Real Estate Tourism

List of Top 7 Historical Places In Peshawar to Visit

historical places to visit in Peshawar

Peshawar is well known for its congested lanes, bustling food streets, and colourful bazaars. It is the cultural and administrative centre of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In recent years, the city’s infrastructure has experienced considerable alterations. In this regard, the building of Ring Road Peshawar and the presentation of the ultramodern Bus Rapid Transit System, which is currently in its final stages of completion, are noteworthy. Despite rising urbanisation, the city’s centuries-old past is still visible in the form of well-known sites.  In this blog , we will discuss about the historical places in Peshawar.

History of Peshawar

Peshawar is a city in northern Pakistan, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The city is located near the Khyber Pass, just west of the Bara River, a tributary of the Kabul River. The Shahji-ki Dheri mounds, located to the east, hide the remnants of the greatest Buddhist stupa in the subcontinent (2nd century CE), attesting to the city’s long affiliation with the Buddha and Buddhism.

How many historical places are there in Peshawar?

Here is the list of top historical places to visit in Peshawar. If you are a history lover and want to knew more about Peshawar than you must visit these places.

1.  Bala Hissar Fort
2. Qissa Khawani Bazaar
3. Jamrud Fort
4. Islamia College, Peshawar
5. Mahabat Khan Mosque

The city was known as Parasawara and Purusapura (town or abode of Purusa) when it was the capital of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Gandhara; it was also known as Begram. The contemporary name, Peshawar (pesh awar, “frontier town”), is credited to Akbar, the Mughal ruler of India (1556–1605). Peshawar, a historic transit-caravan trading centre between Afghanistan and Central Asia, is now connected. 

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Bala Hissar, a Sikh fort erected on the ruins of the Durrani state house, which they destroyed after the battle of Nowshera; Gor Khatri, a famous Hindu temple that was previously a Buddhist monastery and now sits on an eminence in the east with a panoramic view of the city; Mahabat Khan’s pure white mosque (1630), a magnificent Mughal architectural landmark; Victoria Memorial Hall; and Government House Several parks, as well as the Chowk Yadgar and the town hall, are used for social and civic gatherings. Coffee houses are quite popular. Gardens and suburbs can be found outside the historic city wall.

So, what makes Peshawar’s past so special? In this blog, we’ll look at some of Peshawar’s most remarkable historical sites to discover an answer to this issue. We have mentioned below Historical Places in Peshawar

Name Location Date Founded Type
1. Bala Hisar Fort Hashtnagri, Peshawar, KPK 1526 Historical Fort
2. Qissa Khawani Bazaar Peshawar 1500s Market
3. Jamrud Fort G. T Road, Peshawar 1834 Historical Fort
4. Islamia College, Peshawar Grand Trunk Rd, Rahat Abad, Peshawar 1913 College
5. Mahabat Khan Mosque 2H6F+67W, Andar Shehr Mohallah Baqir Shah, Peshawar 1660s Masjid
6. Wazir Bagh Wazir Bagh, Peshawar, KPK 1810 Park
7. Bab-e-Khyber Torkham Highway, Jamrud, KPK 1963 Monument

1. Bala Hissar Fort

historical places in Peshawar

Bala Hisar Fort, perched on a steep mound in Peshawar’s northwest corner, is one of the city’s most remarkable historical sites. The name “Bala Hissar” comes from an Afghan dialect of Persian and means “elevated or lofty fort” in English. It was a royal palace of the Durrani Empire until 1834 when it was destroyed and rebuilt by the Sikh Empire of Punjab. The fort’s ruins have been carefully maintained. There are multiple places to visit in Peshawar such as the Bala Hissar Fort. 

The location provides some of the valley’s most breathtaking panoramic vistas. Nobody is permitted to access Bala Hissar Fort since it is guarded by the Pakistan Army. You may still climb the raised area surrounding the fort to get a better view of its outside walls.

This fort is approximately 10 acres (40,000 m2) in size and stands around 90 feet above ground level. The main entrance of the fort faces the historic path to India, which is an intriguing fact. If you want to live in the historical city of Peshawar, you can invest in the Real Estate Companies in Peshawar to earn more and have some of the greatest properties in Peshawar.

After independence, this fort became the headquarters of the Frontier Corps, which was raised from the tribal belt under British rule with the Khyber Jezailchis, now Khyber Rifles, and Viceroy Lord Curzon placed the Frontier Corps Headquarters at Bala Hisar Fort in 1948, and the fort still houses the same, with the majority of the existing barracks and military installations dating to the British period.

