PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE PROVINCE
The province is broadly divided into three different zones
with their peculiar physical stratum. The northern part
of the province is adorned with beautiful valleys having
5 rivers running roughly north to south inter alia the
Chitral, Dir, Swat, Indus and Kaghan. These valleys are
on the northern edge of the monsoon belt, fairly green
and partially wooded in their southern sections. The mid
part had been the seat of the ancient civilizations particularly
Peshawar remained the hub of activities for different
civilizations including Buddhist Hindu Shahi, Sikh, Islamic
and British culture all having their mark on the city.
The southern part of the province is below the monsoon
belt and consists of low, rocky mountain and wide, gravely
plains. The important cities and areas of the province
are described for the convenience of the reader.
HAZARA REGION
The region of Hazara is like a door to heaven, opening
up to visitors a world re plete
with natural beauty. It was a favourite gateway from
the plains into Kashmir during Mughal, Durrani and Sikh
rules. It is a large area some 10,000 sq. km. The world
famous Karakoram Highway starts from Havelian, a town
in this region at a distance of 101 km from Islamabad.
The mighty "Lion River" Indus or Abasin flows
through the entire length of Hazara. It is strategically
located between the Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir, Punjab
and the rest of the North West Frontier Province. Hill
stations collectively known as the Gallis and the Kaghan
valley are the best known parts of Hazara. Pakistani
and foreign tourists throng its cool and serene valleys
during sizzling summer.
HARIPUR
Located at 81 km from Islamabad on Hasan Abdal-Abbottabad
road, Haripur was founded in 1822 by Hari Singh, a general
of Ranjit Singh's army. He was the Governor of Hazara
in 1822-23. A fort built by the Sikhs called Harikishan
Garh is at present being used as a police station. There
is also a British cemetery.
ABBOTTABAD
 Abbottabad
is named after its founder James Abbot, Hazara's first
British Deputy Commissioner. It is at a distance of
121 km from Islamabad via Hasan Abdal. It is 1220 meters
above sea level and is situated at the crossroads of
most of the areas of tourist interest in Pakistan like
Nathiagali, Murree, Thandiani, Kaghan valley, Swat valley,
Skardu, Gilgit and Khunjrab. Taxila, one of the most
important archaeological treasures of the subcontinent
is not very far from here. There are two hills towering
above Abbottabad, Shimla Peak and Sarban Peak. There
are very fine panoramic views of the town and its surroundings
from Shimla Peak. The famous Pakistan Military Academy
is on the hill to the north-east side of the town. Shimla
Park located on a nearby hill with a pine forest is
well worth a visit. Abbottabad has still a very British
air with its European style bungalows, the club, the
church and the cemetery.
THANDIANI
Thandiani means "cold" in the local language.
Therefore being a cool place it got the name of "Thandiani".
It is 2700 meters above sea level on a small plateau
surrounded by pine forests. This beautiful spot can
easily be approached from Abbottabad, which is 24 km
away. It is totally unspoiled and has the loveliest
of views of all the hill stations of Pakistan. The scenery
here is breathtaking and superb.
NATHIAGALI
 Nathiagali
clad in pine, walnut, oak and maple trees, is the prettiest
hill resort in the Galiyat region. It can be approached
both from Murree and Abbottabad. It is 34 km from Abbottabad
as well as from Murree. Nathiagali is 2501 meters above
sea level and is surrounded by lush green lofty mountains.
The British tried to create a little England here with
its small timbered churches, parks, bungalows and the
Governor's House. Breathtaking landscapes, spring water
and fresh air make it one of the most peaceful hill
stations in Pakistan.
DUNGAGALI
This beautiful tourist resort is situated on the slopes
of Mukshpuri Hills. The hills are wooded and present
a beautiful view. Behind.Dungagali stands Mukshpuri,
one of the highest peaks in the area (2800 m).
AYUBIA
A cluster of four small hill stations of Khanaspur,
Khairagali, Changlagali and Ghora Dhaka is called Ayubia
and was named after President Ayub Khan who belonged
to Haripur district of Hazara. The complex is spread
over an area of 26 km. The central place of Ghora Dhaka
has a chairlift, which gives a panoramic and mesmerizing
view of the surroundings.
MANSEHRA
Mansehra is named after Man Singh, its Governor General
under Ranjit Singh. This town is at a distance of 24
km to the north of Abbottabad. It has a very lively
bazaar. The major tourist attraction of Mansehra are
the three granite boulders on which edicts of Ashoka
the Great have been inscribed. This great Mauryan king
ruled this area in the 3rd century BC. After his conversion
to Buddhism he tried to dictate a new morality based
on piety, moderation, tolerance and respect for life.
