 Pakistan -
Peshawar
Peshawar is the most lively city of Pakistan. It is the heart of the North western
province. The city lies at the edge of the Historic Khyber
pass. The city is well known for its historic and cultural values. Peshawar has seen many
invaders and travellers passing it by, from around the world. (history
page) There are a number of things to do & Visit in Peshawar. Being an important
border city the bazaars of Peshawar are the most attrractive. There is always a lot of
activity going on. The Kissa Khawani Bazaar (Story tellers Bazaar) is the most intersting
of all. There are merchandise from all over central Asia here. Oriental Rugs , Afghan
Jewalry , tribal Handicrafts, Wood carving , spices and all kinds of fabrics are available
in the city.
Peshawar derives its name from a Sanskrit word "Pushpapura" meaning the city
of flowers. Peshawar’s flowers were mentioned even in Moghal Emperor Babur’s
memoirs.
Alexander’s legions and the southern wing of his army were held up here in 327
B.C. for forty days at a fort excavated recently, 27 ½ kms north-east of Peshawar at
Pushkalavati (lotus city) near Charsadda.
The great Babur marched through historic Khyber Pass to conquer South Asia in 1526 and
set up the Moghal Empire in the South Asia.
The pass and the valley have resounded to the tramp of marching feet as successive
armies hurtled down the crossroad of history, pathway of commerce, migration and invasion
by Aryans, Scythians, Persians, Greeks, Bactrians, Kushans, Huns, Turks’ Mongols and
Moghals.
PESHAWAR-THE FRONTIER TOWN:
And Peshawar is now, as always, very much a frontier town. The formalities of dress and
manner give way here to a free and easy style, as men encounter men with a firm hand-clasp
and a straight but friendly look. Hefty handsome men in baggy trousers and long, losse
shirts, wear bullet studded bandoleers across their chests or pistols at their sides as a
normal part of their dress.
There is just that little touch of excitement and drama in the air that makes for a
frontier land. An occasional salvo of gun fire-no, not a tribal raid or a skirmish in the
streets but a lively part of wedding celebrations.
THE LAND OF PATHANS:
Remember, we are in the land of the Pathans - a completely male-dominated society.
North and south of Peshawar spreads the vast tribal area where lives the biggest tribal
society in the world, and the most well known, though much misrepresented.
Pathans are faithful Muslims. Their typical martial and religious character has been
moulded by their heroes, like Khushal Khan Khattak, the warrior poet and Rehman Baba, a
preacher and also a poet of Pushto language.
Today, they themselves guard the Pakistan-Afghanistan border along the great passes of
the Khyber, the Tochi, the Gomal and others on Pakistan’s territory, but before
independence they successfully defied mighty empires, like the British and the Moghal and
others before them, keeping the border simmering with commotion, and the flame of freedom
proudly burning.
Peshawar is the great Pathan city. And what a city ! Hoary with age and the passage of
twenty-five centuries, redolent with the smell of luscious fruit and roasted meat and
tobacco
TRANSFERS GETING THERE
Peshawar airport is only 10 minutes drive from downtown hotels. You can get a car from
the airport or have us book a transfer for you. Peshawar is 170 kilometers from Islamabad Capital of Pakistan. It takes about 3 hours for a straigt
drive from Islamabad to peshawar. However if you chose to visit Taxila
oldest buddhit capital of gandhara, it will take 5 - 6 hours.
You can also drive to or from Swat to peshawar about 190
kilometers which is a green valley in the foothills of hindukush mountains.
TOURS : There are 2 major tour options in the peshawar city.
1. Half day peshawar city tour. You wll visit Kissa khawani bazaar Khyber bazaar Sarafa
bazaar All of them present a very rich cultural scene you get to see a hustle bustle of
different reaces which inhabit this historic city. Also visit the Mohabat khan mosque
& Peshawar musem
IMPORTANT LANDMARKS.
THE OLD CITY:
Until the mid-fifties Peshawar was enclosed within a city wall and sixteen gates. Of
the old city gates the most famous was the Kabuli Gate but only the name remains now. It
leads out to the Khyber and on to Kabul.
You come across two-and -three story houses built mostly of unbaked bricks set in
wooden frames to guard against earthquakes, Many old houses have beautifully carved heavy
wooden doors and almost all have highly ornamental wooden balconies. There is a tall and
broad structure whose lofty portal look down upon the street. This historical building
houses the police offices and the site was occupied centuries ago by a Buddhist stupa,
then by a Hindu temple and then by a Moghal sarai. It was, in Sikh days, the seat of
General Avitable, an Italian soldier of fortune in the service of Ranjit Singh.
QISSA KHAWANI BAZAAR:
Here perhaps visiting travelers or the relaxing townsmen were regaled with stories by
professional story tellers, in the evening, in the many teashops that still adorn the
bazaar front with their large brass samovars and numerous hanging teapots and teacups.
As in most eastern bazaars, the shops of delicacies predominate, and here too you will
find many colorful fruit shops displaying the glorious harvest of Peshawar's unrivaled
bread and justly celebrated "Kababs" and "Tikkas" meat sizzling on hot
coals, in the many wayside cafes.
