Peshawar

This article is about the city in Pakistan. For other uses, seePeshawar (disambiguation).

"Peshawari" redirects here. For other uses, seePeshawari (disambiguation).

Peshawar(/pəˈʃɑːwər/;Pashto:پېښور[peˈχəwər];Hindko:پشور;[pɪˈʃɔːɾ];Urdu:پشاور[pɪˈʃɑːʋər]) is the sixth most populous city ofPakistan,with a district population of over 4.7 million in the 2023 census.It is the capital of the province ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa,where it is thelargest city.It is situated in the north-west of the country, lying in theValley of Peshawar.Peshawar is primarily populated byPashtuns,who comprise the second-largest ethnic group in the country.

Peshawar پېښور پشور پشاور
City
Bab-e-Khyber Cunningham Clock Tower Bala Hissar Mahabat Khan Mosque Peshawar Museum Islamia College University
Nickname: City of Flowers
Peshawar Location within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar Location within Pakistan
Coordinates:34°00′52″N71°34′03″E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
District	Peshawar District
Union councils	92
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	District government
•Mayor	Zubair Ali(JUI-F)
• Commissioner	Muhammad Zubair
•Deputy Commissioner	Aafaq Wazir
Area
• City	215 km2(83 sq mi)
• Metro	1,257 km2(485 sq mi)
Elevation	331 m (1,086 ft)
Highest elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Population (2023)
• City	4,758,762
• Rank	6th, Pakistan
• Density	22,000/km2(57,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Peshawari
Time zone	UTC+5:00(PKT)
Postal code	25000
Area code	091 (+92)
Languages	Pashto,Hindko,Urdu
Website	cmgp.gkp.pk

Situated in the Valley of Peshawar, a broad area situated east of the historicKhyber Pass,Peshawar's recorded history dates back to at least 539 BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in South Asia.The area encompassing modern-day Peshawar is mentioned in the Vedic scriptures; it was one of the principal cities of theancient Gāndhāra.Peshawar served as the capital of theKushan Empireduring the rule ofKanishkaand was home to theKanishka Stupa,which was among the tallest buildings in the ancient world.

Peshawar was then ruled by theHephthalites,followed by theHindu Shahis,before the arrival of a variety ofMuslim empires.The city was an important trading Centre of theMughal Empirebefore becoming part of theDurrani Empirein 1747, after which it served as the Durrani winter capital from 1776 until the capture of the city by theSikh Empirein 1823. In 1849, the city was captured by theEast India Companyand subsequently became part ofBritish Raj,under whose rule it remained until thePartition of British Indiaand subsequent independence of Pakistan in 1947.

Etymology

A vintage photo postcard of the main street, Peshawar. Digitized byPanjab Digital Library.

The modern name of the city "Peshawar" is possibly derived from the [reconstructed] Sanskrit word "Purushapura" (Sanskrit:पुरूषपुरPuruṣapura,meaning "City of Men" or "City of Purusha" ).It was named so byMughal Emperor Akbarfrom its old nameParashawar,the meaning of which Akbar did not understand.The ruler of the city during its founding may have been a Hinduraja(king) named Purush; the wordpurmeans "city" in Sanskrit.Sanskrit, written in theKharosthiscript, was the literary language employed by theBuddhistkingdoms which ruled over the area during its earliest recorded period.The city's name may also be derived from the Sanskrit name for "City of Flowers,"Poshapura,a name found in an ancientKharosthiinscription that may refer to Peshawar.

Chinese Buddhist monkXuanzang's seventh-century account of a city in Gandhara called the cityPo-la-sha-pu-lo(Chinese:Bố lộ sa bố la,bùlùshābùló),and an earlier fifth-century account byFa-Hienrecords the city's name asFou-lou-sha(Chinese:Phất lâu sa,fùlóshā),the Chinese equivalent of the Sanskrit name of the city, Purushapura.An ancient inscription from the Shapur era identifies a city in the Gandhara valley by the namepskbvr,which may be a reference to Peshawar.

The Arab historian and geographerAl-Masudinoted that by the mid-tenth century, the city was known asParashāwar.The name was noted to bePurshawarandPurushavarbyAl-Biruni.

The city began to be known asPeshāwarby the era of EmperorAkbar.The current name is said by some to have been based upon thePersianfor "frontier town"or, more literally, "forward city", though transcription errors and linguistic shifts may account for the city's new name. One theory suggests that the city's name is derived from the Persian name "Pesh Awardan", meaning "place of first arrival" or "frontier city", as Peshawar was the first city in the Indian subcontinent after crossing theKhyber Pass.Akbar's bibliographer,Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak,lists the city's name as bothParashāwar,transcribed in Persian asپَرَشَاوَر,andPeshāwar(پشاور).

History

Main articles:History of PeshawarandTimeline of Peshawar

Inancient Indian subcontinent,the city of Purushapura (which became Peshawar), was established near theGandharancapital city ofPushkalavati

Ancient history

Peshawar alongside the modern day Ghandara region were found in the Vedic Scripture as Pushkalavati.

Foundation

Peshawar was founded as the city ofPuruṣapura,on the Gandhara Plains in the broadValley of Peshawarin 100 CE.It may have been named after a Hindurajawho ruled the city who was known as Purush.The city likely first existed as a small village in the fifth century BCE,within the cultural sphere ofancient India.Puruṣapura was founded near the ancientGandharancapital city ofPushkalavati,near present-dayCharsadda.

Greek rule

In the winter of 327–26BCE,Alexander the Greatsubdued theValley of Peshawarduring hisinvasion of the Indus Valley,as well as the nearbySwatandBunervalleys.Following Alexander's conquest, the Valley of Peshawar came under the suzerainty ofSeleucus I Nicator,founder of theSeleucid Empire.A locally-made vase fragment that was found in Peshawar depicts a scene fromSophocles' playAntigone.

Mauryan empire

The nearbyTakht-i-Bahimonastery was established in 46 CE,and was once a major centre of Buddhist learning.

Following theSeleucid–Mauryan war,the region was ceded to theMauryan Empirein 303 BCE.Around 300 BCE, the Greek diplomat and historianMegasthenesnoted that Purushapura (ancient Peshawar) was the western terminus of a Mauryan road that connected the city to the empire's capital atPataliputra,near the city ofPatnain the modern-day Indian state ofBihar.

As Mauryan power declined, theGreco-Bactrian Kingdombased in modernAfghanistandeclared its independence from the Seleucid Empire, and quickly seized ancient Peshawar around 190 BCE.The city was then captured byGondophares,founder of theIndo-Parthian Kingdom.Gondophares established the nearbyTakht-i-Bahimonastery in 46 CE.

