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Peshawar


  • پېښور
  • پشور
  • پشاور
City district
Clockwise from top: Islamia College, Cunningham clock tower, Sunehri Mosque, Bala Hissar Fortress, Bab-e-Khyber, Mahabat Khan Mosque
Clockwise from top: Islamia College, Cunningham clock tower, Sunehri Mosque, Bala Hissar Fortress, Bab-e-Khyber, Mahabat Khan Mosque
Nickname(s): 
City of Flowers
Peshawar is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawar
Peshawar
Location in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawar is located in Pakistan
Peshawar
Peshawar
Location in Pakistan
Peshawar is located in Asia
Peshawar
Peshawar
Location in Asia
Country  Pakistan
Province  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
District Peshawar District
Union Councils 92
Government
 • Type Metropolitan city
Area
 • City district 1,257 km2 (485 sq mi)
Elevation
331 m (1,086 ft)
Highest elevation
450 m (1,480 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • City district 1,970,042
 • Rank 1st, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
6th, Pakistan
 • Density 1,567.3/km2 (4,059.2/sq mi)
 • Metro
4,269,079
  Peshawar Municipal Corporation: 1,893,361
Peshawar University Town Council: 5,940
Peshawar Cantonment: 70,741
Time zone UTC+5 (PKT)
Area code(s) 092
Languages Pashto, Hindko, Urdu
HDI 0.55 (data for 2012–2013) Increase
HDI Category Medium
Website City District Government of Peshawar

Peshawar is the capital of the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Situated in the broad Valley of Peshawar near the eastern end of the historic Khyber Pass, close to the border with Afghanistan, Peshawar's recorded history dates back to at least 539 BCE, making it the oldest city in Pakistan and one of the oldest cities in the world. Peshawar was the capital of the ancient Kushan Empire, and was home to what may have been the tallest building in the ancient world, the Kanishka stupa. Peshawar was then sacked by the White Huns, before the arrival of Muslim empires. The city was an important trading centre during the Mughal era before serving as the winter capital of the Afghan Durrani Empire from 1757 until the city was captured by the Sikh Empire in 1818, who were then followed by the British in 1849.

The city of Peshawar has a population of 1,970,042 according to the 2017 census, making it the largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the sixth-largest in Pakistan, while Peshawar District has a population of 4,269,079.

Etymology

Peshawar is Purushapura which is Land of Men (Purusha means Man).

Geography

Pakistan Khyber Pass IMG 9928
The city serves as a gateway to the Khyber Pass, whose beginning is marked by the Khyber Gate.

Topography

KhyberPassPakistan enh2
Peshawar sits at the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, which has been used as a trade route since the Kushan era approximately 2000 years ago.

Peshawar is located in the broad Valley of Peshawar, which is surrounded by mountain ranges on three sides, with the fourth opening to the Punjab plains. The city is located in the generally level base of the valley, known as the Gandhara Plains.

Cityscape

Flickr - boellstiftung - Altstadt Peshawar
Peshawar's Jeweler's Bazaar is adjacent to the Mohabbat Khan Mosque.
Peshawarbazaar
A view of old Peshawar's famous Qissa Khawani Bazaar.
Oldpeshawarcity
Much of Peshawar's old city still features examples of traditional style architecture.
Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar, Pakistan - panoramio - franek2
Some buildings in the old city feature carved wooden balconies.

Historically, the old city of Peshawar was a heavily guarded citadel that consisted of high walls. In the 21st century, only remnants of the walls remain, but the houses and havelis continue to be structures of significance. Most of the houses are constructed of unbaked bricks, with the incorporation of wooden structures for protection against earthquakes, with many composed of wooden doors and latticed wooden balconies. Numerous examples of the city's old architecture can still be seen in areas such as Sethi Mohallah. In the old city, located in inner-Peshawar, many historic monuments and bazaars exist in the 21st century, including the Mohabbat Khan Mosque, Kotla Mohsin Khan, Chowk Yadgar and the Qissa Khawani Bazaar. Due to the damage caused by rapid growth and development, the old walled city has been identified as an area that urgently requires restoration and protection.

The walled city was surrounded by several main gates that served as the main entry points into the city — in January 2012, an announcement was made that the government plans to address the damage that has left the gates largely non-existent over time, with all of the gates targeted for restoration.

Landmarks

Bittani Plaza
Bhittani Plaza
BBQ-shop
BBQ shop on Food Street

The following is a list of other significant landmarks in the city that still exist in the 21st century:

  • General
    • Governor's House
    • Peshawar Garrison Club – situated on Sir Syed Road near the Mall
    • Kotla Mohsin Khan – the residence of Mazullah Khan, 17th-century Pashtu poet
    • Qissa Khwani Bazaar
    • Kapoor Haveli Former residence of Prithviraj Kapoor – famous Bollywood actor
  • Forts
    • Bala Hisar Fort
  • Colonial monuments
    • Chowk Yadgar (formerly the "Hastings Memorial")
    • Cunningham clock tower – built in 1900 and called "Ghanta Ghar"
  • Buddhist
    • Gorkhatri – an ancient site of Buddha's alms or begging bowl, and the headquarters of Syed Ahmad Shaheed, Governor Avitabile
    • Pashto Academy – the site of an ancient Buddhist university
    • Shahji ki Dheri – the site of the famous Kanishka stupa
  • Hindu
    • Panch Tirath – an ancient Hindu site with five sacred ponds
    • Gorkhatri – sacred site for Hindu yogis
    • Guru Gorkhnath temple
    • Aasamai temple – near Lady Reading Hospital (LRH)
  • Sikh
  • Parks
    • Army Stadium
    • Wazir Bagh – laid in 1802, by Fatteh Khan, Prime Minister of Shah Mahmud Khan
    • Ali Mardan Khan Gardens (also known as Khalid bin Waleed Park) – formerly named "Company Bagh"
    • Shahi Bagh – a small portion constitutes the site of Arbab Niaz Stadium
    • Jinnah Park - A park on GT Road opposite Balahisar fort
    • Tatara Park - A Park located in Hayatabad
    • Bagh e Naran - A large park in Hayatabad. A portion of the park also has a Zoo.
  • Mosques
    • Mohabbat Khan Mosque
    • Qasim Ali Khan Mosque
  • Museums
    • Peshawar Museum
  • Zoo
    • Peshawar Zoo

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Peshawar para niños

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