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• The other Islamabad: A bird-watcher's paradise
  20 November 2008
  Islamabad often makes the news for suicide attacks, Islamic extremism and political upheaval, but for a small band of enthusiasts the city is famous for something very different -- bird-watching. Just 10 minutes drive from the centre of the Pakistani capital, there are mountains and wetlands teeming with exotic birds, while Islamabad's many leafy gardens and avenues boast rare breeds that delight visiting ornithologists. More than 400 species have been spotted in and around the city, leading some diplomats and expat workers to say it is the best capital in the world for observing birdlife. Such a compliment is unusual for Islamabad, a modern administrative centre that is regularly dismissed as both characterless and a prime target for Pakistan's increasingly violent Islamic insurgency. The hobby of bird-watching -- spotting and identifying bird species -- is well-established in Europe and the United States. "Twitchers," as enthusiasts are called, often travel long distances at great expense to catch just a glimpse of even a single rare species through their binoculars. It is a pastime that many Pakistanis greet with bemusement. One keen local, however, is Muhammad Hamid, a 28-year-old student who became interested in nature at school and is now doing a degree in wildlife management at university in... close

Overview

Mountain scenery © Pakistan Embassy

Strategically situated between India, China, Afghanistan and Iran, Pakistan follows the Indus River down from the spectacular mountain ranges in the north (which include the world’s second highest peak, K2) to the Arabian Sea. The river passes through the fertile provinces of Punjab and Sindh in the east and south. The southwest of Pakistan consists of the arid plateau of Baluchistan. The major cities of Karachi, the capital Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi are all situated in the lowlands of the Indus valley.

The nation of Pakistan itself may be relatively new, but the Indus region has hosted civilisation for thousands of years and the country has a rich culture and fascinating history from Alexander the Great to the heyday of the Silk Route, with the lucrative trade between China, India and the Roman empire; and rivalries between Hindu and Islamic dynasties and later the British Empire.

Life in the bustling southern cities is a mix of ancient tradition and modern technology, where shoppers haggle in colourful bazaars and craftsmen ply their trade, while others tuck into hot and spicy treats at street restaurants, or take their ease at teahouses. Lahore, in particular, boasts some wonderful historic architecture with its pink and white marble buildings, and the beautiful Moghul-style Badshahi Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world – almost as magnificent as the Taj Mahal in India.