Kushan empire

Peshawar'sKanishka stupaonce kept sacredBuddhistrelics in theKanishka casket.

In the first century of theCommon era,Purushapura came under control ofKujula Kadphises,founder of theKushan Empire.The city was made the empire's winter capital.The Kushan's summer capital atKapisi(modernBagram,Afghanistan)was seen as the secondary capital of the empire,while Puruṣapura was considered to be the empire's primary capital.Ancient Peshawar's population was estimated to be 120,000, which would make it the seventh-most populous city in the world at the time.As a devout Buddhist, the emperor built the grandKanishkaMahaviharamonastery.After his death, the magnificentKanishka stupawas built in Peshawar to house Buddhist relics. The golden age of Kushan empire in Peshawar ended in 232 CE with the death of the last great Kushan king,Vasudeva I.

Around 260 CE, the armies of theSasanidEmperorShapur Ilaunched an attack against Peshawar,and severely damaged Buddhist monuments and monasteries throughout the Valley of Peshawar.Shapur's campaign also resulted in damage to the city's monumental stupa and monastery.The Kushans were made subordinate to the Sasanids and their power rapidly dwindled,as the Sasanids blocked lucrative trade routes westward out of the city.

Kushan EmperorKanishka IIIwas able to temporarily reestablish control over the entire Valley of Peshawar after Shapur's invasion,but the city was then captured by the Central AsianKidarite kingdomin the early 400s CE.

White Huns

TheWhite Hunsdevastated ancient Peshawar in the 460s CE,and ravaged the entire region of Gandhara, destroying its numerous monasteries.TheKanishka stupawas rebuilt during the White Hun era with the construction of a tall wooden superstructure, built atop a stone base,and crowned with a 13-layer copper-gildedchatra.In the 400s CE, theChineseBuddhistpilgrimFaxianvisited the structure and described it as "the highest of all the towers" inthe "terrestrial world",which ancient travelers claimed was up to 560 ft (170 m) tall,though modern estimates suggest a height of 400 ft (120 m).

In 520 CE the Chinese monkSong YunvisitedGandharaand ancient Peshawar during the White Hun era, and noted that it was in conflict with nearbyKapisa.The Chinese monk and travelerXuanzangvisited ancient Peshawar around 630 CE,afterKapisavictory, and expressed lament that the city and its great Buddhist monuments had decayed to ruin—although some monks studyingTheravada Buddhismcontinued to study at the monastery's ruins.Xuanzang estimated that only about 1,000 families continued in a small quarter among the ruins of the former grand capital.

Medieval history

Clock Tower Peshawar

Until the mid seventh century, the residents of ancient Peshawar had a ruling elite of Central AsianScythiandescent,who were then displaced by theHindu Shahisof Kabul.

Islam is believed to have been first introduced to theBuddhist,Hinduand other indigenous inhabitants of Puruṣapura in the later seventh century.

As the first Pashtun tribe to settle the region, theDilazakPashtuns began settling in the Valley of Peshawar,and are believed to have settled regions up to theIndus Riverby the 11th century.The Arab historian and geographerAl-Masudinoted that by the mid tenth century, the city had become known asParashāwar.

Ghaznavid empire

Further information:Battle of Peshawar (1001)

In 986–87 CE, Peshawar's first encounter with Muslim armies occurred whenSabuktigininvaded the area and fought theHindu Shahisunder their king, Anandpal.

On 28 November 1001, Sabuktigin's sonMahmud Ghaznidecisively defeated the army ofRaja Jayapala,son of Anandpal, at theBattle of Peshawar,and established rule of theGhaznavid Empirein the Peshawar region.

During the Ghaznavid era, Peshawar served as an important stop between the Afghan plateau, and the Ghaznavid garrison city ofLahore.During the tenth–12th century, Peshawar served as a headquarters for HinduNathPanthi Yogis,who in turn are believed to have extensively interacted with Muslim Sufi mystics.

Delhi sultanate

In 1179–80,Muhammad Ghoricaptured Peshawar, though the city was then destroyed in the early 1200s at the hands of theMongols.Peshawar was an important regional centre under theLodi dynastyofDelhi Sultanate.

The Ghoryakhel Pashtuns Khalil, Muhmands, Daudzai, Chamkani tribes and some KhashiKhelPashtuns,ancestors of modern-dayYusufzaiandGigyaniPashtuns, began settling rural regions around Peshawar in the late 15th and 16th centuries.The Ghoryakhel and KhashiKheltribe pushed theDilazakPashtun tribes east of the Indus River following a battle in 1515 near the city ofMardan.

Early modern history

Mughal empire

Bestowed byMohabbat Khan bin Ali Mardan Khanin 1630, the white-marble façade of theMohabbat Khan Mosqueis one of Peshawar's most iconic sights.

The interior of the Mohabbat Khan Mosque is elaboratelyfrescoedwith elegant and intricately detailed floral and geometric motifs.

Peshawar remained an important centre on trade routes between India and Central Asia. The Peshawar region was a cosmopolitan region in which goods, peoples, and ideas would pass along trade routes.Its importance as a trade centre is highlighted by the destruction of over one thousand camel-loads of merchandise following an accidental fire at Bala Hissar fort in 1586.Mughal rule in the area was tenuous, as Mughal suzerainty was only firmly exercised in the Peshawar valley, while the neighbouring valley of Swat was under Mughal rule only during the reign ofAkbar.

In July 1526, EmperorBaburcaptured Peshawar fromDaulat Khan Lodi.During Babur's rule, the city was known asBegram,and he rebuilt the city's fort.Babur used the city as a base for expeditions to other nearby towns inPashtunistan.

Under the reign of Babur's son,Humayun,direct Mughal rule over the city was briefly challenged with the rise of the Pashtun king,Sher Shah Suri,who began construction of the famousGrand Trunk Roadin the 16th century. Peshawar was an important trading centre on Sher Shah Suri's Grand Trunk Road.During Akbar's rule, the name of the city changed fromBegramtoPeshawar.In 1586, Pashtuns rose against Mughal rule during the Roshani Revolt under the leadership ofBayazid Pir Roshan,founder of the egalitarianRoshani movement,who assembled Pashtun armies in an attempted rebellion against the Mughals. The Roshani followers laid siege to the city until 1587.

Peshawar was bestowed with its own set ofShalimar Gardensduring the reign ofShah Jahan,which no longer exist.

