7 Best Historical Places in Peshawar to Visit
The classical and cultural capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – one of the 5 provinces of Pakistan is famous for its hospitality, social values, hustling food places, famous restaurants, and elite-class shopping malls. With more than a population of 1.97 million, Peshawar is the sixth-largest city in Pakistan. The history of Peshawar dates back to the times of 539 BCE and makes it the oldest city of Pakistan. And if it’s an ancient city, thus there must be several historical places to visit in Peshawar. Today in this blog, we have written down the top 7 most desired and most significant historical places in Peshawar.
So, let’s have a look!
List of Historical Places in Peshawar:
| Place Name | Location | Year Founded | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wazir Bagh | Wazir Bagh, Peshawar, KP | 1810 | Public Park | |
| 2. Bala Hisar Fort | Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1526 | Cultural Fort | |
| 3. Jamrud Fort | Grand Trunk Road, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1834 | Cultural Fort | |
| 4. Mughal Bridge | Grand trunk road, bara river Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1629 | Bridge | |
| 5. Peshawar Museum | Saddar Road, Peshawar | 1907 | Museum | |
| 6. Baab-e-Khyber | Torkham Highway, Jamrud, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1963 | Monument | |
| 7. Shahi Bagh | Shahi Bagh Road, Faqirabad, Peshawar | ——— | Public park |
1. Wazir Bagh
Wazir Bagh was established in 1810 during the empire of the Durrani Prince – Shah Mahmood Durrani. After toppling the government of Shah Shuja in Peshawar, Sardar Fateh Mohammad Khan placed the foundation stone of this beautiful garden. The garden has remarkable views with four enclosures and a pavilion. These enclosures include a mosque, football ground, two spacious lawns, fountains, and few old trees. For having an ancient design, the garden is famous as one of the largest historical places in Peshawar. It’s located at an excellent location of XHWF+GV4, Wazir Bagh, Peshawar. A few years earlier, the garden was full of apricots, peaches, pomegranates, pears, and multicolored flowers and herbs. But now, because no one is taking the responsibility of maintaining the garden. It’s so unpleasant to say gone are the days when people joy their moments here with fresh air. In 2020, the KPK government began repairing work in Wazir Bagh and allotted almost 100 million under the Peshawar revival strategy. So it’s a good step ahead to save Peshawar historical places as it’s the oldest city of Pakistan.
You can also read our blog on top travel agencies in Peshawar.
2. Bala Hisar Fort
Next on our list is a fortress, famous among people as Bala Hisar Fort. It is situated in the northwest corner of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The fort is one of the most fascinating, charming, and historical places in Peshawar. The word Bala Hisar stands for a high fort in the Afghan Dari language. During the rule of the Mughal and Sur Empires, it was recognized as Bagram Fort. Very first, it was discovered in the 7th-century by Xuanzang. In the 7th- century the fort was utilized as a magnificent residence for the Durrani Empire – December 1747, when Durrani King – Ahmad Shah Durrani prevailed in Peshawar. Later in 1758, after a battle, the Maratha Empire ruled it. Then in 1823, the Sikh society came into rule and rebuilt the fort. The traces of this fort are well-protected. So, it can be seen that many empires have ruled this stunning fort. The fort stands on a high mound so it presents an epic 360-degree commanding and picturesque view of Peshawar – the oldest city of Pakistan. But now, the fort is used by a paramilitary unit of the Pakistan Army. So no one is allowed to go inside of the fort without the permission of the Pak Army. However, you can climb the raised area around it and can see its outer walls that cover 10 acres in total. Being one of the historical places in KPK, the fort has exceptional value as a heritage site. You can also read our blog on best Historical Places in Islamabad.
