Welcome to peshawar

Welcome to peshawar

Before we talk about any of the historical destinations in Peshawar, let’s familiarize ourselves with its history. Founded in the 15th century, the city of Peshawar has served as a center of trade for East, Central and South Asia for hundreds of years. In a recent discovery, the remains of Buddhist activities, dating back to the 5th century, have also been found in the city, which is a prominent proof of its presence from ancient times.

Since it was the center of economic activities in the region, the metropolitan area of Peshawar has witnessed the rise and fall of a mix of Roman, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslim empires through the course of its history, including the Achaemenid Empire, the Kushan Empire, the Hindu Shahis, the Ghaznavids, the Lodi Empire, the Sur Empire, the Durrani Empire and the Sikh Empire of Punjab to name a few. The historical attractions in Peshawar are the intriguing remnants of the city’s beautiful bygone eras

HISTORICAL PLACES IN PESHAWAR

The following are some of the most popular historical attractions in Peshawar:

·         Mahabat Khan Masjid

·         Counted among the most popular historical landmarks in Peshawar, the Mahabat Khan Masjid, also spelled as the Mohabbat Khan Masjid, is an amazing piece of Mughal architecture, masterfully reflecting the rich heritage of the region.

·         Sir Cunningham Clock Tower

To commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Victoria, Her Majesty the Queen Empress of the British Colonial Empire, a clock tower in Peshawar was constructed at the turn of the 20th century by Sir George Cunningham, then-governor of what was then called the North-West Frontier Province. Locally known as “Ghanta Ghar,” Peshawar’s Cunningham Clock Tower is located at only a few minutes’ drive from Mahabat Khan Masjid to the east of Chowk Yadgar, which is the oldest and busiest part of the city.

·         Shahi Bagh

Known as one of the city’s oldest gardens, Shahi Bagh was built during the Mughal era. The place serves as the hub of literary gatherings, political meetings and other kinds of social activities taking place in the city. The total area of the park is around 100 acres, comprising a large variety of trees. Accessible all-year-round, it is one of the most popular historical places in Peshawar as people from all over the city visit Shahi Bagh with family and friends to indulge in different types of recreational activities.

·         Qissa Khwani Bazaar

·         The Street of Storytellers, locally known as Qissa Khwani Bazaar, is one of the most commercially-active historical sites in Peshawar. The name of this place entails a very unique history as it remained a pit stop for traders and travellers belonging to different parts of the continent to gather and swap stories. From selling spices and black tea to trading silver and gold, the market served as a business hub for merchants from all over Asia in ancient times.

·         Bala Hisar Fort

Sitting on a high mound in the city’s northwest corner, Bala Hisar Fort is one of the most fascinating historical destinations in Peshawar. The name “Bala Hissar” is driven from the Afghan dialect of the Persian language, which means “elevated or high fort”. It used to be a royal palace of the Durrani Empire until its destruction and reconstruction by the Sikh Empire of Punjab in 1834. The remnants of this fort are well-preserved.

·         Bab-e-Khyber

·         Majestically standing at the entrance of Peshawar from the very famous Khyber Pass, Bab-e-Khyber is one of the key historical landmarks in Peshawar. This iconic structure also enjoys great national importance as it has been featured on a 10-rupee note of Pakistan currency. It is located adjacent to Jamrud Fort, which is also counted among the most popular historical places to visit in Peshawar.

·         Jamrud Fort

·         Jamrud Fort is located beside the very famous Bab-e-Khyber, which serves as the entrance to the city of Peshawar from Khyber Pass. The fort is also known as Fatehgarh and is a valued heritage site. It was built on the orders of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh of the Sikh Empire, who had it built in only 45 days under the supervision of his appointed army general Hari Singh with the help of over 6,000 soldiers taking part in construction activities.

A great historic center of transit-caravan trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, Peshawar is today connected by highway and rail with Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, and Karachi and by air with Rawalpindi, Chitral, and Kabul, Afghanistan.