Peshawar's Sunehri Mosque dates from the Mughal era.

EmperorAurangzeb's Governor of Kabul,Mohabbat Khan bin Ali Mardan Khanused Peshawar as his winter capital during the 17th century, and bestowed the city with its famousMohabbat Khan Mosquein 1630.

Yusufzaitribes rose against Mughal rule during the Yusufzai Revolt of 1667,and engaged in pitched-battles with Mughal battalions nearbyAttock.Afriditribes resisted Mughal rule during the Afridi Revolt of the 1670s.The Afridis massacred a Mughal battalion in the nearbyKhyber Passin 1672 and shut the pass to lucrative trade routes.Mughal armies led by EmperorAurangzebhimself regained control of the entire area in 1674.

Following Aurangzeb's death in 1707, his sonBahadur Shah I,former Governor of Peshawar and Kabul, was selected to be the Mughal Emperor. As Mughal power declined following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb, the empire's defenses were weakened.

On 18 November 1738, Peshawar was captured from the Mughal governor Nawab Nasir Khan by theAfsharidarmies during thePersian invasion of the Mughal EmpireunderNader Shah.

Durrani Empire

Peshawar'sBala Hissarfort was once the royal residence of the Durrani Afghan kings.

In 1747, Peshawar was taken byAhmad Shah Durrani,founder of the AfghanDurrani Empire.Under the reign of his sonTimur Shah,the Mughal practice of using Kabul as a summer capital and Peshawar as a winter capital was reintroduced,with the practice maintained until theSikhinvasion.Peshawar'sBala Hissar Fortserved as the residence of Afghan kings during their winter stay in Peshawar, and it was noted to be the main centre of trade betweenBukharaand India by British explorerWilliam Moorcroftduring the late 1700s.Peshawar was at the centre of a productive agricultural region that provided much of north India's dried fruit.

Timur Shah's grandson,Mahmud Shah Durrani,became king, and quickly seized Peshawar from his half-brother,Shah Shujah Durrani.Shah Shujah was then himself proclaimed king in 1803, and recaptured Peshawar while Mahmud Shah was imprisoned atBala Hissar fortuntil his eventual escape.In 1809, the British sent an emissary to the court of Shah Shujah in Peshawar, marking the first diplomatic meeting between the British and Afghans.His half-brother Mahmud Shah then allied himself with theBarakzaiPashtuns, and captured Peshawar once again and reigned until theBattle of Nowsherain March 1823.

Maratha Empire

The Capture of Peshawar took place in spring of 1758 whenMaratha Confederacyin alliance with theSikhs,defeated theDurrani Empire.Before that, the fort of Peshawar was being guarded by Durrani troops underTimur Shah Durraniand Jahan Khan. WhenRaghunathrao,Malhar Rao Holkarand Sikh alliance ofCharat SinghandJassa Singh Ahluwalialeft Peshawar,Tukoji Rao Holkarwas appointed as the representative in this area of the sub-continent.

Sikh Empire

Ranjit Singhinvaded Peshawar in 1818, but handed its rule to Peshawar Sardars as vassals.Following the Sikh victory againstAzim Khanat theBattle of Nowsherain March 1823, Ranjit Singh captured Peshawar again and reinstated Yar Mohammed as the governor.By 1830, Peshawar's economy was noted by Scottish explorerAlexander Burnesto have sharply declined,with Ranjit Singh's forces having destroyed the city's palace and agricultural fields.

Much of Peshawar's caravan trade fromKabulceased on account of skirmishes between Afghan and Sikh forces,as well as a punitive tax levied on merchants by Ranjit Singh's forces.Singh's government also required Peshawar to forfeit much of its leftover agricultural output to the Sikhs as tribute,while agriculture was further decimated by a collapse of the dried fruit market in north India.Singh appointed Neapolitan mercenaryPaolo Avitabileas administrator of Peshawar, who is remembered for having unleashed a reign of terror. His time in Peshawar is known as a time of "gallows and gibbets". The city's famous Mahabat Khan, built in 1630 in the Jeweler's Bazaar, was badly damaged and desecrated by the Sikh conquerors.

The Sikh Empire formally annexed Peshawar in 1834 following advances from the armies ofHari Singh Nalwa—bringing the city under direct control of the Sikh Empire'sLahore Durbar.An 1835 attempt byDost Muhammad Khanto re-occupy the city was unsuccessful after being unable to breach the Peshawar fort's defenses.Sikh settlers from Punjab were settled in the city during Sikh rule. The city's only remainingGurdwaraswere built byHari Singh Nalwato accommodate the newly settled Sikhs.The Sikhs also rebuilt the Bala Hissar fort during their occupation of the city.

British Raj

The British-eraIslamia Collegewas built in anIndo-Saracenic Revivalstyle.

Built for wealthy local merchants in a Central Asian architectural style, theSethi Mohallahfeatures several homes dating from the British era.

Following the defeat of the Sikhs in theFirst Anglo-Sikh Warin 1845–46 and theSecond Anglo-Sikh Warin 1849, some of their territories were captured by the BritishEast India Company.The British re-established stability in the wake of ruinous Sikh rule.During theSepoy Rebellion of 1857,the 4,000 members of the native garrison were disarmed without bloodshed;the absence of conflict during the rebellion meant that Peshawar was not affected by the widespread devastation that was experienced throughout the rest of British India and local chieftains sided with the British after the incident.

The British laid out the vastPeshawar Cantonmentto the west of the city in 1868, and made the city its frontier headquarters.Additionally, several projects were initiated in Peshawar, including linkage of the city by railway to the rest of British India and renovation of the Mohabbat Khan mosque that had been desecrated by the Sikhs.British suzerainty over regions west of Peshawar was cemented in 1893 by SirMortimer Durand,foreign secretary of the British Indian government, who collaborativelydemarcated the borderbetween British controlled territories in India and Afghanistan.

The British builtCunningham clock towerin celebration of theGolden Jubilee of Queen Victoria,and in 1906 built the Victoria Hall (now home of thePeshawar Museum) in memory ofQueen Victoria.The British introduced Western-style education into Peshawar with the establishment ofEdwardes CollegeandIslamia Collegein 1901 and 1913, along with several schools run by theAnglican Church.For better administration of the region, Peshawar and the adjoining districts were separated from the Punjab Province in 1901,TheNorth-West Frontier Provincewas separated from Punjab Province in 1901, after which Peshawar became capital of the new province.