3. Jamrud Fort
When we enter Peshawar – the oldest city of Pakistan, we first get crossed by Khyber Pass next to Bab-e-Khyber. The Jamrud Fort is placed just beside the Bab-e-Khyber. It’s a valued heritage site also identified as Fatehgarh. It was built by the Sikh king – Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa between 1791-1837. More than 6,000 soldiers took part in the construction of the fort. After its creation, it became a strategic spot for Sikh Empires to battle with their enemies. The reason for being such a famous fort is its 10 feet (3m) thick walls. For the last few years, it’s been maintained by the Armed forces. However, it’s not possible to visit it without authorized permission. Having a culturally vibrant past, the fort is one of the ancient and historical places to visit in Peshawar. You can also read about Provinces of Pakistan.
4. Mughal Bridge
Mughal Bridge is located at the grand trunk road, bara river, Peshawar. It is just 30-minutes away from Peshawar city. The bridge was built in 1629, during the rule of Shah Jahan. The features that make it one of the most dynamic and ancient bridges are its six-foot-tall domed pillars, length, and width, respectively 100 yards and six-yard. The Mughal bridge is in good shape and condition, despite the fact is, it has been built for more than 03 centuries and not conserved as a historical place. However, 2 of the domes have slumped off because of old age and are not well maintained. As it’s ancient, it’s known with different names, including Chuha Gujar, Speen, Sethian, Bara bridge, and Mughal bridge. It’s an extraordinary and famous symbol of Mughal construction, where 12 sluices are below it for water flow, and tall trees with long roots are also around the bridge. It’s formed with the Waziri red bricks/blocks that are small in size. These facts are a particular reason the bridge is an excellent epitome of the Mughal era and one of the best historical places in Peshawar, Pakistan. Also visit famous restaurants in Peshawar.
5. Peshawar Museum
The Peshawar museum is one of the historical places in Peshawar. The historical place is also listed among the frequently visited famous places of Peshawar. It is one of the most famous museums in Pakistan.
Fans of Buddhist art should put this place on top of their list of historical places to visit in Peshawar. Since the museum has a remarkable collection of ancient Buddhist Gandhara artifacts. You’ll find figurines and sculptures of that era on display. The artwork exhibited in the museum is one of the world’s most extensive collections of Buddhist artifacts.
The main reason for finding Buddhist artifacts is this region’s blooming era of Buddhism. Looking back at history, we’ll see that Buddhism was booming in this region. The artifact collection of the museum is not limited to Buddhist artworks. You will also find Mughal art, Kalash people, and pre-islamic coins. Built in 1907, the Peshawar museum narrates the tales of the past. For a nominal entry fee, you can peep into the corridor of history. Also get to know about shopping malls in Peshawar.
6. Baab-e-Khyber
The list of Peshawar famous places is incomplete without Bab-e-Khyber., or the Khyber Pass Gate. The bab-e-khyber was indispensable to the Old Silk Road and linked Pakistan with Afghanistan. The simple yet majestic Bab-Khyber has garnered the attention of millions of tourists each year. Jamrud fort, one of the most visited historical places in Peshawar, is near the Bab-e-Khyber. The iconic historical place is also featured on the Pakistani currency notes. Peshawar historical places are no less than a treat to the sight. Read also about Business Ideas in Pakistan.
7. Shahi Bagh
Last on our list is Shahi Bagh, also known as Royal Garden. The garden was built by Mughals later on, ruled by the Durani Empires. It is situated at Faqirabad, Peshawar. Most of the time, official meetings and social gatherings are carried out here. This majestic garden covers a total area of 100 acres, including a wide range of trees. The bagh consists of a fountain and the Quaid-e-Azam Memorial. It is not wrong to say the Royal garden is one of the largest and historical places in Peshawar – the oldest city of Pakistan. Shahi Bagh is also one of the best picnic spots in Peshawar. If you are looking for a place where you can find peace with a historical impact, you must visit Shahi Bagh. Also read about northern areas of Pakistan.
So, these were the top 7 list of historical places in Peshawar that are performing a huge role in finding the records of the past. We hope that the article was helpful for you. You can also read our blog about historical places in Pakistan.
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