ISB to Rawalpindi (Raja Bazaar)

The twin city of Islamabad with the historic Raja Bazaar, Ayub National Park, and vibrant street food scene.

Rawalpindi ("Pindi" to locals) is Islamabad's older, grittier twin city—a historic garrison town that predates the capital and retains the bustling, unplanned character of traditional South Asian cities. Raja Bazaar is its beating heart, a vast, labyrinthine market stretching across dozens of lanes, selling everything from fabrics and jewelry to spices, electronics, and street food.

The city has deep military roots as the headquarters of Pakistan Army General Headquarters (GHQ). The British-era Rawalpindi Cantonment, with its wide boulevards and colonial churches, contrasts sharply with the old city's narrow alleys. The Ayub National Park and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium are local landmarks.

Rawalpindi is a sensory overload—honking rickshaws, chai wallahs, the scent of nihari (slow-cooked meat stew) and naan from tandoor ovens, and the constant buzz of commerce. It's the authentic counterpart to Islamabad's order. The city connects to the new Rawalpindi metro system and serves as a railway junction for services to Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar.