Peshawar
Founded over 2,000 years ago by the Kushan
Kings of Gandhara, Peshawar has had almost as
many names as
rulers. Moghal emperor Akbar, formally gave the
city the name Peshawar which means "The Place at
the Frontier". Earlier it had been known as the
"City of Flowers" and the "City of Grains".
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 of
the Khyber and on to Kabul.
One of the main attractions of Peshawar is 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 tea-shops Hence the name
Qissa Khawani (story telling). The tea-shops
still adorn the bazaar front with their large
brass samovars and numerous hanging teapots and
tea-cups, though the legendary story-tellers are
nowhere to be seen.
Handicrafts such as engraved and embossed
jars, bowls, ewers, plates and jewelry etc., can
be found at other famous bazaars of Peshawar
which include: The Khyber Bazaar, Bird Bazaar,
Fruit Bazaar, Basket Bazaar, Andershehr Bazaar,
Jewelry Bazaar, Meena Bazaar for women and
Mochilara (Shoemakers' 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 it's
martial tradition. Remember that it was in this
valley of Peshawar that there flourished that
remarkable school of Gandhara Sculpture (roughly
from from the first century B.C. to the fifth
century A.D.), which is one of the glories of
Pakistan's heritage. The prime attraction in
this region is the Khyber Pass situated in the
Sulaiman Hills which form the Western barrier of
Pakistan. The hills dip down here, leaving a
passage sometimes as broad as one mile and
sometimes as narrow as fifty-two feet. The pass
begins near Jamrud Fort, eleven miles from
Peshawar and extends beyond the border of
Pakistan at Torkkam, thirty six miles away.
 Places
Of Attraction
Extending from west to east in the heart of
the city is the romantic 'Street of
Story-tellers' - the Qissa Khawani Bazaar. In
olden days, this was the site of camping ground
for caravans and military adventures, where
professional story-tellers recited ballads and
tales of war and love to throngs of traders and
soldiers.
'The Street of Partridge Lovers' lies on the
left hand corner of Qissa Khawani Bazaar. It
derives its name from the bird-market which
stood here till a few decades ago and has now
been replaced by stores and shops selling
exquisitely engraved brass and copper wire.
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Built on a raised platform from the ground
level, the Bala Hisar Fort stands at the
north-western edge of the city. The original
structure was raised in 1519 AD during the reign
of the Mughal Emperor Babar. It was
reconstructed in its present form by Sikhs who
ruled over Peshawar valley between 1791 and 1849
AD.
Situated atop a 160 meter high hill are the
remains of a famous Buddhist monastery at
Takht-e-Bhai, about 80 kms from Peshawar. This
site has produced fragmentary sculptures in
stone and stucco that indicate the highly
developed sculptural sense of their creators.
This site dates back from 2nd-3rd century AD.
This mosque was built in 1630 AD by Mahabat
Khan, the Governor of Peshawar, during the reign
of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan (1628-1658 AD).
It is a fine massive structure with lofty
minarets. Situated in the Andar Shahar Bazaar,
it is the finest mosque in the city.
The 'Dheri' is an ancient mound about a mile
outside the city in the south-east corner. The
present two mounds, lying east and west,
represent a stupa. The stupa, it is said was
about 400 feet in height and its construction
was undertaken by a Greek in the service of King
Kanishka.
 See Also:
Peshawar, Pakistan
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