Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Saidpur Village, Islamabad

PAKISTAN – As Not Seen On TV! 

Saidpur Village, Islamabad



Saidpur is an approximately 500 years old village, built on the slopes of the Margalla Hills which overlook Islamabad, Pakistan. It is a popular tourist attraction and is frequented by locals and outsiders alike. Saidpur is named after Said Khan, one of the sons of Sultan Sarang, the Gakhar chief of the Pothohar region (who ruled from Attock to Jehlum) during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Babur. The Emperor Jahangir's memoir, Tuzke Jahangiri, mentions him halting at a place "beyond Rawalpindi", on his way to Kabul, which is assumed to be Saidpur. Said Khan gifted Saidpur village to his daughter who was married to son of Mughal emperor Akbar.



The village was converted into a place of Hindu worship by a Mughal commander, Raja Man Singh. He constructed a number of small ponds: Rama kunda, Sita kunda, Lakshaman kunda, and Hanuman kunda. The region is home to many Hindu temples that are preserved, showing the history of Hindu civilisation and architecture in the region.




The Capital Development Authority (CDA) of Islamabad has developed Saidpur into a tourist attraction by giving it the look and feel of a quaint village.



The Saidpur Village used to be a sleepy little village lying in the foothills of the Margallas with a mystic past and breathtaking natural beauty. It has now been remodeled. The resort has now become popular with the citizens of Islamabad who want an occasional break from the frenzy of urban life. Surrounded with lush, tranquil wilderness, the centuries old village is furnished with rustic fittings and offers amenities like a wide range of local food outlets.


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