PESHAWAR

[Adil Malik]

Peshāwar (Urdu: پشاور; Pashto: پښور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pekhawar in Pashto. It is the provincial capital of Pakistan's North-West Frontier (NWFP) Province as well as the capital of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.[1] Located on the edge of the Khyber Pass, Peshawar is the commercial, economic, political and cultural capital of the Pakistani frontier and, particularly, of the Pashtuns.

In ancient times the city was known as Purushapura (Sanskrit: पुरुशपुरा) when it was officially founded by the Kushans. For much of its history, it was one of the main trading centers on the ancient Silk Road and was a major crossroads for various cultures between the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.

Peshawar is a rapidly growing city with a population of 982,816 in 1998. The current population growth rate is 3.29% per year, which is higher than the average of many other Pakistani cities.

Peshawar's inhabitants consist mainly of three groups, namely; the majority Pashtuns (including recent Afghan Pakhtun refugees) and minority Peshawaris (Hindko-speakers who are often referred to as "Khaarian", 'city dwellers'). In addition, thousands of Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Persians and Gypsies can be found in the city.

Urban Population: 48.68% (983,000 persons)
Rural Population: 51.32% (1,036,000 persons)
Male/Female ratio: 1.1:1
Average annual growth rate 3.56%
In 2002, on the growth rate of 3.56% population doubled in 20 years from 1.1 million in 1981 to 2.242 million in 2002. Peshawar District covers a large area extending over 50 km from north to south and over 30 km from east to west. It is situated at an altitude of 347 m (1138 ft) above sea level. The Peshawar valley is nearly circular, extending from the Indus to the Khyber Hills. It is bounded on the North and North East by hills, which separate it from the Valley of Swat. In the Northwest are the rugged mountains of Khyber and to the South is the continuation of spur which branches off from Safed Koh (the famous white mountain on the Afghan border) and runs to Indus. The lower portion of this branch separates the district of Peshawar and Kohat.

Over 99% of the Peshawar population is Muslim. Despite the overwhelmingly Islamic nature of modern Peshawar, the city was previously home to other smaller communities such as Afghan Jews, Hindus and Sikhs. The Partition of India and the creation of Israel resulted in the virtual elimination of some of these groups from Peshawar, but there are still Christian and Sikh communities present in the region.

[Adil Malik]

Sites of interest
Peshawar, as a traditional city with a rich history, offers everything from goldsmiths and silversmiths, traditional carpets (one of the big exports of Pakistan today), pottery, and clothing to artwork in wood, brass or semi-precious stones. There are many bazaars with different goods and souvenirs for travellers. The main ones include the historic Qissa Khawani Bazaar, the Copper market, Chowk Yadgar and Andarsheher Bazaar.

General
Governor's House
Mattani
Dean Center
Peshawar Garrison Club
Aviator's Station - The site where freedom fighters of the 1857 independence movement were blown from guns.
Hayatabad
Kotla Mohsin Khan - The residence of Mazullah Khan, seventeenth century Pashtu poet.
Durrani Graveyard
Para Training School
Forts
Bala Hisar Fort
Burj Hari Singh - Sikh fort founded by Sikh General Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa (no longer exists)
Colonial Monuments
Bara Bridge built by Mughal rulers in 1629.
Chowk Yadgar - Formerly Hastings memorial
Cunningham clock tower built in 1900. Called Ghanta Ghar
Avitabile's Pavilion
Edwardes School - The residence of Yar Mohammad Khan, the last Durrani Governor of Peshawar
Buddhist
Gor Khuttree - An ancient site of Buddha's alms or begging bowl. Headquarter of Syed Ahmad Shaheed, Governor Avitabile
Pakhtu Academy - The site of an ancient Buddhist University
Shah Ji Ki Dheri - The site of Kanishka's famous Buddhist monastery.
Hindu/Sikh
Panch Tirath - An ancient Hindu site now converted into a park
Sikh Temple at Jogan Shah
Mausoleums
Tomb of Sheikh Imamuddin (d.1650) at Palosi Piran.
Tomb of Rahman Baba (d.1706)
Tomb of Akhund Darweza (d.1638)
Tomb of Sheikh Sultan Baba
Mausoleum of Nawab Sayed Khan
Ziarat of Ashab Baba
Burj-e-Roshnai
Parks
Wazir Bagh - Laid in 1802, by Fatteh Khan, Prime Minister of Shah Mahmud Khan.
Ali Mardan Khan Gardens - Formerly Company Bagh now Khalid bin Waleed Park.
Shahi Bagh - A small portion of which constitutes the current site of Arbab Niaz Stadium.
Mosques
Mohabbat Khan Mosque
Ganj Ali Khan Mosque
Qasim Ali Khan Mosque
Sethi Mohallah
Sonehri Masjid
Museums
Peshawar Museum (Victoria Memorial Hall)


Shopping
Qissa Khawani Bazaar
Karkhano Market
Hotels
Green Hotel
Khan Klub
Pearl Continental
The Grand Hotel
Marhaba Hotel


and many more..

[Adil Malik]

PESHAWAR




ISLAMIA COLLEGE