INDIAN

ARCHITECTURE
Indian architecture was very diverse, reflecting the complex history of
the region. Known for its temples, palaces, forts and iconic Indian rock-cut
architecture, its styles included pronounced Buddhist, Islamic and European
influences.

Indianarchitecture

The architecture of the Indian

subcontinent:
timber
mudbrick architecture.
Early Buddhist monuments:
chaitya halls, stupa rails, and tor
anasclearly imitate wood construc
tion, and timber buildings.
Allsurviving architecture is of
stoneusing exclusively a structural
system of post and lintel,brackets
, and corbels.

Basic Simple Indian Architectural

Forms:
Obscured
verwhelmed by a rhythmical multipli
cation of pilasters,cornices, moldings
, aediculae,roofs, and finials, and an
exuberant and sensuous overgrowth
of sculptural decoration.

 Madhavaraya Temple
built in the golden age
of Sri Krishna Deva
Raya of Vijayanagara
reign.
Dusing muslim
invades, the main
deity in this temple
was lost, and some of
the temple's
sculptures are broken.
Still it displays, those
days charm.

geographical

a great triangular peninsula of Southern Asia,

covering an area fifteen times the size of Great
Britain, is bounded on the north by the Himalaya
Mountains and their lateral spurs, and on east,
west, and south by the sea. By reason of her
geographical position, India in the earliest times
received the overflow of the ancient races of
Central Asia, and thus was chiefly influenced from
the north ; more especially because the absence
of good harbours along her coasts did not tend to
promote intercourse by sea.

Indias present-day relief features have been

superimposed on three basic structural units:
the Himalayas in the north
the Deccan (plateau region) in the south

the Indo-Gangetic Plain (lying over the subsidence

zone) between the two.
Physiographic Regions
India can be divided into five physiographic regions.
They are:
1. The Northern Mountains
2. Indo Gangetic Plains
3. The Peninsular Plateaus
4. The Islands
5. The Coastal Plains

The great rivers Ganges, Indus,

Nerbudda, Kistna, and Jumna afforded
employment to thousands of boatmen, and
were utilised for rafting down buildingtimber from the immense forests ; while
cities naturally sprang up on the banks of
rivers which were trade routes and
highways, and thus the Ganges-Jumna
Valley contains some of the principal cities
of architectural importance.

 covering nearly fifty square miles, was the capital

of the Mogul Emperors, and its importance was
undoubtedly due to its commanding position at the
junction of the four historic roads from the Lower
Ganges, the Hindu Kush, the Indus Valley, and the
Gulf of Cambay. Delhi is the centre of India, as
London is of England, and after having been in
succession the capital of Hindu, Mahometan, and
Mogul Empires, it has now recently been created
the capital of the Empire of India. On the Western
Ghats along the coast-line there are rock-cut
temples, which in their capitals and columns
suggest the influence of Egypt, Persia, and Assyria.

 Puente la Reina (Navarra)

This fine capital is at eyelevel on the doorway of a
church on the Pilgrim Road
to Santiago, where three
branches meet for the final
stretch to Compostela.
Note the wreath of cockleshells, symbol of St James
(Santiago), above his brow.
Note also that - as with
a kirttimukha - the lower
jaw is missing.

 The Greek Bactrian Kingdom in the northwest had considerable influence on the
architecture, primarily of the Gandhara
district, whence it spread over Northern
India. The comparatively open country on
the east coast was more accessible to
civilisation, so that the ancient dynasties of
Southern India fixed their capitals there,
rather than on the west coast, where there
is only a narrow strip of lowland between
the Ghats and the seaboard, so that the
inhabitants remain, even to this day, aloof
from civilising movements.

Geological
The excellent building stone in the centre
of the peninsula
The hill country generally
The famous pink marble of Rajputana,
used in the buildings at Delhi and Agra,
the "trap " and granite of the Deccan,
the sandstone of certain districts, and
the volcanic potstone of Hullabid, all
contributed to develop those
characteristics which are peculiar to the
different localities.