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Nearby Eatery at Bala Hisar:

  • Charsi Tika – 5 min drive
  • Bukhara BBq – 4 min drive
  • Tai Pan Restaurant – 5 min drive

2. Qissa Khawani Bazaar

historical places in Peshawar
1960s Pakistan

The Storytellers’ Street, also known as Qissa Khwani Bazaar, is one of Peshawar’s most commercially vibrant historical attractions. The name of this location evokes a unique past, as it served as a gathering point for traders and travellers from all over the continent to exchange stories. In ancient times, the market acted as a business centre for merchants from all across Asia, selling spices and black tea as well as trading silver and gold.

A market built on a cluster of stores selling electronics and clothes products has taken over a space that was previously a hub of black and green tea cafés. Though a lot of things about this location have changed throughout time, Qissa Khawani has remained the same.

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The area also has some famous personalities such as Dilip Kumar, an Indian film actor, was born in Qissa Khwani Bazaar on or around December 11, 1922, and is a member of the Awan family. Raj Kapoor, an actor, was also born in the neighbourhood. In addition, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s anestoral family still resides in the neighbourhood. 

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Gazetteer, traveller Lowell Thomas and Peshawar’s British Commissioner Herbert Edwardes named it “the Piccadilly of Central Asia”.

So Qissa Khwani Bazaar is on the second number in our list of historical places in Peshawar. You can also find some of the  best shopping malls in Peshawar.

Nearby Eatery at Qissa Khawani Bazar:

  • It has a food street itself with every eatery place offering best taste and top-notch services

3. Jamrud Fort

Jamrud Fort

Jamrud Fort, also known as Fatehgarh, is a valuable heritage monument located 17 kilometers west of Peshawar, alongside Baba-i-Khyber, a gateway to the old Khyber Pass.

The fort was erected by Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837), the commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Army, the Sikh Empire’s army, according to historians. His contribution in the conquests of Kasur, Sialkot, Attock, Multan, Kashmir, Peshawar, and Jamrud was well-known. He also founded Haripur, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that bears his name.

Hari Singh Nalwa was in charge of expanding the Sikh empire’s borders beyond the Indus River, all the way to the Khyber Pass. Jamrud was the empire’s western frontier at the time of his death.

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In October of 1836, the ambitious general devised a larger assault against the Afghans, which necessitated the construction of forts at several important locations. Hari Singh submitted letters to Ranjit Singh to obtain permission to build a fort in Jamrud since it was the traditional gateway to India and also a convenient route to Kabul. 

He began building the Jamrud fort in December 1836, after receiving Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s assent, by laying the foundation with his own hands. He used about 6,000 men to build the structure, which took 45 days to finish.

Nearby Places of Jamrud Fort:

  • Karkhana Restaurant – 10 min drive
  • Asli Baba Restaurant – 11 min drive
  • Khyber Shinwari – 30 min drive

4. Islamia College, Peshawar

Islamia College Peshawar

Peshawar’s Islamia College (ICP) is a public university in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is one of Pakistan’s oldest higher education institutions, having been founded in 1913 through personal endeavours headed by Sir S.A. Qayyum and Sir George Roos-Keppel. Its historical origins may be traced back to the culmination of the Aligarh Movement.

The concept of a college in the region was forming in the imaginations of both Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum and Sir George Roos-Keppel by 1909, and it was bolstered by their visit to the Aligarh Muslim University the same year. Nawab Sahib inquired of the students, particularly those from the N.W.F.P. who were studying there, about their issues and how he might assist them. He was informed that the pupils need a hostel. Rather than providing them with a dormitory in Aligarh, Nawab Sahib assured them that he would build them a college in Peshawar. Mulana Qutabshah was the college’s first dean.

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Addressing the students of the college on April 12, 1948, Quaid-e-Azam said: “Let me tell you that nothing is nearer to my heart than to have a great centre of culture and learning in a place like Peshawar, a place from where the rays of knowledge and culture can spread throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.”

So Islamia College is on the fourth number in our list of historical places in Peshawar. Get to know about top areas to invest in Islamabad.

