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Trail 8 Islamabad is located on the western foothills of Margalla Hills National Park, at the border of Taxila. UNESCO in 1980 declared Taxila in its world heritage site. Once Taxila was the hub of Buddhism, a center of learning for various cultures, namely the Achaemenids, Greeks, Mauryans, Scythians, Parthians, Kushans, Huns and eventually the Muslims. The “Ban Faqiran Stupa” is the oldest and largest stupa discovered in the area dates to 200 – 500 C.E.
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History of Ban Faqiran Stupa
The given name Ban Faqiran is derived from local vernacular “ban” meaning reservoir and “faqiran” meaning saints. Ban Faqiran Stupa along with a staircase, covering an area of 10.15 x 26.20 meters with staircase measuring 16.20 x 2.60 meters. The masonry of square stupa and rectangular staircase is semi-ashlar and diaper. Besides the huge structural remains of Buddhist Stupa various coins and arrow heads has been discovered. Coins belongs to 1st century B.C to 1963 are displayed in Islamabad Archeological Museum in G-5/1, Ataturk Avenue Islamabad.
Parking Area of Trail 8 Islamabad
Trail 8 Islamabad starts from Shah Allah ditta village near Buddha Caves, a historical site visited by hundreds of tourists daily. There is no separate parking for trail 8 therefore one needs to park the vehicle at Buddha caves parking and start trekking. Parking at Buddha Caves is safe as the tourist spot receives lot of visitors daily.
Is it safe to hike solo on trail 8 Islamabad?
Yes, it is safe to hike solo fulfilling the basic requirements of safety and security gear. Carrying a hiking stick along with proper gear is recommended. As trail 8 Islamabad is not frequently traversed by hikers on weekdays, going on weekends is perfectly suitable for solo hikers.
Time to reach Ban Faqiran Stupa
For beginners it takes around 50 – 60 minutes of trekking to reach the Stupa. For experienced and seasoned hikers, it takes around 40 – 50 minutes. The distance is almost 2 kms from Buddha caves, district Islamabad. The perfect blend of lush green nature in mountains with historical background gives trail 8 Islamabad a must visit place for history lovers.
Track Elevation of trail 8 Islamabad
The track of trail 8 Islamabad is flat at the beginning with reasonable elevation gain of 850 meters above sea level. After 20 minutes of trekking, the scenery becomes beautiful as the pine trees starts to pop up with soothing breeze. The serenity of lush green valley views is another motivation to go further and reach the vintage point.
4×4 track till Ban Faqiran Stupa
Trail 8 Islamabad is suitable for 4×4 jeeps as the track is quite wide and jeeps can reach up to Stupa point. Bikes can also reach Ban Faqiran Stupa, but for hiking enthusiasts trail 8 Islamabad is a nice hiking experience and would add value in trekking list.
Islamabad and Taxila Skyline from Stupa
Trail 8 Islamabad has a unique significance of having two skylines from one single point. At Ban Faqiran Stupa one can view Islamabad skyline on eastern side and on western side the other skyline of Taxila. As Stupa is the vintage point of the valley, it gets quite windy sometimes with strong winds gushing.
Highest point of Trail 8 Islamabad
From Stupa, there is a steep uphill hike on your right. This steep hike takes you to the highest point of trail 8 Islamabad. From this vintage point the views of Islamabad and Taxila are scenic and mesmerizing. The steep hike of trail 8 Islamabad after stupa point is ONLY recommended for seasoned hikers, and families with kids should keep their trekking up to Ban Faqiran Stupa and return.
Story of Lions at Trail 8 Islamabad
At the highest point of trail 8 Islamabad, I met a local guy who was telling the story of lions in the area. He was of the view that he had witnessed dotted ‘tendwa’ and ‘puma’ or bobcat in the area multiple times. As per his explanation the wild cats do not comes on the track, still to be at the safe side it is recommended to complete your hike before sunset and avoid trekking in dark hours.
Mountain climbing spot at trail 8 Islamabad
At the base of trail 8 Islamabad, one finds a suitable spot for mountain climbing. The spot is hardly few minutes from Buddha caves parking. With right gear and adequate safety measures, this mountain climbing spot is a perfect place for mountain climbers and mountaineering enthusiasts within city limits of federal capital Islamabad.
Conclusion
In a nutshell trail 8 Islamabad is a good addition for hiking community. A touch of history blending with scenic views is something that is memorable and cherish able. A trekking that would be a lifetime experience for families, kids, women and nature lovers. So, what are you waiting for? We are just a call away to support your hiking experience. Write us at: tendwaglobal@gmail.com