Communal riotsbroke out in the old city of Peshawar during the spring of 1910, when the annualHindufestival ofHolicoincided withBarawafat,the annualMuslimday of mourning, resulting in a considerable loss of life along with hundreds oflootedbusinesses and injuries.A month prior, in February 1910, prominent community religious leaders met with officials and agreed that Holi would be solely celebrated in predominantly Hindu neighbourhoods of the city, notably in Andar Shehr and Karim Pura.On 21 March 1910, however, rumors ofmusiciansfromAmritsarand a dancing boy fromHaripurbeing brought into the city for Holi celebrations, led to a group of individuals who were marking Barawafat into forming a mob with the intention of stopping theprocession.Despite Muslim and Hinducommunity leaderscalling for calm, both parties ultimately clashed at the Asamai Gate, when the Holi procession wasen routetoDargah Pir Ratan Nath Jee,with a Hindu procession member stabbing a Muslim individual in the mob.Riotsensued for the following three days, involved individuals from outlyingtribal regionswho had entered the city, with a mob at Bara Bazar allegedly chanting "Maro Hindu Ko"(Kill the Hindus).Estimates detail the riots resulted in a total of 451 damaged shops and homes, primarily belonging to members of the Hindu community, while at least 4 Muslims and 6 Hindus were killed, alongside hundreds of injuries.

Edwardes Collegewas built during the British-era, and is now one of Peshawar's most prestigious educational institutions.

Peshawar emerged as a centre for bothHindkowanandPashtunintellectuals during the British era. Hindko speakers, also referred to asxāryān( "city dwellers" in Pashto), were responsible for the dominant culture for most of the time that Peshawar was under British rule.Peshawar was also home to a non-violent resistance movement led byGhaffar Khan,a disciple ofMahatma Gandhi.In April 1930, Khan, leading a large group of his followers, protested in Qissa Khwani Bazaar against discriminatory laws that had been enacted by the colonial government; hundreds were killed when a detachment of theBritish Indian Armyopened fire on the demonstrators.

Modern era

In 1947, Peshawar became part of the newly created state of Pakistan, and emerged as a cultural centre in the country's northwest. Thepartition of Indiasaw the departure of many Hindko-speaking Hindus and Sikhs who held key positions in the economy of Peshawar.TheUniversity of Peshawarwas established in the city in 1950, and augmented by the amalgamation of nearby British-era institutions into the university.Until the mid-1950s, Peshawar was enclosed within a city wall and sixteen gates. In the 1960s, Peshawar was a base for aCIAoperation to spy on theSoviet Union,with the1960 U-2 incidentresulting in an aircraft shot down by the Soviets that flew from Peshawar. From the 1960s until the late 1970s, Peshawar was a major stop on the famousHippie trail.

During theSoviet–Afghan Warin the 1980s, Peshawar served as a political centre for theCIAand theInter-Services Intelligence-trainedmujahideengroups based in the camps ofAfghan refugees.It also served as the primary destination for large numbers of Afghan refugees. By 1980, 100,000 refugees a month were entering the province,with 25% of all refugees living in Peshawar district in 1981.The arrival of large numbers of Afghan refugees strained Peshawar's infrastructure,and drastically altered the city's demography.

Like much of northwest Pakistan, Peshawar has been severely affected by violence from the attacks by the terrorist group,Tehrik-i-Taliban.Local poets'shrineshave been targeted by thePakistani Taliban,asuicide bombattacktargeted the historicAll Saints Churchin 2013, and most notably the2014 Peshawar school massacrein which Taliban militants killed 132 school children. Peshawar suffered 111 acts ofterrorin 2010,which had declined to 18 in 2014,before the launch ofOperation Zarb-e-Azb,which further reduced acts of violence throughout Pakistan. A large attack on aShiite mosque in the citykilled dozens and injured 200 people on 4 March 2022. In January 2023, anotherterrorist attackoccurred at Peshawar in which 100 people were killed.

Geography

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

Topography

Peshawar sits at the eastern end of theKhyber Pass,which has been used as a trade route since theKushanera approximately 2,000 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.

Climate

Main article:Climate of Peshawar

With an influence from the local steppe climate, Peshawar features ahot semi-arid climate(KöppenBSh), with very hot, prolonged summers and brief, mild to cool winters. Winter in Peshawar starts in November and ends in late March, though it sometimes extends into mid-April, while the summer months are from mid-May to mid-September. The mean maximum summer temperature surpasses 40 °C (104 °F) during the hottest month, and the mean minimum temperature is 25 °C (77 °F). The mean minimum temperature during the coolest month is 4 °C (39 °F), while the maximum is 18.3 °C (64.9 °F).

Peshawar is not amonsoonregion, unlike other parts of Pakistan; however, rainfall occurs in both winter and summer. Due to western disturbances, the winter rainfall shows a higher record between the months of February and April. The highest amount of winter rainfall, measuring 236 mm (9.3 in), was recorded in February 2007,while the highest summer rainfall of 402 mm (15.8 in) was recorded in July 2010;during this month, a record-breaking rainfall level of 274 mm (10.8 in) fell within a 24-hour period on 29 July 2010—the previous record was 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain, recorded in April 2009.The average winter rainfall levels are higher than those of summer. Based on a 30-year record, the average annual precipitation level was recorded as 400 mm (16 in) and the highest annual rainfall level of 904.5 mm (35.61 in) was recorded in 2003.Wind speeds vary during the year, from 5kn(5.8 mph; 9.3 km/h) in December to 24 kn (28 mph; 44 km/h) in June. The relative humidity varies from 46% in June to 76% in August. The highest temperature of 50 °C (122 °F) was recorded on 18 June 1995,while the lowest −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) occurred on 7 January 1970.