Pink marble of Rajputana,

 Western India
rock-cut " Chaityas (Buddhists)
were produced in the actual geological formation ;
for they were carved in the horizontal strata of the
living rock, where it rises sheer from the ground in
perpendicular cliffs. At Mahavellipore and Ellora, the
Dravidian rock-cut temples, known as " Raths,"
were hewn out of the amygdaloidal trap formations.
Teak, the principal timber of the country, is found
on the Eastern and Western Ghats, and in the
Himalayas while besides ebony and bamboo there
are the palms, which grow mostly on the lowlands
of the coast, and supply food, drink, clothing, and
building material to the natives.

Chaityas are buddhist

prayer halls that house
astupa. The word chaitya
has its roots in
sanskritchita~ meaning
a pyre or a pile of ashes.
The ancient rock-cut
buddhist caves of Ajanta
were built during the
2ndcentury BC ~
6thcentury AD. All these
caves and sculptures are
carved out of the rocky
hills of Ajanta. They start
carving from top of the
hill and reach the bottom,
and hence do not make
use of scaffolds for

 In the low-lying plains of Bengal, the

alluvial soil was the only material available
for building, which, made into bricks, was
used extensively in this district. Terra-cotta
seems to have been employed in early
times, and the ease with which plastic clay
was pressed into moulds may be
responsible for some of the exuberance of
ornament in later periods. Lime for
building was obtained by burning
limestone, shells, and kankar, a nodular
form of impure lime found in river valleys.

Climatic
India lies mostly within the tropics, and two
principal seasons, wet and dry, divide the year.
Here, as in Egypt, Assyria, and Persia, flat terraced
roofs for coolness, exercise, and sleeping are the
rule. The use of the great fan, or punkah, is an
indication of the intense heat, which influenced the
size and treatment of architectural openings ; thus
the pierced screen or lattice window, which is so
characteristic a feature of Indian as of all Eastern
art, was designed to excude the light and heat
caused by the constant sunshine. Canals,
reservoirs, and tanks, which are conspicuous in
connection with the plans both of temples and
palaces, were necessary for irrigation and waterstorage during the dry season.

Historical
Alexander's conquests in North-West India (B.C.
327) (p. 67) brought that country into touch with
European and West Asiatic art ; thus Greek,
Assyrian, and Persian influences are apparent in the
architectural detail of that region. The Greek
Bactrian Kingdom (B.C. 323130), which, along
with India, fell to Seleukos Nikator, one of
Alexander's generals and founder of the Syrian
monarchy, exercised considerable Classical influence
over Northern India. From the time of Alexander to
the time of Vasco da Gama (A.D. 1498) Europe had
little direct influence on the East. The Tartar or
Scythic inroads from B.C. 126 to the fifth century of
our era succeeded those of the Greeks.

 The Mahometan invasion, in the thirteenth

century, led to the adoption of Saracenic
features, thus producing an Indian version of
that style. From A.D. 1746 British rule in India
was being consolidated, until in A.D. 1858 the
annexation to the British Crown was effected
by Royal proclamation, a historic event which
has still further promoted an intermingling of
European and native art. The selection of Delhi
as the capital of the Indian Empire has given
an opportunity for English and native talent to
produce public buildings in accord with Oriental
surroundings and suitable for their Imperial
purpose.

Social
The peoples of India consist of:

(a) The Non-Aryan tribes or aborigines ;

(b) the Aryan or Sanskrit-speaking race,
which includes Brahmans and Raj puts ;
(c) Hindus, a mixed population formed of
the above ;
(d) Mahometan invaders.

 These races have really never amalgamated, but

have become mixed in varying degrees, and have
always remained subject to the unchanging
conditions which characterise the East. The chief
dividing lines are those of religion and caste,
rather than of race and language, and this has
naturally produced an architecture which shows
little progressive development ; while there is
diversity and absence of unity between the
different styles in this vast peninsula. The tenure
of land by feudal princes produced enormous
revenues which were largely spent in the erection
of religious monuments for self-gratification.

 Among the most intellectual class, the spiritual and

contemplative aspects of life overshadowed the
practical and political, and even influenced
architecture, as is seen in the avoidance of
constructive problems. Architecture, like other
records of events, is silent from the expiring years
of Buddhism (A.D. 750) to the commencement of
the eleventh century. The " Mahawanso " of
Ceylon, however, a series of rock inscriptions,
forms a historical record of that island from B.C.
250. The subordination of human personality under
the caste system, which divided people into
communities rather than into families, was not
favourable to domestic architecture, which
remained in a rudimentary state. The Sanskrit
grammar of Panini, compiled about B.C. 350, is still
the foundation of the study of the Aryan language.

