Written by: Saif ul Islam
Posted on: June 08, 2018 | 
| 中文
Sadhu ka Bagh
If you belong to Islamabad, you’ve probably been to Pir Sohawa and Damn-e-Koh, but what about the other end of the Margalla Hills? Ancient Buddhist caves, water wells, deep rooted banyan trees, and majestic green hills; Shah Allah Ditta Village can be called Islamabad’s peaceful sanctuary. Surrounded by the far reaching Margalla Hills, this 2400 hundred year old retreat is located just 15 kilometres away from the main Golra Intersection, near the sector D-12.
Named after a Mughal-era dervish, the village was historically located on the route between Afghanistan and the Subcontinent. Dating back more than seven hundred years, its Buddhist history is credited to the Gandharan Civilization of Taxila. There are numerous caves in the area, as well as a Buddhist stupa. The caves are mostly located at an elevated height, with platform like formations within them. Serving as sites for spiritual meditations, these caves attracted monks and priests from all over the region, seeking inner growth and peace. Apart from its Buddhist significance, legend has it that Alexander the Great used this channel to invade the subcontinent by defeating the local king Porus. Furthermore, the Shah Allah Ditta road is also said to be the path of Sher Shah Suri.
Shah Allah Ditta village may have been a refuge for the ancient, but it is a refuge for the modern as well. If you are looking for a moment to clear your mind, reflect on your thoughts, cherish the remnants of history, or simply enjoy the natural beauty of Islamabad, this should be your go-to place. The tall Banyan trees create a canopy over your head, their shade providing cool relief in the summer heat. Attached to these trees are long roped swings and one can simply hop on them to enjoy gusts of wind, while reminiscing about childhood memories.
The caves, although eroded in places, are still intact and the area around them has been conserved by the CDA as ‘Sadhu ka Bagh.’ Some of cave walls used to be covered with paintings made from red clay, but nearly all of them have faded away with time. An ancient water well also lies at a few minutes distance from here. Legend has it that the Mughal Emperor Akbar had it constructed, but only its remnants remain. However, natural streams can be found all around the area, heightening the serenity of the village.
Although Islamabad’s commercial sector hasn’t established itself here, there are a couple of restaurants for visitors. You could simply drop in at any of them, order lunch and enjoy the breath-taking view of the hills. One such café is Sadhu’s Retreat, which was launched as an open air restaurant, for the visitors to enjoy good quality food. However, with the increasing number of visitors, it has been converted into a recreational area where families, students and colleagues from Rawalpindi and Islamabad come for respite from their daily routines. From Archery and Paint Ball to Trekking, Rock Climbing and Camping facilities, they’ve got it all. One of the most interesting attractions is the Jhoolay Lal Zip-line that recently opened to public, and is bound to gain popularity. One can only imagine the potential of this place if further developed and the recently held Shah Allah Ditta Mela, which involved several musical performances, was a resounding success.
After considering the plethora of experiences a place like Shah Allah Ditta has to offer, we can conclude that this is a must-visit site for anyone visiting or living in Islamabad. We haven’t missed out on the experience and we highly recommend that you don’t either!
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