghazni (979-1030AD), gifted the ruined city to a Gakkhar chief, Kai Gohar. The Gakkhars were a fiercly independent tribe of the Potowar Plateau. The town, however, being in the route of invaders, could not prosper and remained deserted until Jhanda Khan, another Gakkhar chief, restored it and named it Rawalpindi after the village Rawal in 1493.
Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Gakkhars till Muqarrab Khan, the last Gakkhar ruler, was defeated by the Sikhs in 1765. The Sikhs invited traders from other places to settle here, which brought the city into the limelight.
Following the British victory over the Sikhs and occupation of Rawalpindi in 1849, the city became a permanent garrison of the British army in 1851. In the 1880s, a railway line to Rawalpindi was laid, and a train service started on January 1, 1886. The need for a railway link arose after Lord Dalhousie made Rawalpindi the headquarters of the Northern Command and the city became the largest military garrison in British India.
In 1951, Rawalpindi saw the murder of the first elected prime minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, in Company Bagh, later named after him. Today, Rawalpindi is the headquarters of the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force.
The modern city has everything that one can desire – good eateries, playgrounds and shopping centres.
Though many shopping centres have opened all over the city, two main bazaars, Raja Bazaar in the old city and Saddar, which developed as the cantonment bazaar between the old city and the Mall, continue to attract a large number of visitors every day.
For a traditional Lahori breakfast, Banni or Purana Qila offers the best ‘siri paiyay’ ‘nihari’ and ‘chanay’.
Commercial Market, off main Murree Road, is fast becoming the hub of business activity in the city and besides some good restaurants, one can shop here for quality clothes.
The crowded alleys of the old city like Purana Qila, Bhabra Bazaar, Lal Kurti, Banni and inner areas of Saddar, are home to many attractions, including ancient Hindu and Sikh temples.
Some of the old houses in these areas, though dilapidated, are a tribute to the master artisans and masons of yesteryears. The beautiful construction and woodwork survive even today, despite the passage of over a century and the fact that no effort has been made by their current owners to preserve these buildings.
Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum Road, covering about 2,300 acres or 9.3 square kilometres, and has a lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and the Play Land.
Rawalpindi Public Park, located on Murree Road near Shamsabad, was opened to public in 1991. It consists of the Play Land, grassy lawns, a jogging track, fountains and flowerbeds.
The cricket stadium, built in 1992 opposite the public park, has seen some of the world’s top cricket teams play one-dayers and test matches here.
There are many forts and other places of tourist attraction a few kilometres outside the city limits. Rawat Fort is located 17 km east of Rawalpindi, on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road leading to Lahore. Gakkhars built the fort, in the early 16th century.
The grave of Gakkhar chief Sultan Sarang Khan is located inside the fort. He died in 1546 AD in a battle against the forces of Sher Shah Suri. Up from the broken steps inside the tomb, is a panoramic view of the plateau and the Mankiala Stupa.
Pharwala Fort is about 40 km from Rawalpindi beyond Lehtrar Road. It is also a Gakkhar fort built in the 15th century on the ruins of a 10th century fort. Mughal emperor Babur conquered the fort in 1519 AD. In 1825, the Sikhs took over the fort. Though crumbling away, it is still an attraction for castle lovers and the artistic.
Rohtas Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site, is 109 km from Rawalpindi. It is located about 6 km southwest of Dina.The fort is one of the most impressive historical monuments in Pakistan. It was built by Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri between 1540 and 1547 AD. It served as Suri’s fortified base for military operations against the Gakkhars.
It was later used by Mughal emperor Akbar and the Sikhs. Within the huge terraced rampart walls with robust bastions and twelve gates, is located another fortress, palaces and ancillary buildings.Rawalpindi also served as the interim capital after Islamabad was declared the nation’s new capital in the 1960s and was still being constructed. So the infrastructure was shifted to Rawalpindi from Karachi, the previous capital of Pakistan, and then was moved to Islamabad.
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