The North-West Frontier Province runs along the border
with Afghanistan. Peshawar is its capital, and the Vale
of Peshawar, fertile and well watered by the Kabul and
Swat rivers, is its heart. This was also the heart of
the ancient kingdom of Gandhara and is rich in archaeological
remains. The northern half of the province consists
of five river valleys running roughly parallel, north
to south: the Chitral, Swat, Indus and Kaghan. These
valleys are on the northern edge of the monsoon belt,
so are fairly green and partly wooded in their southern
sections. Northern Chitral and the upper regions of
the Indus Valley are mountainous deserts, where cultivation
depends entirely on irrigation. The NWFP south of Peshawar
is below the monsoon belt and consists of low, rocky
mountains and wide, gravelly plains.
The Tribal Areas, which cover nearly half the province
along its border with Afghanistan, are autonomous regions
governed by tribal law under the supervision of the
Pakistani government. Because the government cannot
guarantee the safety of people who enter these areas,
they are closed to foreigners. Even Pakistanis need
permission to enter. The increased cultivation for opium
in the Tribal Areas in recent years has intensified
the risks faced by outsiders who attempt to slip in
for whatever reason.
Climate
Pakistan has well defined seasons; Winter (December
- February), Spring (March - April), Summer (May - September)
and Autumn (October - November). During summer in plains,
the temperature may go as high as 45C. Between July
and August, the monsson brings an average 38 to 51 cm
of rain to plains and 152 to 203 cm in tower Himalayan
valleys of Murree. Kaghan, Swat and Azad Kashmir.
Attractions
Qisa Khawani Bazaar
Extending from west to east in the heart of the city
is the romantic 'Street of Story-tellers' - the Qissa
Khawani Bazzar. 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.
Today the story-tellers are gone but the atmosphere
lingers on. Bearded tribesmen bargain with city traders
over endless cups of green tea. Fruit stalls look like
small colourful pyramids. People from everywhere throng
the crowded street: Afghans, Iraqis, Uzbeks, Tajiks,
Afridis, and Shinwaris move around with ease and grace
in their colourful native robes and rub shoulders with
the Western tourists-lostin a world so different, so
enchanting.
Bazaar Bater-bazan
'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 ware. However,
a single bride shop still remains as a long reminder
of the not too distant past.
Bala Hisar Fort
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.
Jamrud Fort
Some 16 kms from Peshawar, on the Khyber road, an old
battle-ship attracts the eye: this is Jamrud Fort. Looking
ruggedly majestic with its jumble of towers and loop-holed
walls, the fort contains the grave of its builder, the
famous Sikh General Hari Singh Nalwa, who died here
in action against the forces of the Amir of Kabul in
1837 AD.
- Excursion from Peshawar -
Warsak Dam
The gigantic multi-purpose Warsak Dam is situated 30
kms north-west of Peshawar in the heart of tribal territory.
It has a total generating capacity of 240,000 kw and
will eventually serve to irrigate 110,000 acres of land.
The Museum
Situated on the Grand Trunk Road in the Cantonment area,
the museum houses a rich treasure of art, sculpture
and historical relics, particularly of the Gandhara
period (300 BC - 300 AD). The pieces on show at the
museum include Graeco-Buddhist stone and stucco sculpture,
gold, silver and copper coins, antique pottery, armour,
old manuscripts, Buddha images, terra-coat plaques,
antiques of ivory, shell and metal and a replica of
the famous casket which contained the relics of Lord
Buddha.
Takht-e-Bhai
Situated on top of a 160 metre 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.
Charsdadda
Potentially one of the most important ancient sites
of Asia is represented by a group if imposing mounds
at Charsadda, 30 kms north-east of Peshawar. The site
has long been identified with Pushkalavati, the pre-Kushan
capital of Gandhara. This
city was captured in 324 BC after a siege of 30 days,
by the troops of Alexander the Great and its formal
surrender was received by Alexander himself. It has
been established beyond doubt that this city was the
metropolitan centre of Asiatic trade and meeting place
of oriental and occidental cultures even as long ago
as 500-1,000 BC.
Mahabat Khan's Mosque
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.