Islamia College Peshawar Nearby Places:

  • University Tikka Hut – 15 min drive
  • Embers Restaurant: – 20 min drive
  • Islamia Restaurant – 21 min drive

5. Mahabat Khan Mosque

Historical Places in Peshawar

The Mahabat Khan Masjid , also known as the Mohabbat Khan Masjid, is a magnificent example of Mughal architecture that beautifully reflects the region’s rich legacy. It is one of Peshawar’s most prominent historical attractions. It was built in 1670 AD by Mahabat Khan, who was the Governor of Peshawar at the time during Emperor Shah Jahan’s rule. The Mahabat Khan Masjid’s exterior construction consists of three domes with two 107-foot-high minarets on either side. The mosque’s prayer hall is exquisitely embellished with floral artwork. This landmark edifice still stands proudly in Andar Shehr, Peshawar’s old city district.

Six smaller ornamental minarets flank the mosque’s five arched entryways on the prayer hall’s façade, with an additional two minarets surrounding the set of six. Three fluted domes crown the prayer hall. By a succession of four minor incremental height increases, the roofline climbs from the outside borders to the centre. Several merlons are adorning the rooftop. Also read our blog on Shopping Malls in Islamabad .

6. Bab-e-Khyber:

historical places of peshawar

Bab-e-Khyber is a stunning historical monument at the west entry point of Peshawar on GT Road. It is located adjacent to one historical significance of the city, Jamrud Fort. Bab means gate, and Bab-e-Khyber stands for the term “Gate to the region of Khyber,” as it is located at the entry point of the city.

The gate is known by names, including Bab-e-Khibre, Khyber Gate and Bab-e-Khyber. It was built in the 1960s and was inaugurated by President Ayub Khan in 1963. The gate has evident signs of ageing, yet it stands magnificent in Peshawar with mesmerizing views. You can also enjoy the world-famous Peshawari Kehwa at one of the best cafes in Peshawar in different areas of the city or devour authentic sushi in Peshawar at top-notch Peshawar cafes.

The passage was used by eminent historians of the world, including Alexandra, Genghis Khan Tartar warriors, Mahmood troops, etc. The passage is a famous route for traders and nobles who entered South Asia. The Bab was built to pay homage and recognize the importance of the passage.

Over time, the gate has become a landmark of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal belt of the province. The significant landmark of the city enjoys lots of importance at the national level. As we can see, it has been featured on the currency notes of Pakistan.

Bab-e-Khyber is located near many famous eateries and restaurants in the provincial capital. The Gate is a pretty crowded place in the city, and many tourists visit it for its historical significance.

Famous Eatery near Bab-e-Khyber:

  • Bab-e-Khyber Fish Center – 4 min drive
  • Khyber Shinwari Tikka – 2-min drive
  • Afghan Restaurant – 9-min drive

7. Wazir Bagh:

best place of peshawar

Wazir Bagh is one of the most beautiful historical gardens in Peshawar. The park was built in the 18th century, around 1810, during the rule of Prince Shah Mahmood Durrani. Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan laid the historic garden’s foundation after toppling the Shah Shuja regime in Peshawar.

The magnificent historical structure stands at a prime location in the city and near many popular eatery places and historical areas, including the famous restaurants in Peshawar .i.e: Namak Mandi.

The beautiful park is an architectural marvel with four enclosures, including a sports ground, two majestic lawns, a pool with a magnificent fountain, old fruity trees, a pavilion and a masjid. The garden was full of trees of fruits, flowers and herbs, including apricots, pears, peaches, pomegranates, etc. However, with time and minimum care, the park lost its beauty.

However, the park remains one of the popular sports grounds for children. Many children and young people play tennis, football and cricket on the garden grounds. The historic park is famous among residents for conducting cricket competitions during Ramadan.

Luckily, the government started the restoration work on the beauty of the park, and now it has once again become a popular family parks in Peshawar. The historical architectural glimpse, serene environment and beautiful green surroundings make Wazir Bagh one of the popular historical places in Pakistan.

Famous eatery near Wazir Bagh:

  • Khana-e-Khas Restaurant – 13 min drive
  • Habibi Restaurant Peshawar – 10 min drive
  • Café Crunch – 18 min drive

Summing Up:

Peshawar is a city rich in culture and diversity. The city is before the times of the Mughals and even Alexander makes mention of the vivid and hospitable city. Being one of the oldest cities in the world, Peshawar holds great importance in terms of history, diplomatic relations and food. On your next trip to Peshawar, you can also visit some of these above mentioned historical places in Peshawar.  Also read our blog on business ideas in Pakistan .

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