The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad – Pakistan

The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad – Pakistan is considered as one of the largest mosques across the globe and the largest one in the country. The country also considers this as its National Mosque.

 

Location

The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad – Pakistan is situated at the northern tip of Faisal Avenue, standing at the base of Margalla Hills.

Getting There

The easiest way to get into Islamabad is to fly in. International flights are accommodated at the Benazir Bhuto International Airport.

Getting around Islamabad is largely done via private taxis and car hire services. You can get a taxi from the city centre and simply ask the driver to take you to the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad – Pakistan.

What to See and Do

The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad – Pakistan, with its size as well as its location, can be easily seen from parts of the city. It is well-lit at night which makes it look even more majestic especially amidst the backdrop of the Margalla Hills.

The design of the mosque is considered modern and takes after a Bedouin tent. The interiors are covered in white marble, adorned with beautiful mosaics and calligraphy.

There are 4 minarets that are installed by the four corners of the mosque, standing at a towering height two hundred and ninety-five feet each. These are taken after Turkish tradition.

There is also a beautiful Turkish-styled chandelier inside the main hall.

You can walk around the courtyard and visit the porticoes as well but one must observe silence at all times in respect to those who are worshipping.

Brief History

Plans to build the mosque started in the year 1966 after Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz visited the country. The late King offered his support to the Pakistani government to construct a national mosque.

A contest was held in the year 1969 to find the best architect in the world to design and build the said mosque. Out of the forty-three contenders from seventeen different countries, an architect from Turkey by the name of Vedat Dalokay won the competition.

His design was picked out after several days of consultations and deliberation. It wasn’t until the year 1976 when building of the mosque finally took place.

The project was funded by the government of Saudi Arabia for a whopping US$120 million.

The mosque was named after King Faisal to honor his memory and as an appreciation for his contributions to have the mosque built.

The mosque was completed in the year 1986.

Cost

There are no fees collected to enter the grounds of The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad – Pakistan and visit its perimeters.

Other Information

The mosque is open daily and visitors are advised to observe regulations when visiting especially during times of worship. Women are required to cover their heads with scarves while visiting the mosque and all visitors are required to wear appropriate clothing which basically means no sleeveless shirts and shorts skirts or pants.