Darra Adam Khel
Darra is the gun factory of the Tribal Areas, located
40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Peshawar on the road
to Kohat, a drive of about 40 minutes. To visit the
gun factories, foreigners need a permit from the Home
Secretary of NWFP whose
office is in the civil Secretariat on Police Road, but
you can drive by bus or car through Darra without a
permit provided you do not stop. The permit is free
and issued while you wait, but you should get it the
day before you plan your factory
visit. The Darra arms 'factory' fired up in 1897. In
return for turning a blind eye to this illegal Pathan
enterprise, the British were guaranteed safe passage
along the main roads. In any case, the British believed
it better that the Pathans have inferior
weapons of their own making than stolen British-made
guns. Darra's main street is lined on either side with
small forges at which guns are made by hand. the tool
are astonishingly primitive, yet the forges turn out
accurate reproduction of every conceivable sort of weapon,
from pen pistols and hand-grenades to automatic rifles
and anti-aircraft guns. The copies are so painstakingly
reproduced that even the serial number of the original
is carried over. Much of the craftsmanship is very fine,
but the reinforcing rods diverted from the building
trade. The main street constantly erupts with the roar
of gunfire, as tribesmen step out to test prospective
purchases.
The Swat Valley
Swat is the most historically interesting valley in
Pakistan. It is also one of the most beautiful - certainly
much greener and more fertile than the valleys further
north because it lies within the monsoon belt. In Lower
Swat, the valley is wide, the fields on either side
of the river are full of wheat and lucerne, and the
villages are prosperous and surrounded by fruit trees.
In Upper Swat, the river tumbles through pine forests
hemmed in by snow-capped mountains. For the historical
and amateur
archaeologist, Swat offers several hundred archaeological
sites spanning 5,000 years of history. For the sportsman
and trekker, it offers good fishing and hiking.
The people of Swat are Muslim Pathans, Kohistanis and
Gujars. Some have very distinct features and claim to
be descendants of Alexander the Great.
The Swat women wear colourful embroidered shirts and
shalwars (baggy trousers). The men wear shalwar-gamiz
and embroidered caps or silk turban.
Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years.
The first inhabitants were settled in well-planned towns.
In 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought his way to Udegram
and Barikot and stormed their battlements. In Greek
accounts these towns have been identified as Ora and
Bazira. Around the 2nd century BC, the area was occupied
by Buddhists, who were attracted by the peace and serenity
of the land.
There are many remains that testify to their skills
as sculptors and architects. In the beginning of the
11th century AD, Mahmud of Ghazni advanced through Dir
and invaded Swat, defeating Gira, the local ruler, near
Udegram. Later the land was taken over by the Dilazak,
who in turn were ousted by the Yusufzais.
Mingora
Mingora is the district headquarter and commercial centre
of Swat. The Swat Museum, located between Mingora and
Saidu, has a rich collection of Gandhara art which is
worth viewing.
Swat Museum
Swat Museum is on the east side of the street, halfway
between Mingora and Saidu. Japanese aid has given a
facelift to its seven galleries which now contain an
excellent collection of Gandhara sculptures taken from
some of the Buddhist sites in Swat, rearranged and labelled
to illustrate the Buddha's life story. Terracotta figurines
and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons
and various metal objects illustrate daily life in Gandhara.
The ethnographic section displays the finest examples
of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewellery.
Butkara (Butkada) Stupa
One of the most important Buddhist shrines in Swat,
is near the museum. Take the dirt track on the left
(north) side of the museum for one kilometer (about
half a mile). The stupa is 400 metres (above a quarter
of mile) across the fields to the left (north).
The stupa, which dates from the second century BC, was
possibly built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to house
some of the ashes of the Buddha. In subsequent centuries,
it was enlarged five times by encasing the existing
structure in a new shell. Italian excavators working
in 1955 exposed the successive layers of the stupa,
each layer illustrating a stage in the evolution of
building techniques.
Kabal
Kabal is a golfer's paradise: an eighteen-hotel course
is open all year round and anyone can play there by
paying the green fees.