 The epic poems known as the "

Mahabbarata " or chronicles of the
Delhi Kings up to B.C. 1200, and the "
Ramayana," or story of the Aryan
advance into Southern India about
B.C. 1000, are works by the
Brahmans that may be compared to
Homer's " Iliad" and Virgil's " AEneid."
Sir W. Hunter's " Brief History of the
Indian Peoples " forms an excellent
resume of Indian art and life.

Religious
The Early Vedic religion, of which the
" Rig-Veda " a collection of poems
addressed to the godsforms the
literary memorial, had existed in the
sixth century before our era, and
long before the rise of Buddhism.

Religious influence on
Indian architecture can
be traced fromm the
primitive times starting
from the Hindus. With
the rise of Islam, the
religion which came to
India due to several
invasions also
significantly influenced
the architectural
designs of Indian
artisans. Indian
architecture has also
absorbed some of the
traits of the Christian
art along the Buddhist,
Jain and Parsi forms of
architecture.

 The Taj Mahal is regarded by many as

the best example of
Mughal architectureand is widely
recognized as "the jewel of Muslim
art in India". It is one of the worlds
most celebrated structures and a
symbol of Indias rich history.
Designated a UNESCO
World Heritage Sitein 1983, the Taj
Mahal attracts some 3 million visitors
a year.

Interior view of the vaulted dome over

the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz.

One of the most enduring achievements of

Indian civilization is undoubtedly its architecture.
Indian architecture, which has evolved through
centuries, is the result of socio-economic and
geographical conditions. Different types of Indian
architectural styles include a mass of expressions
over space and time, transformed by the forces
of history considered unique to India. As a result
of vast diversities, a vast range of architectural
specimens have evolved, retaining a certain
amount of continuity across history.

Architecture in
India
The architecture of India is rooted in its history, culture and
religion. Indian architecture progressed with time and
assimilated the many influences that came as a result of
India's global discourse with other regions of the world
throughout its millennia-old past. The architectural methods
practiced in India are a result of examination and
implementation of its established building traditions and
outside cultural interactions.

One of the most enduring achievements of

Indian civilization is undoubtedly its architecture.
Indian architecture, which has evolved through
centuries, is the result of socio-economic and
geographical conditions. Different types of Indian
architectural styles include a mass of expressions
over space and time, transformed by the forces of
history considered unique to India. As a result of
vast diversities, a vast range of architectural
specimens have evolved, retaining a certain
amount of continuity across history.

Architectural Character or
Features
The main elements in the traditional Indian
building style is trabeate, using pillars and beams
and lintels.

The Ruins from India Pool

Colonial Architecture
Like all other aspects,
colonization of Indian
also had an impact on
architecture style.
With colonization, a
new chapter in Indian
architecture began.
The Dutch, Portuguese
and the French made
their presence felt
through their buildings
but it was the English
who had a lasting
impact on

 From the mid nineteenth century it became a norm

for the Anglo-Indian church builders to follow the
model set by the revivers of the many combinations
of Gothic in England.

The Italian Gothic

preferred by John
Ruskin for secular
works, and applied
most influentially to
public buildings in
England, was seen to
be well adapted to
conditions in India.
After numerous
essays in northern
styles, the masterly
Venetian designs
sent out by Sir Gilbert
Scott for Bombay
University were
decisive.

Indo Islamic Architecture

The medieval period saw great developments in
the field of architecture. With the coming of
Muslims to India, many new features came to be
introduced in buildings. The development of
Muslim Style of Architecture of this period can be
called the Indo-Islamic Architecture or the Indian
Architecture influenced by Islamic Art. The IndoIslamic style was neither strictly Islamic nor
strictly Hindu.

 The most important symbol of Indo-Islamic architecture in India is the

tomb or the mausoleum which evolved from the basic cube and
hemisphere of the early phase into a more detailed form during the
Mughal period. In the Mughal period multiple chambers were made
and tombs were set in gardens, known as the Char-Bagh.The most
famous example of tomb in India is the Taj Mahal.

Ancient Architecture

Indian architecture is as
old as the history of the
civilization. The earliest
remains of recognizable
building activity in the
India dates back to the
Indus Valley cities.
Among India's ancient
architectural remains,
the most characteristicFamous Hindu Akshardham temple in South De
are the temples,
Chaityas, Viharas,
Stupas and other
religious structures.

