Daman-e-Koh
Encyclopedia
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, 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.
Geologically, it is a spur
Spur (mountain)
A spur is a subsidiary summit of a hill or mountain. By definition, spurs have low topographic prominence, as they are lower than their parent summit and are closely connected to them on the same ridgeline...
, off shooting from the main Margalla Hills
Margalla Hills
The Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
, which comprise the Margalla National Park.
Daman-e-Koh in Urdu & Persian means: "in the lap of the mountain"; wherein Daman is literally lower frontal part of the Kurta/Kameez (local name for long shirts) which covers the groins thus making a lap while sitting and Koh in Persian means mountain.
This viewpoint is north of Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
at the foot of and in the middle of the Margalla Hills
Margalla Hills
The Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
. 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
Pir Sohawa
Pir Sohawa is an upland scenic rural location, at an elevation of about 5000 ft, popular for recreational walk and picnics in Islamabad and is located close to Monal village which exists on the slope towards Islamabad city. Actually Pir Sohawa is a village located in district Haripur of Khyber...
which is located at the top of Margalla Hills
Margalla Hills
The Margalla Hills—the foothills of the Himalayas—are a series of small-elevation hills located north of Islamabad, Pakistan. Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares. The hill range nestles between an elevation of 685 meters at the western end and 1,604 meters on its east.- Etymology :Two...
at an elevation of about 5000ft. There is a plan to construct a chairlift from Daman-e-Koh to Pir Sohawa
Pir Sohawa
Pir Sohawa is an upland scenic rural location, at an elevation of about 5000 ft, popular for recreational walk and picnics in Islamabad and is located close to Monal village which exists on the slope towards Islamabad city. Actually Pir Sohawa is a village located in district Haripur of Khyber...
. 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
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
. Telescopes are installed for keener observers. A board displaying basic information about Islamabad is installed for the people coming from outside the city.
Capital Development Authority
Capital Development Authority
Capital Development Authority , is a public benefit corporation responsible for providing municipal services in the Islamabad city , established on June 14, 1960, first by an executive order issued on June 24, 1960 entitled the Pakistan Capital Regulation, to be superseded by the CDA ordinance...
(CDA) has further developed the viewpoint by upgrading the restaurant, widening the car-parking and providing other necessary facilities. CDA has put in service electric-powered cars to facilitate access for tourists, especially the senior citizens, between Northern and Southern spots.
There is a view of Faisal Mosque
Faisal Mosque
The Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan and is located in the national capital city of Islamabad.Faisal Mosque is conceived as the National Mosque of Pakistan...
, the newly constructed "Seventh Avenue" and Rawal Lake
Rawal lake
Rawal Lake in Pakistan is an artificial reservoir that provides the water needs for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Korang River along with some other small streams coming from Margalla Hills have been set to form this artificial lake which covers an area of 8.8 km². Korang River is...
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
Murree
Murree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
in snowfall days.