Climate data for Peshawar (1991-2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	27.0 (80.6)	30.0 (86.0)	36.0 (96.8)	42.2 (108.0)	45.2 (113.4)	48.0 (118.4)	46.6 (115.9)	46.0 (114.8)	42.0 (107.6)	38.5 (101.3)	35.0 (95.0)	29.0 (84.2)	48.0 (118.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	18.1 (64.6)	20.1 (68.2)	24.7 (76.5)	30.6 (87.1)	36.5 (97.7)	39.6 (103.3)	37.4 (99.3)	35.9 (96.6)	34.8 (94.6)	31.0 (87.8)	25.2 (77.4)	20.6 (69.1)	29.5 (85.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	11.3 (52.3)	13.8 (56.8)	18.2 (64.8)	23.9 (75.0)	29.4 (84.9)	32.7 (90.9)	32.1 (89.8)	30.9 (87.6)	29.0 (84.2)	24.1 (75.4)	17.8 (64.0)	13.2 (55.8)	23.0 (73.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	4.6 (40.3)	7.6 (45.7)	12.2 (54.0)	17.2 (63.0)	22.3 (72.1)	25.8 (78.4)	26.8 (80.2)	26.0 (78.8)	23.2 (73.8)	17.1 (62.8)	10.4 (50.7)	5.6 (42.1)	16.6 (61.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−3.9 (25.0)	−1.0 (30.2)	1.7 (35.1)	6.7 (44.1)	11.7 (53.1)	13.3 (55.9)	18.0 (64.4)	19.4 (66.9)	12.0 (53.6)	8.3 (46.9)	1.1 (34.0)	−1.3 (29.7)	−3.9 (25.0)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	39.8 (1.57)	69.9 (2.75)	78.2 (3.08)	68.1 (2.68)	26.7 (1.05)	25.4 (1.00)	69.0 (2.72)	68.5 (2.70)	34.8 (1.37)	26.7 (1.05)	16.9 (0.67)	17.3 (0.68)	541.3 (21.32)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm)	3.9	5.7	7.6	5.8	4.6	2.1	4.4	5.0	3.0	2.5	2.1	2.1	48.8
Mean monthlysunshine hours	195.5	189.5	194.5	231.3	297.1	299.5	273.8	263.2	257.3	266.1	234.8	184.4	2,887
Source 1: NOAA (sun, 1961-1990)
Source 2: PMD

Cityscape

Peshawar's urban typology is similar to other ancient cities in South Asia, such asLahore,Multan andDelhi– all of which were founded near a major river, and included an old walled city, as well as a royal citadel.

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 andhaveliscontinue 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 asSethi 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 Yadgarand theQissa 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.

• 
  A view of old Peshawar's famousQissa Khawani Bazaar.
• 
  Much of Peshawar's old city still features examples of traditional style architecture.
• 
  Some buildings in the old city feature carved wooden balconies.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1881	79,982	—
1891	84,191	+5.3%
1901	95,147	+13.0%
1911	97,935	+2.9%
1921	104,452	+6.7%
1931	121,866	+16.7%
1941	173,420	+42.3%
1951	151,776	−12.5%
1961	218,000	+43.6%
1972	273,000	+25.2%
1981	555,000	+103.3%
1998	982,816	+77.1%
2017	1,970,042	+100.4%
2021	2,203,003	+11.8%
Source: Macrotrends (2021)Census of India (1921)

Population

The population of Peshawar district in 1998 was 2,026,851.The city's annual growth rate is estimated at 3.29% per year,and the 2016 population of Peshawar district is estimated to be 3,405,414.With a population of 1,970,042 according to the 2017 census, Peshawar is the sixth-largest city of Pakistan.and thelargest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,with a population five times higher than the second-largest city in the province.

Afghan refugees

Peshawar has hosted Afghan refugees since the start of theAfghan civil warin 1978, though the rate of migration drastically increased following theSoviet invasion of Afghanistanin 1979. By 1980, 100,000 refugees a month were entering the province,with 25% of all refugees living in Peshawar district in 1981.The arrival of large numbers of Afghan refugees strained Peshawar's infrastructure,and drastically altered the city's demography.During the 1988 national elections, an estimated 100,000 Afghans refugees were illegally registered to vote in Peshawar.

With the influx of Afghan refugees into Peshawar, the city became a hub for Afghan musicians and artists,as well as a major centre ofPashto literature.Some Afghan refugees have established successful businesses in Peshawar, and play an important role in the city's economy.

In recent years, Peshawar district hosts up to 20% of all Afghan refugees in Pakistan.In 2005, Peshawar district was home to 611,501 Afghan refugees — who constituted 19.7% of the district's total population.Peshawar's immediate environs were home to large Afghan refugee camps, withJalozaicamp hosting up to 300,000 refugees in 2001– making it the largest refugee camp in Asia at the time.In 2012, it was estimated that Afghans constituted 28% of the city's total population, and that the numbers could be higher.

Afghan refugees began to be frequently accused of involvement with terrorist attacks that occurred during Pakistan'swar against radical Islamists.By 2015 the Pakistani government adopted a policy to repatriate Afghan refugees, including many who had spent their entire life in Pakistan.The policy of repatriation was also encouraged by the government of Afghanistan,though many refugees had not registered themselves in Pakistan. Unregistered refugees returning to Afghanistan without their old Afghan identification documents now have no official status in Afghanistan either.

Language

Languages by number of speakers in thePeshawar district,2011

Pashto(90.17%)

Hindko(5.33%)

Urdu(1.96%)

Punjabi(1.08%)

Others (1.46%)

Languages by number of speakers in thePeshawar district,1881

Pashto(77.2%)

Punjabic(18.9%)

Hindustani(2.1%)

English(0.7%)

Others (1.1%)

The primary native language spoken in Peshawar isPashto,whileHindkois native minority language,though English is used in the city's educational institutions, while Urdu is understood throughout the city – as the national language of the country.

The district of Peshawar is overwhelmingly Pashto-speaking, though theHindko-speaking minorityis concentrated in Peshawar's old city,Hindko speakers in Peshawar increasingly assimilate elements of Pashto and Urdu into their speech.

Religion

Peshawar is overwhelmingly Muslim, with Muslims making up 98.5% of the city's population in the 1998 census.Christians make up the second largest religious group with around 20,000 adherents, while over 7,000 members of theAhmadiyya Communitylive in Peshawar.HindusandSikhsare also found in the city − though most of the city's Hindu and Sikh community migrateden masseto India following thePartition of British Indiain 1947.

Though the city's Sikh population drastically declined after Partition, the Sikh community has been bolstered in Peshawar by the arrival of approximately 4,000 Sikh refugees from conflict in theFederally Administered Tribal Areas;In 2008, the largest Sikh population in Pakistan was located in Peshawar.Sikhs in Peshawar self-identify as Pashtuns and speakPashtoas their mother tongue.There was a small, but, thrivingJewishcommunity until the late 1940s. After the partition and the emergence of theState of Israel,Jews left for Israel.

