Pakistan is home to many historical and cultural places such as the Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura, Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Faisal Masjid in Islamabad, the Baltit and Altit fort in Hunza Valley, Noor Mahal in Bahawalpur, Mohenjo Daro in Sindh and a number of places are there in the list. These places deserve to be visited at least once by everyone in their life.
There are a number of places in Pakistan declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Shah Faisal Masjid famously known as the Faisal Mosque is located in the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad. It is the national mosque of Pakistan and the sixth-largest in the world. The structure of the mosque is inspired by the Bedouin tent design. There are eight sides of the building made of a concrete shell in a triangular shape. Moreover, there are four minarets of the mosque of 300 ft in height each.
The construction of the mosque started in 1976 and was completed in 1986. The first prayer in the mosque was offered on 18 June 1988. The funding for its construction was made by the Saudi Arabian King Shah Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz. He supported the Pakistani government in their initiative of building a national mosque for their country. The construction cost of the mosque was around 120 million dollars. For the design of the structure of the mosque, an international competition was held in 1969.
In the competition, 17 countries participated and provided 43 proposals. The design of a Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay was selected. The total area allotted for the mosque was forty-six acres. King Khalid, the successor of King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone of the mosque in October 1976. The mosque is an influential piece of art depicting Islamic architecture. The capacity of worshippers in the mosque is 300,000. The beautiful mosque with a mesmerizing location and view is a main tourist destination in the city.
People from all over the world come here to see and study. The beauty of Islam and the architecture are depicted by the mosque. The popular American novelist Michael Muhammad Knight was one of them. He come to the mosque in his teens with the purpose of studying Islam and frequently give reference to the mosque in his work.
The Shah Faisal Mosque is located at the foot of the Margalla Hills playing a significant role in enhancing its beauty and importance. The mosque is situated at a higher surface compared to the main city. Due to this, it can be seen from miles away. The front of the mosque is facing towards the main city while at the back of it are the lush green mountains.
Tourists who come from all over the world to Pakistan to see natural beauty, especially in the northern areas of Pakistan also visit the Faisal Mosque during their journey. The famous Attabad Lake, Shangrila Resort Skardu, and Deosai Plain are also among the most famous places visited by travelers in Pakistan.