KAGHAN VALLEY
 Out
of the numerous beautiful valleys of Hazara, Kaghan
is the most attractive of all. A holiday retreat with
alluring scenic beauty, the Kaghan valley is about 160
km long and between two to four thousand meters above
sea level at various places. Towering peaks of Himalayan
Range, glaciers, water falls and crystal clear water
of the lakes are still in a pristine state and make
the valley an unspoiled paradise. Kunhar river with
plenty of trout fish flows through the valley and has
the villages of Balakot, Kaghan, Naran on its banks.
The nomads take their flocks of cattle to the high pastures
of the Kaghan valley in spring and bring them down again
in autumn. Their women are colourfully dressed.
BALAKOT
Balakot is the gateway to Kaghan valley. Balakot itself
is 72 km from Abbottabad. This beautiful small town
is located on the banks of Kunhar river. Journey from
Abbottabad to Balakot is a charming experience. The
road passes through beautiful green hills and thick
forests. The views are spectacular especially between
Attarshisha and Garhi Habibullah. A famous battle was
fought here between the Sikh Army and Mujahideen in
1831. The Mujahideen leaders, Hazrat Syed Ahmed Shaheed
and Hazrat Shah Ismail Shaheed lie buried here along
with other martyrs.
SHOGRAN
 Shogran,
one of, the most beautiful plateaus in the whole area
is situated at a distance of 33 km from Balakot via
Kawai. From there a jeep track leads to this tranquil
summer retreat of superb climate and spectacular views.
The air is impregnated with the scent of flowers and
the pine forest around. It is at an altitude of 2326
m and mighty peaks of Himalayan Ranges such as Musa
ka Masalla (4419 m) and Malika Parbat (5290 m) are visible
from here.
NARAN
 About
86 km from Balakot lies Naran, the main attraction of
the Kaghan valley. This town is situated on the banks
of Kunhar river at an altitude of 2498 m at a point
where the valley widens. The river is wider and quieter
here. There is a very good view downstream, with some
tree-covered islands in the foreground. It is a starting
point for lake Salful Muluk, Battakundi, Lalazar Plateau,
lake Lulusar and Babusar Pass. Outstanding attraction
of Naran is its air of peace and serenity.
LAKE SAIFUL MULUK
It is situated at a distance of 10 km from Naran at
an altitude of 3500 m. It provides an excellent view
of the 5290 m high Malika Parbat (Queen of the Mountains).
The lake and its surroundings have a touch of unreal
about them and are breathtakingly lovely. There is a
charming legend about a prince called Saiful Muluk who
fell in love with a fairy of the lake. The lake is named
after the prince. The best way to reach the lake is
to walk but you may also take a pony or a jeep.
BABUSAR PASS
Babusar Pass is at a distance of 80 km from Naran. It
is on the way to the pass that the Kaghan valley's scenery
becomes most dramatic. Battakundi is at a distance of
16 km from Naran and provides access to Lalazar Plateau,
lake Dodiputsar and lake Lulusar which is the biggest
natural lake in Hazara and the source of Kunhar river.
From Babusar Top mighty Nanga Parbat (8126 m) can be
seen on a clear day.
MALAKAND AND SWAT REGION
The Malakand division of the North West Frontier Province
of Pakistan covers one third of the total area of the
Province. The region is further divided into Chitral,
Dir, Swat, Buner, Shangla Districts and Malakand Agency.
It's distinctive features make the area a "Tourist's
Heaven".
MALAKAND
 The
area has a reich history, covering thousands of yers.
Alexander the Great traveled through the region in 327
BC. The famous Gandhara Buddhist Civilization later
flourished in the valleys of Swat and Dir, There are
many stupas and Buddhist settlements in the region.
The Famous Chinese travllers Huein Tsang and Fa Hien
came here for learning and a great Buddhist missionary
Padma Sambhava, belonging to Swat traveled to Tibet
to spread Buddhism.
A forest around Malakand gives a very refreshing view.
Malakand is a fertile valley surrounded by hills moderately
cold in winter and pleasant in summer. An excellent
road extends from the main Malakand Highway to Swat.
NIMOGRAM BUDDHIST STUPAS
While travelling from Chakdara towards Saidu Sharif,
one reaches Landakai. About 7 km from here, a road leads
towards Nimogram, which is further 21 km away. A Buddhist
monastery is situated here on the top of a hillock,
giving an overall view of the area. There are three
main stupas, surrounded by a number of small votive
stupas. Dressed stones have been used in the construction
and bear similarity to Andan Dheri monastery.
