Pakhtoonkhaw Province, formerly called North Western Frontier Province
(NWFP) of Pakistan. It is a few kilometers further down from "Monal
Restaurant" close to village Monal, which is an upland scenic rural
location, at an elevation of about 5000ft, popular for recreational walk
and picnics in Islamabad. Due to unknown reason (may be due to fantasy
of Pakistani people towards saintly (or "Pir") figures), the name of
village Pir Sohawa replaced the name of Monal village. Monal still
exists on the slope towards Islamabad city. Unfortunately and
mistakingly Monal is called Pir Sohawa, which is a misconception.
Monal Restaurant is located at "Monal" which itself is part of ICT
(Islamabad Capital Territory, not in Pir Sohawa located in Khyber
Pakhtoonkhaw Province), as commonly misunderstood by most of the people.
Monal Restaurant was completed in 2006. Its spaceous terraces provide a
breathtaking view of Islamabad in clear day light and a stunningly
beautiful show of the city lights at the bottom, after sunset. One can
enjoy the breeze and fragrance, especially during summer's hot days, of
thick forest present all around.
This is a unique point where one can compare the urban and rural
Pakistan simply by turning the head from one side (looking at Islamabad)
to other side (looking towards rear lush green valley with villages,
flowing streams and mountains beyond).
Monal Top attracts tourists in winter, as the elevation (+5000ft) is
sufficient for occasional snowfall.
Monal Top is a real popular place among the citizens of Islamabad, their
guests as well as the foreign visitors and tourists.
This place is connected to Islamabad by a all weather black top road, on
which is located Daman-e-Koh, a fantastic forest-garden and a picnic
point worth visiting. It is a destination point for a hiking trip from
the bottom of Margalla Hills climbing 3000ft almost vertically straight
up from the village of Saidpur, Islamabad.
Historically, when there were no roads available, Monal top was a midway
resting point for travellers of Hazara areas (north of Islamabad),
ascending and descending the rear mountains and heading towards
Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
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