Leather goods shops are the next most numerous, selling that wonderful footwear, the
Peshawari "Chappals" or sandals, belts, holsters and bandoliers and a special
variety of light but sturdy suitcase called "Yakhdaan".
OTHER BAZAARS:
As you move up, the Qissa Khawani Bazaar turns left and here begins the bazaar of
coppersmiths whose jewel-like engraved and embossed jars, bowls, ewers and plates are
piled up in shops like glistening treasure trove. Other famous bazaars of Peshawar are the
Khyber Bazaar. Bird Bazaar and Meena Bazaar, Jewellery Bazaar and Mochilara (Shoe Makers'
Bazaar).
In fact, the variety of craft in which Peshawar excels even today is amazing and this
is a part of the city's character often eclipsed by its martial tradition. Remember that
it was in this valley of Peshawar that there flourished that remarkable school of
Ghandhara sculpture, which is one of the glories of Pakistan's heritage.
CHOWK YADGAAR:
Soon you reach the central square called chowk Yadgaar the traditional site of
political rallies. The two routes from the old city meet here. Parking of cars can safely
be done only at this place in the old city.
MOSQUE OF MOHABAT KHAN:
The only significant remaining Moghal mosque in Peshawar was built by Mohabat khan in
1670 A.D. when he was twice Governor of Peshawar under Moghal Emperors Shah Jehan and
Aurangzeb. The mosque was nearly destroyed by fire in 1898 A.D. and was only saved by the
unremitting efforts of the faithful. The extensive renovation of the mosque was done by
the traditional craftsman. The mosque is a fine specimen of Moghal architecture of Emperor
Shah Jehan's period. The interior of the prayer chamber has been lavishly decorated with
floral work and calligraphy.
BALA HISAAR FORT:
The mighty Bala Hisaar Fort lies on both eastern approaches to Peshawar city. It meets
the eye when coming from Rawalpindi or from the Khyber. It is a massive frowning structure
as its name implies, and the newcomer passing under the shadow of its huge battlements and
ramparts cannot fail to be impressed. Originally built by Babar, the first of the Moghals
in 1526-30, it was rebuilt in its present form by the Sikh Governor of Peshawar, Hari
Singh Nalva, in the 1830's under the guidance of French engineers. It houses government
offices at present.
Peshawar Museum is housed in an imposing building of the British days. It was formerly
the Victoria Memorial Hall built in 1905. The large hall, side galleries and the raised
platform which were used for ball dances now display in chronological order finest
specimens of Gandhara sculptures, tribal life, the Muslim period and ethnography.
SETHI HOUSES:
These houses are situated in Mohallah Sethian and can be approached from Chowk yadgaar.
These are highly decorated style of building with carved wooden doors, partitions,
balconies, mirrored and painted rooms. The Sehtis are the traditional business community
of Peshawar. The main house was built in 1882 AD. by Haji Ahmed Gul who migrated from
Chamkani (a near village) almost 6 generations ago.
NEW PESHAWAR:
Across the railway line was built the new modern Peshawar, the Cantonment, like the
ones which the British built near every major city for their administrative offices,
military barracks, residences, parks, churches and shops.
The Peshawar "Sadder" (Cantonment) is a spaciously laid out neat and clean
township with avenues of tall trees, wide tarred roads, large single storied houses with
lawns and a pervading scent of rare shrubs and flowers that is Peshawar's own.
The heart of the sadder is the Khalid bin Walid (Company) Bagh which is an old Moghal
Garden. Its huge ancient trees and gorgeous big roses are a sight to remember. Two other
splendid old gardens are the Shahi Bagh in the north-east and the Wazir Bagh in the
south-east, all of which give the character of a garden city to Peshawar.
In Sadder, there are the splendid modern state bank building, Governor's house, hotels,
old missionary Edwards collage ,archly stocked museum, fine shopping area and right in the
middle is the tourist Information center at Dean's hotel (Phone:279781).
The Peshawar of the hoary past is the old city, the Peshawar of the British period
(1849 to 1947) is the Cantonment but the Peshawar of independent Pakistan is the vast
extension of the city west and east.
Westward, on the road to the Khyber, where in the days gone by, no one was safe from
tribal raids, today stretches a long line of educational and research institutions, such
as the Academy of rural development, the teachers training college, the north regional
laboratories of the council of scientific and industrial research and many others.
But the pride of Peshawar today is its university, a vast sprawling garden town of red
brick buildings and velvet lawns, which comprises a dozen departments and colleges of law,
medicine, engineering and forestry. Special mention must be made of the Islamia college,
which was the pioneer national institution that ignited the torch of enlightenment in this
region,67 years ago.
The road stretching out east towards Rawalpindi is lined for miles upon miles with
factories producing a variety of goods and also orchard producing some of the world's
finest plums, pears
and peaches. Rice, sugar-cane and tobacco are the rich cash-crops of the well-watered
Peshawar valley through which flows the Kabul River and at the end of which the mighty
Indus forms the district boundary for 48 1/2 Kms (30miles),the two joining near the
historic Attock fort.
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