SHINGARDARA STUPA
About three kilometres from Barikot, one gets a glance
of a magnificent Buddhist stupa on the right side. This
stupa is perhaps the only one, whose dome is complete.
The period of its construction is estimated between
third and fourth centuries AD. Just about one and a
half km away from this stupa, one can see large figures
of Buddha carved on the rock.
MINGORA
 Mingora
has been an important trading centre for the last 2000
years. The bazaars are interesting to explore for semi
precious stones, hand-woven and embroiled clothes, shawls,
bedsheets, woodwork, tribal jewelry and antiques of
different kinds. The hills having the world famous "Emerald
Mines" are located to the north of the town.
SAIDU SHARIF
Saidu Sharif and Mingora are twin cities. Saidu Sharif
has several government buildings, the Swat Museum, the
Tomb of Akund of Swat and the archaeological remains
of the Butkara Buddhist Stupa.
SWAT MUSEUM
This museum is situated between Mingora and Saidu Sharif.
The archaeological finds belong to Gandhara Buddhist
art of Swat. The samples of local embroidery, jewelry
and carved wood objects are on display.
MARGHZAR
Marghzar is a small town situated at the foot of Mount
Ilam about 13 krn away from Saidu Sharlf. It is famous
for its White Marble Palace, built by the Wali-e-Swat
in early 1940's. The palace now serves as a hotel. While
going towards Marghzar, a road turns to Islam Pur, which
is famous for its woodwork, shawls and blankets.
MIANDAM
This is one of the upcoming hill resorts, about 56 km
away from Saidu Sharif. The surrounding area.offers
natural beauty, with forests, orchards, mountains and
streams which can be enjoyed by hiking.
MADYAN
 Madyan
is a tourist resort on the banks of Swat river. It is
1312 m above sea level. The town is famous for handicraft,
embroidery and antique shops. A trout hatchery is also
located here. Many beautiful side valleys can be approached
from here. The distance of Madyan is 56 km from Saidu
Sharif.
BAHRAIN
The town of Bahrain is situated 66 km from Saidu Sharif
and is 10km from Madyan. It is another popular riverside
resort, with bazaars worth exploring for their handicrafts.
The surrounding area has beautiful valleys and is suitable
for hiking. The mosques and buildings are worth seeing
for wooden carved pillars and other fixtures.
KALAM
Kalam is the main town of Swat Kohistan. It is about
40 km north of Bahrain. Kalam is inhabited by Kohistanis
having their own language and customs. Beautiful valleys
of Ushu (2286 m), Utrot (2225 m) and Gabral (2550 m)
are accessible from here through thick pine forests.
The 6257 m high snow capped Falaksair Peak is clearly
visible from Matiltan (3000 m). Lake Mahodand is about
23 km beyond Matiltan valley. The rivers offer good
chances for trout fishing.
DIR AND CHITRAL REGIONS
CHAKDARA MUSEUM
The Chakdara Museum is situated about one km from the
fort. It has an excellent collection of Buddhist Gandhara
Art, from first to seventh century AD. It helps people
to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the area.
CHURCHILL PICKET
Close to the Chakdara Fort, a picket crowns the hillock
towards the west. This is known as the Churchill Picket
because Winston Churchill came here during the Pathan
Revolt of 1879. This place was used by him for sending
reports. He was then a war correspondent.
KALASH VALLEYS
The world famous Kalash People live in the three valleys
of Birir, Bumburet and Rambur. The Kalash are an ancient
tribe and have a religion and a culture of their own.
They have many festivals around the year during which
the men and women perform colourful dances. The major
festivals are Chilamjusht, Phool and Chawas.
CHITRAL
 Chitral
is the "Jewel of the Hindukush" guarded by
the majestic Trichmir Peak. The famous town of Chitral
is situated about 322 km from Peshawar. It is also connected
to Peshawar by air. The whole area is mountainous, having
green valleys and the towering Trichmir Peak (7700 meters)
of the Hindukush. The Chitral Fort is one of the famous
monuments of the town. There is also a palace inside
the fort and a beautiful mosque outside the fort. All
the foreign visitors to Chitral must register with the
police on their arrival. Chitral is about 322KM (10
hours jeepable journey) from Peshawar. Daily two flights
are available from Peshawar to Chitral.
