http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag10.htm
By Azeem Haider
Pakistan’s physical and cultural diversity makes it a multifarious land that holds great charm. One such charming place is the nation’s capital Islamabad’s Margalla Hills, which is easily accessible for the residents of the city.
Besides exploring it by road, trekking across the mountainous terrain of Margalla Hills offers one an incredibly thrilling experience. The striking scenery, being heavily dotted with long alpine trees, and the unique amalgamation of rain, the thick clouds, the cool breeze and moisture-laden soil, all lent it an exotic touch. I was very lucky to visit these hills on a rainy day. All the trees were rain-washed, looking sparkling green and lending a calm ambiance, which further added to the exotic atmosphere of the hills.
Being on the foothills of Margalla, the beauty of the magnificent Faisal Mosque seemed enhanced due to the surrounding the hills and the clouds that were lying quite low.
The road, which goes to the top of the hills, was quite steep and narrow. Driving through it was also a thrilling experience, as we could view the surrounding hills, slops and the city of Islamabad. However, one did feel dizzy after a little while due to the constant turns and curves in the road. After reaching almost the top, we came across a small restaurant at a place called ‘Pir Swahah’ by the locals. It proved to be a perfect place for us to sit, relax, eat and drink in the midst of the majestic hills. As the weather was exceptionally beautiful that day, many people were out there to enjoy it.
For the spot we had arrived at on top of the hills, Islamabad and Faisal Mosque appear spread out below you. It is also an ideal place to take photographs. A solar cell is installed on the hills, which stores the solar energy in the day and lights all the bulbs on the hills during the night.
Margalla Hills are also dotted with small huts and settlements, with people living a hard life there as it is a difficult landscape to live in. It makes you realize that such poor people are living so near some of the country’s richest and most powerful ones.
From the Rawal Lake, though the hills are at a distance, they can still be seen standing tall in the background, lending a majestic sight. In a nutshell, the visit to the Margalla hills is as enjoyable and interesting as those to any hill station further up north where people prefer to go. The cool and calm ambiance can be particularly soothing for a city dweller who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. The people of Islamabad are lucky to be surrounded by such a beauty of nature.