Religious groups in Peshawar City (1868−2017)

Religious group	1868		1881		1891		1901		1911		1921		1931		1941		2017
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
Islam	54,977	67.65%	57,378	71.74%	60,269	71.59%	68,352	71.84%	73,198	74.74%	73,882	70.75%	86,369	70.87%	122,972	70.91%	1,942,636	98.62%
Hinduism	21,802	26.83%	18,105	22.64%	15,501	18.41%	18,552	19.5%	16,328	16.67%	21,001	20.11%	21,973	18.03%	31,630	18.24%	1,720	0.09%
Christianity	3,379	4.16%	—	—	3,629	4.31%	3,063	3.22%	3,132	3.2%	3,414	3.27%	4,854	3.98%	2,586	1.49%	22,032	1.12%
Sikhism	994	1.22%	1,465	1.83%	4,755	5.65%	5,144	5.41%	5,026	5.13%	6,152	5.89%	8,630	7.08%	14,245	8.21%	—	—
Jainism	—	—	3	0%	0	0%	0	0%	3	0%	3	0%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Zoroastrianism	—	—	—	—	33	0.04%	34	0.04%	47	0.05%	20	0.02%	29	0.02%	14	0.01%	—	—
Judaism	—	—	—	—	4	0%	—	—	1	0%	0	0%	11	0.01%	70	0.04%	—	—
Buddhism	—	—	—	—	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ahmadiyya	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	924	0.05%
Others	112	0.14%	3,031	3.79%	0	0%	2	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	1,903	1.1%	2,511	0.13%
Total population	81,264	100%	79,982	100%	84,191	100%	95,147	100%	97,935	100%	104,432	100%	121,866	100%	173,420	100%	1,969,823	100%

Economy

City Center Road is the major trade zone in Peshawar.

Peshawar's economic importance has historically been linked to its privileged position at the entrance to theKhyber Pass– the ancient travel route by which most trade between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent passed. Peshawar's economy also benefited from tourism in the mid-20th century, as the city formed a crucial part of theHippie trail.

Peshawar's estimated monthly per capita income was ₨55,246 in 2015,compared to ₨117,924 inIslamabad,and ₨66,359 inKarachi.Peshawar's surrounding region is also relatively poor − Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's cities on average have an urban per capita income that is 20% less than Pakistan's national average for urban residents.

Peshawar was noted by theWorld Bankin 2014 to be at the helm of a nationwide movement to create an ecosystem for entrepreneurship, freelance jobs, and technology.The city has been host to the World Bank assistedDigital Youth SummitArchived7 April 2017 at theWayback Machine— an annual event to connect the city and province's youths to opportunities in thedigital economy.The 2017 event hosted 100 speakers including several international speakers, and approximately 3,000 delegates in attendance.

Industry

Peshawar's Industrial Estate on Jamrud Road is an industrial zone established in the 1960s on 868 acres. The industrial estate hosts furniture, marble industries, and food processing industries, though many of its plots remain underutilized.The Hayatabad Industrial Estate hosts 646 industrial units in Peshawar's western suburbs, though several of the units are no longer in use.As part of theChina Pakistan Economic Corridor,4special economic zonesare to be established in the province, with roads, electricity, gas, water, and security to be provided by the government.The nearby Hattar SEZ is envisioned to provide employment to 30,000 people,and is being developed at a cost of approximately $200 million with completion expected in 2017.

Employment

As a result of large numbers of displaced persons in the city, only 12% of Peshawar's residents were employed in the formalized economy in 2012.Approximately 41% of residents in 2012 were employed in personal services,while 55% of Afghan refugees in the city in 2012 were daily wage earners.By 2016, Pakistan adopted a policy to repatriate Afghan refugees.

Wages for unskilled workers in Peshawar grew on average 9.1% per year between 2002 and 2008.Following the outbreak of widespread Islamist violence in 2007, wages rose only 1.5% between 2008 and 2014.Real wages dropped for some skilled craftsmen during the period between 2008 and 2014.

Constraints

Peshawar's economy has been negatively impacted by political instability since 1979 resulting from theWar in Afghanistanand subsequent strain on Peshawar's infrastructure from the influx of refugees.The poor security environment resulting from Islamist violence also impacted the city's economy. With the launch ofOperation Zarb-e-Azbin 2014, the country's security environment has drastically improved.

The metropolitan economy suffers from poor infrastructure. The city's economy has also been adversely impacted by shortages of electricity and natural gas.The $54 billionChina Pakistan Economic Corridorwill generate over 10,000 MW by 2018– greater than the current electricity deficit of approximately 4,500 MW.Peshawar will also be linked to ports in Karachi by uninterrupted motorway access, while passenger and freight railway tracks will be upgraded between Peshawar and Karachi.

Poor transportation is estimated to cause a loss of 4–6% of the PakistaniGDP.Peshawar for decades has suffered from chaotic, mismanaged, and inadequate public transportation and the poor public transportation also has been detrimental to the city's economy.Therefore, the government has since a new rapid bus service calledBRT Peshawarcovering the entire Peshawar. BRT Peshawar is now believed to be one the most advanced BRT of Pakistan

Transportation

Road

Newflyovers,such as this one near the suburb ofHayatabad,have been constructed in recent years to improve traffic flow.

Peshawar's east–west growth axis is centred on the historicGrand Trunk Roadthat connects Peshawar toIslamabadandLahore.The road is roughly paralleled by theM-1 Motorwaybetween Peshawar and Islamabad, while theM-2 Motorwayprovides an alternate route to Lahore from Islamabad. The Grand Trunk Road also provides access to the Afghan border via theKhyber Pass,with onwards connections toKabulandCentral Asiavia theSalang Pass.

Peshawar is to be completely encircled by thePeshawar Ring Roadin order to divert traffic away from the city's congested centre. The road is currently under construction, with some portions open to traffic.

TheKarakoram Highwayprovides access between the Peshawar region and western China, and an alternate route to Central Asia viaKashgarin the Chinese region ofXin gian g.

TheIndus Highwayprovides access to points south of Peshawar, with a terminus in the southern port city ofKarachiviaDera Ismail Khanand northernSindh.The 1.9 km (1.2 mi)Kohat Tunnelsouth of Peshawar provides access to the city ofKohatalong the Indus Highway.

Motorways

Peshawar is connected toIslamabadandRawalpindiby the 155 kilometre longM-1 Motorway.The motorway also links Peshawar to major cities in the province, such asCharsaddaandMardan.The M-1 motorway continues onwards toLahoreas part of theM-2 motorway.

Pakistan's motorway network links Peshawar to Faisalabad by theM-4 Motorway,while a new motorway network toKarachiis being built as part of theChina Pakistan Economic Corridor.

TheHazara Motorwayis being constructed as part of CPEC, and is providing control-access motorway travel all the way toMansehraandThakotvia the M-1 and Hazara Motorways.

