Walk the bazaars where Rawalpindi's centuries converge
Step into Moti Bazar on a crowded afternoon and you are immediately in the thick of things—the air thick with haggling, the narrow lanes lined with stalls of clothes and artificial jewellery, the smell of gol gappay and smosa chaat drifting from food vendors. This is one of Rawalpindi's oldest and most traditional bazaars, and it rewards wandering. Connected to it are Sarafa Bazaar, where goldsmiths work quality gold into unique designs, and Purana Qilla (the old castle bazaar), famous for elaborate wedding clothes. As you move between stalls, you will encounter old temples and Lal Hawali—buildings with architecture that reaches back generations. The traditional snacks—dahi bhally, chana chaat, fruit chaat—are very famous here, and eating them at a streetside stand is part of the experience. Raja Bazar and Bara Bazar offer similarly rewarding wandering, with amazing prices and surprising stock, though Raja Bazar is not recommended for solo female travellers.
Gardens, parks and the open air—Rawalpindi's breathing spaces
Ayub Park covers about 2,300 acres beyond the old Presidency on the Grand Trunk Road, and it is the sort of place where you can lose an afternoon in green meadows without worry. The park has a lake with boating, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open-air theater. Bring the family and pack snacks, or buy them on site. Nawaz Sharif Park on Murree Road near Shamsabad opened in 1991 and offers a different kind of respite—lawns, fountains and flower beds, with a play area for children. Liaqat Bagh is a garden space with a weight of history: it is the site where Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister of Pakistan, was assassinated in 1950, and where Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on 27 December 2007. Walking here, you are walking through moments that shaped the nation.
Museums and the view from above
The Army Museum, at the end of Murree Road, was established in 1961 to collect and display material relating to the Pakistan Army and the British Indian Army. It is a straightforward place to understand the military history that has defined Rawalpindi since the British cantonment took root. For a completely different perspective, Askari Aviation offers helicopter tours from 5-A The Mall, AWT Plaza. You can see the scenic beauty and mountain valleys of Pakistan from above, with several itineraries available—each trip starts from Islamabad but departs from Rawalpindi's location at the heart of the region.
Reach beyond the city—Taxila and Rawat Fort
On the first Sunday of each month, a tourist train departs from Rawalpindi train station around 9am, making its way to Taxila with a stop at Golra Sharif station, which has a small museum. The train returns in the late afternoon, and the journey costs Rs 1,200. From Taxila, a coach can take you to Khanpur Dam, or you can visit the Taxila Museum and ruins—Taxila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies close to Rawalpindi. If you prefer solid ground, Rawat Fort lies 15 kilometres away off the Grand Trunk Road and rewards a half-day trip.
Shopping, food and modern entertainment
Murree Road, Raja Bazar and Bara Bazar are the places to spend time and money—the traffic can be painful, but the prices and variety make it worthwhile. Jinnah Park, near Kachehri Chowk, has McDonald's and other dining, as well as Cinepax, a modern cinema complex showing South Asian and Hollywood films. Bahria Town, a new suburb to the south, offers mini-golf, go-kart racing and a luxury spa if you want something quieter than the bazaars.
Rawalpindi is not a city of grand monuments, but it is a place to walk, eat, browse and feel the texture of a working city. If you are based in Islamabad and want to trade quiet for bustle, or if you are heading onward to Taxila or Kashmir, a day or two here will give you a different Rawalpindi from the one you pass through en route. Start with the bazaars.