Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi, colloquially known as Pindi, is the third-largest city in the Pakistani province of Punjab and the fourth-most populous city in Pakistan. Located along the Soan River in north-western Punjab, Rawalpindi lies adjacent to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, and the two are jointly known as the "twin cities". Rawalpindi is located on the Pothohar Plateau and is close to the ancient city of Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in 1493 by a Gakhar chief and remained a small town until the 18th century. Following the annexation of Punjab by the East India Company in 1849, Rawalpindi became the largest garrison town of the Northern Command of the British Indian Army with the establishment of the Rawalpindi Cantonment. It was granted municipal status in 1867. Following the independence of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, the city became home to the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army. Rawalpindi also served as the secondary capital of Pakistan, under Ayub Khan, before the new capital was established in Islamabad. Rawalpindi is linked to the national highways through the M-1 and M-2 motorways, and serves as a major logistics and transportation centre for northern Pakistan. The city is home to historic havelis and temples, and serves as a hub for tourists visiting Azad Kashmir, Taxila and Gilgit-Baltistan.