Sunday, October 3, 2010

Dam e Koh


Daman-e-Koh, about 3000ft from sea level and almost 1000ft higher than City of Islamabad, is a viewing point and hill top modern garden, popular among the residents as well as the visitors to this capital town of the nation.

This viewpoint is north of Islamabad at the foot of and in the middle of the Margalla Hills. This extra-ordinary garden has two wings known as the "north" and "south" viewpoints and is accessible by road or on foot.

Daman-e-Koh is a midpoint for tourists on their way to the higher view point Pir Sohawa which is located at the top of Margalla Hills at an elevation of about 5000ft. There is a plan to construct a chairlift from Daman-e-Koh to Pir Sohawa. It is speculated that this plan would start materializing in the near future.

Car parking facility is provided close to the Northern Spot where a cafe and some small tuck shops cater the needs of guests. A restaurant is located on the Southern Spot overlooking the city. The Southern Spot is the main attraction as it provides a panoramic view of Islamabad. Telescopes are installed for keener observers. A board displaying basic information about Islamabad is installed for the people coming from outside the city.

There is a view of Faisal Mosque, the newly constructed "Seventh Avenue" and Rawal Lake poses a nice glittering view in southeast.

The place is a haven for bird watchers. More than 70 different native as well as migrating bird are seen here during various parts of the year. Monkeys are a common sight during winter. It is little risky trying to play or negotiate with or feed these otherwise friendly creatures. Cheetahs are (frequently) reported as seen in these foothills, mostly during winter. They are believed to descend from higher hills of Murree in snowfall days.

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