Rail

Peshawar Cantonment railway stationserves as the terminus for Pakistan's 1,687 km (1,048 mi)-longMain Line-1railway that connects the city to the port city ofKarachiand passes through thePeshawar City railway station.The Peshawar to Karachi route is served by theAwam Express,Khushhal Khan Khattak Express,and theKhyber Mailservices.

The entire Main Line-1 railway track between Karachi and Peshawar is to be overhauled at a cost of $3.65 billion for the first phase of the project,with completion by 2021.Upgrading the railway line will permit train travel at speeds of 160 kilometres per hour, versus the average 60 to 105 km/h (37 to 65 mph) speed currently possible on existing tracks.

Peshawar was also once the terminus of theKhyber train safari,a tourist-oriented train that provided rail access toLandi Kotal.The service was discontinued as the security situation west of Peshawar deteriorated with the beginning of the region's Taliban insurgency.

Air

Peshawar is served by theBacha Khan International Airport,located in thePeshawar Cantonment.The airport served 1,255,303 passengers between 2014 and 2015,the vast majority of whom were international travelers.The airport offers direct flights throughout Pakistan, as well as toBahrain,Malaysia,Qatar,Saudi Arabia,and theUnited Arab Emirates.

Public transit

BRT Peshawaris a modern & third generation rapid bus service of Peshawar, which has started its service on 13 August 2020.It has 30 stations and 244 buses, which covers area fromChamkanitoKarkhano Market.BRT Peshawar has replaced Peshawar's old, chaotic, dilapidated, and inadequate transportation system. The system has 30 stations and is mostly at grade, with four kilometres of elevated sections.The system also contains 3.5 kilometres of underpasses.BRT Peshawar is also complemented by a feeder system, with an additional 100 stations along those feeder lines.

Pakistan has one of the most advanced Metro (BRT) systems.

Intercity bus

Peshawar is well-served by private buses (locally referred to as "flying coaches" ) and vans that offer frequent connections to throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as all major cities of Pakistan. The city'sDaewoo Expressbus terminal is located along theG.T. Roadadjacent to the departure points for several other transportation companies.

Administration

Politics

Peshawar has historically served as the political centre of the region, and is currently the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The city and province have been historically regarded to be strongholds of theAwami National Party– a secularleft-wingand moderate-nationalist party.ThePakistan Peoples Partyhad also enjoyed considerable support in the province due to itssocialist agenda.

Despite being a centre for leftist politics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar is still generally known throughout Pakistan for its social conservatism.Sunni Muslims in the city are regarded to be socially conservative,while the city's Shia population is considered to be more socially liberal.

A plurality of voters inKhyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince, of which Peshawar is the capital, elected one of Pakistan's only religiously based provincial governments during the period of military dictatorship ofPervez Musharraf.A ground-swell of anti-American sentiment after the 2001United States invasion of Afghanistancontributed to the Islamist coalition's victory.

The Islamists introduced a range of social restrictions following the election of the IslamistMuttahida Majlis-e-Amalcoalition in 2002, though IslamicShariahlaw was never fully enacted.Restrictions on public musical performances were introduced, as well as a ban prohibiting music to be played in any public places, including on public transportation – which lead to the creation of a thriving underground music scene in Peshawar.In 2005, the coalition successfully passed the "Prohibition of Use of Women in Photograph Bill, 2005,"leading to the removal of all public advertisements in Peshawar that featured women.

The religious coalition was swept out of power by the secular and leftistAwami National Partyin elections after the fall of Musharraf in 2008,leading to the removal of the MMA's socially conservative laws.62% of eligible voters voted in the election.The Awami National Party was targeted by Taliban militants, with hundreds of its members having been assassinated by thePakistani Taliban.

In 2013, the centristPakistan Tehreek-e-Insafwas elected to power in the province on an anti-corruption platform. Peshawar city recorded a voter turnout of 80% for the 2013 elections.

Municipal services

86% of Peshawar's households have access to municipal piped water as of 2015,though 39% of Peshawar's households purchase water from private companies in 2015.

42% of Peshawar households are connected to municipal sewerage as of 2015.

Culture

Music

After the 2002 Islamist government implemented restrictions on public musical performances, a thriving underground music scene took root in Peshawar.After the start ofPakistani's Talibaninsurgency in 2007–2008, militants began targeting members of Peshawar's cultural establishment. By 2007, Taliban militants began a widespread campaign of bombings against music and video shops across the Peshawar region, leading to the closure of many others.In 2009, Pashto musical artistAyman Udaswas assassinated by Taliban militants on the city's outskirts. In June 2012, a Pashto singer,Ghazala Javed,and her father were killed in Peshawar, after they had fled rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the relative security of Peshawar.

Musicians began to return to the city by 2016,with a security environment greatly improved following theOperation Zarb-e-Azbin 2014 to eradicate militancy in the country. In 2016, the provincial government announced a monthly income of $300 to 500 musicians in order to help support their work,as well as a $5 million fund to "revive the rich cultural heritage of the province".

Peshawar Museum

Museums

ThePeshawar Museumwas founded in 1907 in memory ofQueen Victoria.The building features an amalgamation of British, South Asian, Hindu, Buddhist andMughalIslamic architectural styles. The museum's collection has almost 14,000 items, and is well known for its collection ofGreco-Buddhist art.The museum's ancient collection features pieces from theGandharan,Kushan,Parthian,and Indo-Scythian periods.

Notable people

Main article:List of people from Peshawar

Education

Museum of Peshawar University

FAST Peshawar Campus

Main article:List of universities in Peshawar

Numerous educational institutes — schools, colleges and universities — are located in Peshawar. 21.6% of children between the ages of 5 and 9 were not enrolled in any school in 2013,while 16.6% of children in the 10 to 14 age range were out of school.

Currently, Peshawar has universities for all major disciplines ranging fromHumanities,General Sciences,Sciences,Engineering,Medical,AgricultureandManagement Sciences.The first public sector university,University of Peshawar(UOP) was established in October 1950 by the firstPrime Minister of Pakistan.University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawarwas established in 1980 whileAgriculture University Peshawarstarted working in 1981. The first private sector universityCECOS University of IT and Emerging Scienceswas established in 1986.Institute of Management Sciencesstarted functioning in 1995, which become degree awarding institution in 2005.

There are currently 9 Medical colleges in Peshawar, 2 in public sector while 7 in private sector.The first Medical College,Khyber Medical College,was established in 1954 as part ofUniversity of Peshawar.The first Medical University,Khyber Medical Universitywhile a women only Medical college,Khyber Girls Medical Collegewas established in 2007.