 Cave Architecture
The cave architecture in India is believed to have
begun in the third century BC. These caves were used by
Buddhist and Jain monks as places of worship and
residence. Initially the caves were excavated in the
western India. Some examples of this type of cave
structure are Chaityas and Viharas of Buddhists.

 Rock Cut
The Rock-cut structures present the most spectacular
piece of ancient Indian art specimen. Most of the rock-cut
structures were related to various religious communities.
In the beginning, remarkable Buddhist and Jain
monuments were produced in areas such as Bihar in the
east and Maharashtra in the west.

 Temple Architecture
In ancient India, temple architecture of high standard
developed in almost all regions. The distinct architectural
style of temple construction in different parts was a result
of geographical, climatic, ethnic, racial, historical and
linguistic diversities. Ancient Indian temples are classified
in three broad types. This classification is based on
different architectural styles, employed in the construction
of the temples.

Examples of Structures

Colonial Architecture
Indo Islamic Architecture
Ancient Architecture
Cave Architecture
Rock Cut
Temple Architecture

Colonial Architecture
The culminating
masterpieces of the
series, increasingly
hybrid in style, are
Frederick Stevens
works, especially
Victoria Terminus
(1878-87), the
headquarters of the
Great Indian
1947[edit]
Peninsular Railway.

British Colonial Era: 1615 to

The British arrival in 1615 overthrew the Mughal
empire. Britain reigned India for over three
hundred years and their legacy still remains
through building and infrastructure that populate
their former colonies.[31]

 French: 1673 to 1954

The French colonized a fishing village (Pondicherry) in Tamil
Nadu and transformed it into a flourishing port-town. The
town was built on the French grid pattern and features neat
sectors and perpendicular streets and divided into two
sectors, French Quarter (Ville Blanche) and the Indian quarter
(Ville Noire). French styled villas were styled with long
compounds and stately walls, lined houses with verandas,
large French doors and grills. Infrastructure such as banks,
police station and Pondicherry International Port still hold the
French presence.

 Dutch: 1605 to 1825

The Dutch entered India with the only interests of
Trade in the early 17th Century. During their 200
years in India, they colonized Surat, Bharuch, Venrula,
Ahmedabad, Malabar Coast, Kochi and Sadras.

 Portuguese: 1498 to 196

The Portuguese arrived as merchants in the 1498
and were more driven by a Catholic missionary zeal
than gaining powers in India. The Portuguese
gained a foothold in Goa and ruled for 400 years.

Ancient Indian Cave

Architecture
Ajanta
The Ajanta Caves
Maharashtra India, are 29 rockcut cave monuments which
date from the 2nd century B.C.
The caves include paintings and
sculptures considered to be
masterpieces of both Buddhist
religious art (which depict the
Jataka tales) as well as frescos
which are reminiscent of the
Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanka.
The caves were built in two
phases starting around 200 B.C,
with the second group of caves
built around 600 A.D.

 Ellora
Ellora is an archaeological site, 30 km from the city
of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra,
built by the Rashtrakuta rulers. Ellora represents the
epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 34
"caves" actually structures excavated out of the
vertical face of the Charanandri hills: being Buddhist,
Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples and monasteries,
were built between the 5th century and 10th century.

 Elephanta
The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on
Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in
Mumbai Harbour. The rock cut architecture of the caves has
been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the
identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. The
caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also
originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain.

Temple
Some of the best examples of the north Indian
style (Nagara style) of temple architecture are the
Khajuraho Group of temples, Sun temple, Konark,
Sun temple at Modhera, Gujarat and Ossian
temple, Gujarat. The finest examples of Dravidian
style (south Indian style) are temples of Tanjore,
Madurai, Mahabalipuram, Badami, Pattadakal and
Kanchipuram.