Upper Swat Valley
The Swat Valley becomes more beautiful the higher you
go. In mid-winter it is sometimes blocked by snow above
Bahrain, but in summer you can drive up beyond Kalam
and from there trek north to either the Chitral Valley
or the Gilgit Valley. From Khwazakhela, the road across
the Shangla Pass to the Karakoram Highway is usually
open only from April to December.
Miandam
Miandam is a small summer resort ten kilometres (six
miles) up a steep side valley and 56 kilometres (35
miles) from Saidu Sharif, making it an hour's drive.
The metalled road passes small villages stacked up the
hillside, the roofs of one row of houses forming the
street for the row of houses above. Tiny terraced fields
march up the hillside right to the top. Miandam is a
good place for walkers. Paths follow the stream, past
houses with behaves set into the walls and good-luck
charms whitewashed around the doors. In the graveyards
are carved wooden grave posts with floral designs, like
those used by Buddhists 1,000 years ago.
Madyan
Madyan is a tourist resort on the Swat River. At 1,321
metres (4,335 feet) above sea level, it is neither as
cool nor as beautiful as Miandam, but it is a larger
town and has many hotels in all price ranges and some
good tourist shopping. Antique and modern shawls, traditional
embroidery, tribal jewellery, carved wood and antique
or reproduced coins are sold along the main street.
This is the last Swati village, offering interesting
two-and three-day walks up to the mountain villages...
ask in the bazaar in Muambar Khan's shop for a guide.
North of Madyan is Swat Kohistan where walking is not
recommended without an armed guard.
The central mosque at Madyan has carved wooden pillars
with elegant scroll capitals, and its mud-plastered
west wall is covered with relief designs in floral motifs.
Both bespeak the Swati's love of decoration.
Bahrain
Bahrain is ten kilometres north of Madyan and only slightly
higher, at about 1,400 metres (4,500 feet). It is another
popular riverside tourist resort, with bazaars worth
exploring for their handicrafts. Some of the houses
have carved wooden doors,
pillars and balconies. These show a remarkable variety
of decorative motifs, including floral scrolls and bands
of ornamental diaper patterns almost identical to those
seen on Buddhist shrines and quite different from the
usual Muslim designs.
Kalam
Kalam, 29 kilometres (18 miles) from Bahrain and about
2,000 metres (6,800 feet) above sea level, the valley
opens out, providing rooms for a small but fertile plateau
above the river. In Kalam the Ushu and Utrot rivers
join to form the Swat river. Here, the metalled road
ends and shingle road leads to the Ushu and Utrot valleys.
From Matiltan one gets a breath-taking view of the snow-capped
Mount Falaksir 5918 metres (19,415 ft.), and another
un-named peak 6096 metres (20,000 ft.) high.
Ushu, Utrot and Gabral Valleys
The valleys of Ushu, Utrot and Gabral beyond Kalam,
constitute some of the most beautiful parts of Swat.
There is good trout fishing around Utrot. Foreign tourists
are advised to contact the local police authorities
at Kalam before preceding to the valleys of Ushu, Utrot
and Gabral. Swat is ideal for camping, trekking and
mountaineering. Permits are necessary, and can be obtained
from the Tourism Division, Government of Pakistan, Markaz
F-7, Islamabad.
The waters of the Swat River around Kalam and in the
valleys of Ushu and Gabral abound in brown trout. Fishing
licences must be obtained from the office of the Assistant
Commissioner, Fisheries at Madyan and Kalam.
Kaghan Valley
The 161 kms long landscape of the Kaghan Valley with
its towering Himalayan peaks, peaceful lakes, majestic
glaciers and splashing waterfalls is a scenic wonderland,
ending northwards in the 4148 metres (13,600 ft) high
Babusar Pass, jeep service is available in the valley
during summer, while motels and rest-houses offer comfortable
accommodation. There is a PTDC stopover Motel in Bellyached
and a big tourist resort in Naran which provides excellent
accommodation with meals at reasonable rates. It is
an ideal area for trekking and trout fishing. The adventure
begins in Bellyached, a charming mountain village, from
where a road climbs 34 kms up to Shogran. At a height
of 2,362 metres, Shogran has thickly forested slopes
and grassy meadows, which present an ideal setting for
your first stopover. The raging Kunhar river accompanies
the steep winding road which leads to the Kaghan village.
