A new real enchantment for tourists in Pakistan
General Saturday, May 31st, 2008Saidpur Village on the Margallas is going to become a real enchantment for tourists with its traditionally-designed structures, a Hindu temple, a ‘gurdawara,’ an old market and Zinda Pir’s shrine.
A project worth Rs400 million is underway to convert this area, some 5 hundred years old, into a tourist village that was named after Said Khan, son of Sultan Sarang Khan, the Gakhar chief of the Potohar region, during Emperor Babur’s time.
Fauzia Minallah, an Islamabad-based artist and a campaigner for the protection of trees, has published a book titled ‘Glimpses into Islamabad’s Soul’ in which she describes long history and heritage of Islamabad, including that of this village.
The distinct cultural identity of Saidpur has always been its pottery and it has always been known as the potters’ village. The newly-built road with fences on both sides guides the visitors to the gate of the village built in Pueblo style. The sheep market right at the entrance point was pushed back to construct a wide car parking area while the construction work on new school building has also been completed that awaits formal opening. There is a green dome mosque right at the entry gate of the village from where no vehicular traffic is allowed to ply into the village.
Renovation work on a Hindu temple and ‘gurdawara’ has been completed that greet the visitors near the entry point. The orphanage once called ‘dharamshala’ between the temple and ‘gurdawara’ has been converted into a gallery where photographs and paintings having a historical background have been displayed. The photographs of the opening of Aabpara Market, the first-ever commercial market, and first-ever office of CDA set up in Islamabad have also been displayed at the gallery.
The Zinda Pir’s ‘bethak’ (seat of worship) is a spot where the saint was supposed to have worshipped. The place is situated at the base of a rock where hundreds of people pay visit, especially on Thursdays. There is also a grave of a woman called Mai Jee who is believed to have spent all her life sitting and praying at the shrine. She took care of this place for decades.
CDA Senior Director Shabbir Ahmad said stone and wood have been mainly used in construction work, especially in the old houses of the village, in line with the pattern of rural life. “The village will provide an opportunity to tourists to walk through cobble stone streets and view old houses. The development work also includes establishment of food courts and handicraft market without damaging the natural character of the area.”
With the help of the coordination committee formed by the local villagers alternative land have been provided to those whose structures were affected due to widening of the gateway and pathways.
CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari told ‘The News’ that the model tourist village would be a unique specimen of past architectural grandeur and historical identity of the place was being protected while carrying out the development work that would be completed in the coming months.
He said that the authority would give the local residents of the village their share of the economic boom as their crafts and skills would be utilized for the promotion of this “tourist heaven.”
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on May 31 2008. Filed under