 Brihadeeswara Temple
Thanjavur, formerly Tanjore, is a city in the south Indian
state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of
South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the
Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World
Heritage Monuments, are located in and around
Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Brihadeeswara
Temple, is located in the centre of the city. Thanjavur is
also home to Tanjore painting, a painting style unique to

 Meenakshi Amman Temple (also

called: Meenakshi Sundareswarar
Temple, Tiru-aalavaai[1][2] and
Meenakshi Amman Kovil) is a
historic Hindu temple located on
the southern bank of the Vaigai
River in the temple city of
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is
dedicated to Parvati, known as
Meenakshi, and her consort,
Shiva, here named
Sundareswarar. The temple forms
the heart and lifeline of the 2,500
year old city[5] of Madurai and is
a significant symbol for the Tamil
people, mentioned since
antiquity in Tamil literature
though the present structure was
built between 1623 and 1655 CE.

Pakistan

ISTAN

perio
ers to the various structures built during different time period
e modern day region of Pakistan.

th the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle

3rd millenium B.C

s was followesd by the Gandhara style of buddhist architect

Borrowed elements from the Ancient Greece. These remnan
visible in the Gandhara capital of Taxila.

Geography of Pakistan

The Islamic republic of Pakistan is situated between

24.50 and 36.75 latitude north and 61 to 75.5 longitudes
east country located in the mountainous region
adjoining central Asia and the middle east
796,096 sq km, Pakistan is the worlds 36th largest
country.
The geography of Pakistan is a profound blend of
landscapes varying from plains to deserts, forests, hills,
and plateaus ranging from the coastal areas of the
Arabian Sea in the south to the mountains of the
Karakoram range in the north.
Pakistan geologically overlaps both with the Indian and
the Eurasian tectonic plates where its Sindh and Punjab
provinces lie on the north- western corner of the Indian
plate while Balochistan and most of the KhyberPakhtunkhwa lie within the Eurasian plate which mainly

Neighboring countries:
Afghanistan
Iran
China
India

up to about 6,774 km (4,334.1 mi) in length

land bordered and coastline is about 1046 km

Climate
Pakistan has four seasons:

a cool, dry winter from December through February;

a hot, dry spring from March through May
the summer rainy season, or southwest monsoon
period, from June through September;
the retreating monsoon period of October and
November.
Rainfall can vary radically from year to year, and
successive
patterns of flooding and drought are also not
uncommon

Demographics of religion in Pakistan:

ISLAM
Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, and about 95-98% of
Pakistanis are Muslims.
Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, and about 95-98% of
Pakistanis are Muslims. The Muslims are largely divided into two
sects, Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. The Shia Islam in Pakistan is
practiced by 5-20% of the Muslims and the remaining larger
number of Muslims practice Sunni Islam

HINDUISM
Hinduism is the second largest religion in Pakistan accounting for
2.00% of the population. The Last population census divided the
population into 1.6% Hindu Jati and 0.25% Scheduled castes.The
Rig Veda, the oldest Hindu text was believed to have been
composed in the Punjab province of modern day Pakistan on the

CHRISTIANITY
Christians (Urdu: )make up 1.6% of Pakistan's population,
about 2.8 million people out of a total population.[3] The majority
of the Pakistani Christian communities is constituted by converts
from the Hindus and Muslims from Punjab region, from the British
colonial era. The community is geographically spread throughout
the Punjab province, whilst its presence in the rest of the provinces
is mostly confined to the urban centers. There is a Roman Catholic
community in Karachi which was established by Goan and Tamil
migrants when Karachi's infrastructure was being developed by the
British during colonial administration between World War I and
World War II.
Meanwhile there are few Protestant groups conducting missions in
Pakistan. The Day by Day Christian Ministries which is based in the
Philippines is operating a school in Karachi, though most of its
members there converted outside the country due to restrictions at
home

Bah'
The Bah' Faith in Pakistan begins previous to its independence
when it was still under British colonial rule. The roots of the religion
in the region go back to the first days of the Bb religion in
1844,with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was from Multan.During
Bah'u'llh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged
some of his followers to move to the area that is current-day
Pakistan.

Sikhism
In the 17th century the reformist Sikh movement originated in
Pakistan's Punjab region where Sikhism's founder as well as most of
the faiths disciples originated from. There are a number of Sikhs
living throughout Pakistan today; estimates vary, but the number is
thought to be on the order of 20,000.

Zoroastrianism
Zorastrianism is believed to have been a major religion in the
region of Pakistan from the time it was part of the Persian
Achemenid empire. There are at least 4,000 Pakistani citizen
practicing the Zoroastrian religion.[33] Numerous Zorastrian fire

Kalash
This is pagan religion of the Kalash people living in a remote part of
Chitral. Adherents of the Kalash religion number around 3,000 and
inhabit three remote valleys in Chitral; Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir.
Their religion is unique but shares some common ground with
Greek, Macedonian Pagan, Vedic and Pre-Zoroastrian religions.

