Nicholson's Obelisk

Nicholson's Obelisk is a granite monument at Margalla Pass near Rawalpindi, located roughly 40 kilometers from Islamabad's center. The structure rises approximately 40 feet above the surrounding hills and overlooks the Grand Trunk Road connecting Islamabad to Peshawar.

The monument was built in 1868 to honor Brigadier-General John Nicholson, who served in the British East India Company and took part in multiple military campaigns. It stands as a lasting marker from the period when colonial rulers consolidated their presence in northern India through such memorials.

The monument displays features of British colonial architecture, with an inscribed plaque documenting Nicholson's military service in British India. Visitors can read the carved details that reflect how colonial rulers memorialized their officers.

The site can be reached via a walking path, with stairs leading up to an elevated platform offering views across the surrounding landscape. It is best visited during daytime hours when visibility is clearest and you can judge the setting properly.

A small memorial fountain at the base of the hillock marks where Nicholson was wounded during the First Anglo-Sikh War. This fountain is often overlooked, but it adds a personal dimension to the site's history.