Very few cities in the world depict exactly how nostalgia cooperates so harmoniously along with the present as Islamabad does. The city was very well planned and built during the 1960s. This city is thus the best representation of modernity and nature through wide roads, green spaces, and architectural beauty. For everybody who stayed here or passed through this place at least once, this is a city that fills with very warm and peaceful emotions and feels great to be wrapped in such a cozy feeling of being familiar again. The last visit back to this charming city turned the mood to an abrupt spell of nostalgic reminiscence of old times and how much has changed but still remained the same.
A tranquil beauty of Margalla Hills.
The first view awaiting me to welcome me back were the majestic Margalla Hills standing guard over Islamabad. Whether one is an accidental frequent hiker or simply an occasional visitor, there is something calm and soothing about the hills. I walked on trails to pile up nostalgia about trekking on the narrow paths with friends and mountain air filling one’s lungs and viewing the city sprawled below as one would see a miniature model. Today, Margalla Hills National Park stands pristine as before, only new pathways and vistas added to the experience, however, the serenity of the place has not changed with time.
A tranquil beauty of Margalla Hills.
The first view awaiting me to welcome me back were the majestic Margalla Hills standing guard over Islamabad. Whether one is an accidental frequent hiker or simply an occasional visitor, there is something calm and soothing about the hills. I walked on trails to pile up nostalgia about trekking on the narrow paths with friends and mountain air filling one’s lungs and viewing the city sprawled below as one would see a miniature model. Today, Margalla Hills National Park stands pristine as before, only new pathways and vistas added to the experience, however, the serenity of the place has not changed with time.
The Allure of Faisal Mosque
No visit to Islamabad remains complete without visiting the Faisal Mosque. It is a landmark within this city and has dominated its skyline for decades. The mosque, designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, is a work of art some decades ago. I stand in front of the mosque getting a close glimpse of its architectural beauty. I could not avoid remembering the family trips that we used to make here during my childhood when this open space around the mosque used to be our favorite place for picnics and games. Now too it is a haven of peace, bringing people across the globe, but that sense of peace that it invokes has not changed.
The Markets of Islamabad
When all around Islamabad’s relatively quiet environs as compared to the other cities, like Lahore and Karachi, markets have a story of their own. Right from Jinnah Super Market to the brightly colored stalls at Aabpara Market, there is much to interest anyone interested in the culture of this place. During the visit, I walked through these vibrant markets; familiar sights of family and friends visited by the shopkeepers incited a lot of memories. The aroma of roasted groundnuts, spicy chaat, and fresh fruits filled the air and made me go back to my time spent negotiating dresses or bargaining for snacks to make the long drive home.
The Rawal Lake stands a peaceful beauty.
This has been one of the defining places for Islamabad over time. Its placid waters, lush green surroundings, and peaceful boating experiences make it one of the most beautiful spots in the city. There, in that place on the lake, I went on a boat ride and felt the very peace that I had gone through when I was a kid. Like the town itself, the lake is a getaway-a refreshing feeling while unburdening oneself of the world’s reality and reflecting. It is one of those places where time seems to slow down, and all that matters becomes the soothing rhythm of water and the gentle breeze.
Quiet Streets and Green Spaces
One thing I would have wanted to go back to in Islamabad was the rather quiet, broad streets and its numerous parks and greenery. Unlike other metropolis towns, the roads never get crowded here, and its parks, like Shakarparian and Japanese Park, are still places of peace far from modern life’s hurly-burly. I used to walk through those places, and for a moment, memories of family outings flash before my eyes-the long afternoons in the Japanese Park, watching children run about and play on the swings. Quiet green spaces somehow hold a kind of magic of dispensing respite and spreading balance to the fast pace of life.
Conclusion: Everlasting Appetic of Islamabad.
Indeed, the journey back to Islamabad is a journey back in time. The city may have grown with all its latest developments but this essence of the place-their previous flavor of peace and warmth with life-remains the same. Islamabad has always been the heaven where nature and urban life go hand in hand, where nostalgia and progress greet on each street corner. Whether it is your first trip to the city or a return after years, Islamabad is one that is not easily forgotten. To me, this will always be home, a warm peaceful place filled with memories that will never grow old. So, Islamabad is not just a place but a feeling-a feeling of belonging, of nostalgia-one which will subside nor abate the passage of time.