Jainism
Jainism existed in Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Karachi. There is no evidence of any Jains living in Pakistan today,
although it is claimed that a few still live in Sindh and Punjab
provinces. They are number of disused Jain Temples found in
different parts of Pakistan. Gulu Lalvani, a famous Jain, was
originally from Pakistan but he, like other Jains, emigrated from
Pakistan. Baba Dharam Das Tomb is also found in Pakistan.
Digambar Temple is one of the famous Jain temples in Pakistan

Buddhism
Buddhism has an ancient history in Pakistan; currently there is a
small community of at least 1500 Pakistani Buddhist in the country.
[33] The country is dotted with numerous ancient and disused
Buddhist stupas along the entire breath of the Indus River that
courses through the heart of the country. Many Buddhist empires
and city states existed, notably in Gandhara but also elsewhere in
Taxila, Punjab and Sindh. It is believed that Tantric Buddhism was
developed in Pakistan's Swat valley. Pakistan and much of
Afghanistan were one of the first regions to adopt Buddhism and
which saw a large number of adherents to the faith. It is believed
that through the Silk Road of northern Pakistan, that Buddhism
spread later to Central Asia, China and beyond.

Judaism
There is no evidence that there are any Jews (Urdu: )in Pakistan
today, nor has any claim been made by any practitioner of the faith
in recent decades. Various estimates suggest that there were about
1,500 Jews living in Pakistan at the time of its independence on 14
August 1947, with the majority living in Karachi and a few living in
Peshawar. However, almost all emigrated to Israel after 1948. There
are a few disused synagogues in both cities; while one Karachi

Atheism and agnosticism

There are people who do not profess any faith (such as
atheists and agnostics) in Pakistan but their numbers
is not known.[35] They are particularly in the affluent
areas of the larger cities. Some were born in secular
families while others in religious ones. According to
the 1998 census, people who did not state their
religion accounted for 0.5% of the population, but
social pressures against claiming no religion was
strong.[9] A 2012 study by Gallup Pakistan found that
people not adhering to any religion account for 1% of
the population

HISTORICAL
PLACES IN
PAKISTAN

Minar-e-Pakistan

Minar-e-Pakistan (or Yadgaar-ePakistan)

is a tall minaret in Iqbal Park
Lahore, built in honor of the Lahore
Resolution.
It reflects a blend of Mughal and
modern architecture, and is
constructed on the site where on
March 23, 1940, Lahore Resolution
(Qarardad-e-Lahore) demanding
the creation of Pakistan. It was
seven years before the formation of
Pakistan.
The large public space around the
monument is commonly used for
political and public meetings,
whereas Iqbal Park area is ever so popular among kite-flyers.
The tower rises about 60 meters on the base, thus the total height o
is about 62 meters above the ground.
The unfolding petals of the flower-like base are 9 meters high. The di
of the tower is about 97.5 meters (320 feet).

Badshahi Mosque
The Badshahi Mosque (Urdu:
), or the 'Emperor's Mosque',
was built in 1673 by the Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore.
It is one of the city's best known
landmarks, and a major tourist
attraction and characterizes the
beauty and greatness of the
Mughal era.
Capable of accommodating over
55,000 worshipers.
It is the second largest mosque in
Pakistan, after the Faisal Mosque in
Islamabad.
The architecture and design of the
Badshahi Masjid is closely related
to the Jama Masjid in Delhi, India,
which was built in 1648 by
Aurangzeb's fathervand
predecessor, Emperor Shah Jahan.

Mizar-e-Quaid

The Quaid-e-Azam`s Mausoleum

s a prominent and impressive landmark of Karachi.

Nearby are the graves of the

Quaid-e-Millat.

Liaqat Ali Khan, the first Prime

Minister of Pakistan and the
Quaid`s sister, Mohtarma Fatima
innah.