This little village, after which the valley has been
named, is only 61 kms from Bellyached. Between Kaghan
and Naran there is a distance of 25 kms. Naran serves
as the base-camp for excursions to other valleys, lakes
and peaks.
Lake Saif-ul-Muluk
10 kms from Naran, this lake is 3200 metres high, providing
an awe-inspiring view of Malika Parbat (Queen of the
Mountains) 5,260 metres high. You can go boating on
the lake and hear the local legend about Prince Saif-ul-Muluk
who fell in love with fairy.
Babusar Pass
4146 metres high, this is the gateway to the Gilgit
valley. On a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of the
towering Nanga Parbat, 8126 metres high. This is the
highest point, and marks the end of the Kaghan expedition.
On the way to the Pass there are many quaint villages,
such as Battakundi, Burawai, Besal and Gittidas, where
you can rest. If you have the time, the enchanting Lalazar
plateau near Batakundi and Lulusar lake near the Babusar
Pass are worth visiting.
Fishing
The Kunhar River and the various lakes offer plenty
of fishing opportunities. Both the brown and rainbow
trout and the mahasheer are found in abundance. A fishing
permit may be obtained from either the Fisheries Department
at Naran, or the
Trout Hatchery at Shinu. Fishing rods are available
at Naran on hire. Guides are also available at Naran.
Chitral
The Chitral valley at an elevation of 1127.76 metres
(3,700 feet) is favourite with mountaineers, anglers,
hunters, hikers, naturalists and anthropologists. The
7787.64 metres (25,550 feet) Trichmir, the highest peak
of the Hindu Kush mountain dominates this 321.87 kms
(200 miles) long exotic valley. Chitral district has
Afghanistan on its north, south and west. A narrow strip
of Afghan territory, Wakhan
separates it from the Soviet Union. The tourist season
in Chitral is from June to September.
Kafir-Kalash Tribe
One of the major attractions of Chitral are the Kalash
valleys - the home of the Kafir-Kalash or 'Wearers of
the Black Robe', a primitive pagan tribe. Their ancestry
is shrouded in mystery. A legend has it that some soldiers
of the legions of Alexander of Macedonia settled down
in Chitral and the preset Kafir-Kalash at their off-springs.
The 3,000 strong Kafir-Kalash live in the valleys of
Birir, Bumburet and
Rambur in the south. Bumburet, the largest and the most
picturesque
valley of the Kafir-Kalash, is 40 kms (25 miles) from
Chitral and is
connected by a jeepable road. Birir, 34 kms (21 miles)
away, is accessible by a jeepable road. Rambur is 32
kms (20 miles) from Chitral. the road is jeepable up
to
Ayun and the remaining 16 kms (10 miles) have to be
travelled on foot.
The Kalash women wear black gowns of coarse cloth in
summer and hand-spun wool dyed in black in winter. Their
picturesque headgear is made of woollen black
material studded with cowrie shells, buttons and crowned
with a large coloured feather. The Kalash are gay people
and love music and dancing particularly on occasions
of their religious festivals like Joshi Chilimjusht
(14th & 15th May - Spring), Phool (20th-25th September)
and Chowas (18th to 21st December). Foreign tourists
require special permits to visit the Kalash valleys.
Permits are issued free of cost by the Deputy Commissioner
, Chitral.
Garam Chashma (Hot Springs)
Elevation: 1859 metres (6,100 feet). Distance: 45 km
(28 miles) north-west of Chitral. By jeep 3 hours. This
unspoiled enchanting valley of orchards, verdant fields
and snow clad peaks is renowned for its boiling sulphur
springs which are
famous for healing effect on skin diseases, gout, rheumatism
and chronic headaches. For the convenience of tourists
"humans" (baths) have been constructed near
the springs. Foreign tourists are requested to pay a
toll tax of Rs. 5.00 per person.
Birmoghalasht
Elevation: 2743 metres (9,900 feet). distance: 15 km
(9 miles). Worth visiting is the fairy-tale summer palace
of the ex-ruler perched at a height of 2743 metres (9,000
feet). It offers awe-inspiring views of Trichmir and
panoramic vistas of valleys below. The fort is approachable
on foot only.
|