At the start of the 21st century, a host of new private sector universities started working in Peshawar.Qurtuba University,Sarhad University of Science and IT,Fast University, Peshawar CampusandCity University of Science and ITwere established in 2001 whileGandhara Universitywas inaugurated in 2002 andAbasyn Universityin 2007.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University,the first women university of Peshawar, started working in 2009 while private sectorIQRA National Universitywas established in 2012.

Apart from good range of universities, Peshawar has host of high qualityfurther education(Post School) educational institutes. The most renowned are,Edwardes Collegefounded in 1900 by Herbert Edwardes, is the oldest college in the province andIslamia College Peshawar,which was established in 1913. Islamia College became university and named asIslamia College Universityin 2008.

The following is a list of some of the public and private universities and colleges in Peshawar:

• Abasyn University(Abasyn University, Peshawar)
• Agricultural University (Peshawar)
• CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences
• City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar
• Edwardes College
• Forward Degree College
• Frontier Women University
• Gandhara University
• Government College Hayatabad Peshawar
• Government College Peshawar
• Government Girls Degree College, Peshawar
• Government Superior Science College Peshawar
• IMSciences(Institute of Management Sciences)
• Iqra National University, Peshawar(formerly Peshawar Campus of Iqra University Karachi)
• Islamia College University
• Jinnah College for Women
• Jinnah Medical College
• Khyber Girls Medical College
• Khyber Medical College
• Khyber Medical University
• National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences,Peshawar Campus (NU-FAST)
• Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar
• Peshawar Medical College
• Kabir Medical College
• Sardar Begum Dental College
• Preston University
• Qurtuba University(Qurtuba University of Science & Information Technology)
• Rehman Medical College
• Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology
• Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University
• University of Agriculture, Peshawar
• University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
• University of Peshawar

The Pakistani military operates Army Public School Peshawar. It was the site of the2014 Peshawar school massacre.

Landmarks

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 onSir SyedRoad near the Mall
  • Kotla Mohsin Khan– the residence of Mazullah Khan, 17th-century Pashtu poet
  • Qissa Khwani Bazaar
  • Kapoor HaveliFormer residence ofPrithviraj Kapoor– famous 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 famousKanishka stupa
• Hindu
  • Panch Tirath – an ancient Hindu site with five sacred ponds
  • Gorkhatri– sacred site for Hinduyogis
  • GuruGorkhnathtemple
  • Aasamai temple – near Lady Reading Hospital (LRH)
• Sikh
  • Sikh Gurudwaraat Jogan Shah
• Parks
  • Army Stadium
  • Wazir Bagh– laid in 1802, by Fatteh Khan, Prime Minister ofShah Mahmud Khan
  • Ali Mardan KhanGardens (also known as Khalid bin Waleed Park) – formerly named "Company Bagh"
  • Shahi Bagh– a small portion constitutes the site ofArbab Niaz Stadium
  • Jinnah Park– A park on GT Road oppositeBalahisar fort
  • Tatara Park– A Park located inHayatabad
  • Bagh e Naran – A large park inHayatabad.A portion of the park also has a Zoo.
• Mosques
  • Mohabbat Khan Mosque
  • Qasim Ali Khan Mosque
• Museums
  • Peshawar Museum
• Zoo
  • Peshawar Zoo

Sports

There are hosts of sporting facilities in Peshawar. The most renowned areArbab Niaz Stadium,and Hayatabad Cricket Stadium, which are the International cricket grounds of Peshawar andQayyum Stadium,which is the multi sports facilities located inPeshawar Cantonment.

Cricket is the most popular sport in PeshawarwithArbab Niaz Stadiumas the main ground coupled with Cricket Academy. There is also small cricket ground,Peshawar Gymkhana Ground,which is located adjacent toArbab Niaz Stadium,a popular club cricket ground. The oldest international cricket ground in Peshawar however isPeshawar Club Ground,which hosted the first evertest matchbetween Pakistan and India in 1955.ThePeshawar Zalmirepresents the city in thePakistan Super League.

In 1975, the first sports complex,Qayyum Stadiumwas built in PeshawarwhileHayatabad Sports Complexwas built in the early 1990s.Both Qayyum Stadium and Hayatabad Sports Complexes are multiple sports complexes with facilities for all major indoor and outdoor sports such asfootball,Field Hockey ground,Squash,Swimming,Gymnasium, Board Games section,Wrestling,Bo xingandBadminton.In 1991, Qayyum Stadium hosted Barcelona Olympics Qualifier Football match between Pakistan and Qatarplus it also hosted National Games in 2010.Hockeyandsquashare also popular in Peshawar.

Professional sports teams from Peshawar

Club	League	Sport	Venue	Established
Peshawar Zalmi	Pakistan Super League	Cricket	Arbab Niaz Stadium	2015
Peshawar Panthers	National T20 League/National One-day Championship	Cricket	Arbab Niaz Stadium	2004
Peshawar Haiders	Super Kabaddi League	Kabaddi	Tehmas Khan Stadium	2018
Tribe F.C. Peshawar	Geo Super Football League	Football	Qayyum Stadium	2007

Twin towns and sister cities

Main article:List of twin towns and sister cities in Pakistan

Peshawar istwinnedwith:

• Makassar,Indonesia

See also

• Peshawari chappal
• Peshawari turban
• Karkhano
• Kushan Empire
• Kanishka
• Bacha Khan
• Khudai Khidmatgar
• 2014 Peshawar school attack
• 2020 Peshawar school bombing
• Chapli Kabab

References

Bibliography

See also:Bibliography of the history of Peshawar

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• Hopkirk, Peter.1984. "The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia"Kodansha Globe; Reprint edition.ISBN1-56836-022-3.
• Moorcroft, WilliamandTrebeck, George.1841. "Travels in the Himalayan Provinces of Hindustan and the Panjab; in Ladakh and Kashmir, in Peshawar, Kabul, Kunduz, and Bokhara... from 1819 to 1825", Vol. II. Reprint: New Delhi, Sagar Publications, 1971.
• Reeves, Richard. 1985. "Passage to Peshawar: Pakistan: Between the Hindu Kush and the Arabian Sea." Holiday House September 1985.ISBN0-671-60539-9.
• Imran, Imran Rashid. 2006. "Baghaat-i-Peshawar." Sarhad Conservation Network. July 2006.
• Imran, Imran Rashid. 2012. "Peshawar – Faseel-e-Shehr aur Darwazay." Sarhad Conservation Network. March 2012.

External links

• Peshawartravel guide from Wikivoyage