Faisal Mosque
The Shah Faisal Masjid in
Islamabad, Pakistan, is among one
of the largest mosques in the world.
It is renowned for both its size and
its architecture
covering an area of 5,000 square
meters with a
capacity of 300,000 worshippers.
Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay's
designed it.
Construction of the mosque began
in 1976 by National Construction of
Pakistan, led by Azim Borujerdi, and
was funded by the government of
Saudi Arabia, at a cost of over 130
million Saudi riyals (approximately
$120 million USD today).
It is located at the end of Shaharahe-Islamabad, putting it at one end
of the city and in front of a

Pakistan Monument
The National Monument in
Islamabad,
Pakistan is a national monument
representing the four provinces and
three territories of Pakistan.
Designed by Arif Masood the
blooming
flower shape of the monument
represents Pakistan's progress as a
rapidly developing country.
The four main petals of the
monument
represent the four provinces
(Balochistan, North West Frontier
Province, Punjab, and Sindh), while
the
three smaller petals represent the

The Historical Khyber Pass

The Khyber Pass, (Urdu:
)t) is the mountain pass
that links Pakistan and
Afghanistan at an altitude of
1,070 m or 3,510 feet
Throughout history it has
been an
important trade route between
Central
Asia and South Asia and a
strategic military location.
The summit of the Khyber
Pass is 5
kilometers (3.1 mi) inside
Pakistan at
Landi Kotal and it cuts through
the northeastern part of the

 For centuries, it has been

a trade route between
south and north Asia.
Every stone in the
Khyber has been soaked
in blood." Rudyard
Kipling called it "a
sword cut through the
mountains.

Ali Masjid
Ali Masjid is a mosque situated along the Khyber Pass
that snakes through the border of Pakistan and
Afghanistan. According to the legend, the mosque
derives its name from the Islamic caliph, Hazrat Ali;
local traditions put that he traveled the area. True or
false, the mosque gives a spectacular image and
serves as a stopping point along the way, which has
served as a gateway to the empires.

Lahore Fort
As the name suggests, this fort is situated in the city of
Lahore in fact, it is one of the prized buildings of the
walled-city of Lahore or Old Lahore. Although the origins of
the fort are older, the present structure is said to have been
built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The Fort itself acted as
a geo-strategic site that met Kashmir, the Afghan areas,
and Multan. Decorated with Mughal architecture, the Fort
complex includes such architectural marvels as Sheesh
Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) and Badshahi Mosque.

Shalimar Bagh
Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Shalamar Bagh
is one of the most beautiful sites in Pakistan. Its gardens
and refreshing fountains attract a large number of
visitors. The site consists of three levels of garden
terraces which were watered by a canal; which also
waters the exquisite marble terrace. It has a total of 410
fountains at all levels and a large variety of fruit trees.

Quaid\'s Residency
Situated in Ziarat, a hill station in Balochistan
province, the Residency was where Pakistan's founder
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah spent the last
days of his life. The ailing Jinnah was recommended a
rest and Ziarat was the best choice for its fragrance
and fresh mountain air. There, the Residency, a
wooden structure, provided the founder with the
perfect retreat.

Iqbal\'s Tomb
The tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal at Lahore is an
important national monument. The tomb is located in
the Hazuri Bagh between the Lahore Fort and Badshahi
Mosque. Set in beautiful red sandstone, Iqbals
importance to Pakistan renders this building historical
significance.

Islamia College
Situated in Peshawar, Islamia College was established in
1913 by Nawab Sir Sahabzada Abdul Qayyum and Sir George
Roos Kepel. The idea of Abdul Qayyum, an educationist-cumpolitician, was to build an educational institute that imparts
modern education to the Muslims. Later on, the students of
Islamia College played an important role in the movement of
independence for Pakistan; even Jinnah visited the College
thrice.

Aga Khan University and Hospital

The Aga Khan University Hospital is another beautiful
building of Pakistan. This building that heals is
designed by Payette Associates. The building was
completed in 1985 and it is a marvel of traditional
Indo-Persian and Mughal architecture.

Habib Bank Plaza

Habib Bank Plaza once the tallest building of Pakistan
was established in 1963. The fine architecture of the
building was designed by a famous international
architecture Leo A Daly.

The Centaurus
The Centaurus is a mixed real estate development in
Islamabad. It is the finest architecture no doubt
comprises three skyscrapers that have shopping mall,
residential apartments, corporate offices and 5-star
hotel. The building is designed by a British
architectural firm WS Atkins and the interior of
residential apartments and Malls has been designed by
Turkish firm ODEION.