KALASH FESTIVALS
 Joshi
or Chilimjusht (14th and 15th May) This festival is
held in spring, when girls pick first flowers of the
year. The days are marked by dancing, visiting each
other and exchanging flowers, milk and milk products.
Utchal Mid July) It is celebrated to mark the harvest
of wheat and barley. The celebration lasts for two days,
which includes dancing, singing, and feasting.
Phool 20th to 21st December) The festival
is to mark the reaping of grapes and walnuts harvests.
(Subject to weather conditions).
Chowas (18th to 21st December) Chowas
is a winter festival celebrated to welcome the New Year.
The entire population remains indoor. It is celebrated
by feasting, drinking and merry making until the elders,
who sit on hill top watching the sun reaching the orbit,
then declare the advent of the new year. They come down
from the hills, light their torches, perform their dance
and sacrifice goats at the altar.
Nauroze (21st March) It is celebrated in ltkuh, Mastuj,
and Turikho Mulkho by Ismailis, followers of His Highness
Prince Karim Agha Khan.
Chitral The date for celebrating the Chitral Festival
is fixed every year. The
Festival eminent features are Polo matches, equestrian
sports, wrestling, tug-of-war, colourful folk dances
and music by the Kalash with exhibition of the local
handicraft.
GARAM CHASHMA
Also known as "Hot Springs". The village by
the same name is about 45 km to the north west of Chitral.
The jeep journey takes about 3 hours. These hot springs
contain sulphur in their water which is good for healing
skin diseases, headache and other pains and gout. The
village has a big market, where the caravans from Badakhshan
bring precious stones and other products. The town gives
a look of "Caravan Sarai". It is also famous
for "Patti" a typical woolen cloth.
SHANDUR PASS
 The
world famous Shandur Pass is about 3738 m above sea
level and lies midway between Chitral and Gligit. The
distance from both Chitral and Gilgit is about 168 km.
These areas remain snow- clad in winter and turn into
a green heaven during summer. There is a big lake in
the area. One can approach the Shandur Top by jeep from
either side. The traditional Polo Tournament between
the Gilgit and Chitral teams is held here every year
in the month of July. Foreign tourists and natives come
to see the festival.
PESHAWAR:
It is the capital of the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa is a frontier town and
quite different from any other city in Pakistan. It
has a modern university, first-class hotels, international
banks and one of the best Museums in Pakistan. The Bala
Hisar Fort overlooks the mass of narrow streets in the
old town and the elegant Mughal Mosque. One the other
side of the railway is the cantonment, its wide treelined
streets bordered by gracious administrative buildings
and spacious bungalows in large gardens.
MAHABAT KHAN MOSQUE:
The beautifully proportioned Mahabat Khan Mosque is
at the top of the hill on the fight; a narrow gateway
between the jewellary shops leads onto its large courtyard.
Built in the 1670s, the Mughal mosque is orthodox in
design, with an ablution pond in the middle of the open
courtyard.
GOR KHATRI:
The Gor Kharti is a large Mughal caravanserai at the
top end of Sethi Street. The caravan serai was built
on a spot that has been a holy place for nearly 2,000
years. In the 2nd century AD it was a Buddhism declined
it became a Hindu shrine.
PESHAWAR MUSEUM:
The Peshawar Museum has one of the best collections
of Gandhara Art in Pakistan, all well arranged and labelled.
Sculptures illustrating the life of Buddha are laid
out in chronological order. The fasting Buddha here
is even more haunting than the one in Lahore Museum.
There is also an ethnological section, the Hall of Tribes,
With wooden carvings form the Kalash people in Chitral
and a Muslim Gallery.
JAMRUD FORT:
Jamrud Fort, made of rough stonework and faced with
mud plaster, was built by the Sikhs in 1823 on the site
of an older fort.
SPHOLA STUPA:
Sphola stupa, of the second to fifth centuries, stands
on the right of the road above the railway at the village
of Zarai, 25 km from Jamrud. The stupa has a high hemispherical
dome resting on a three-tiered square base. Beautiful
Gandharan sculptures were found here when the site was
excavated at the beginning of this century some of which
are now in the Peshawar Museum.
KHYBER STEAM SAFRI :
The Khyber Railway from Peshawar to Landi Kotal is,
for rail enthusiasts, a three-star attraction. It has
34 tunnels, which add up to five km of darkness, as
there are no lights on the train, and crosses 92 bridges
and culverts.
BALA HISAR FORT:
Located on the entrance of Peshawar on left side of
G.T. Road, Bala Hisar is an old fort constructed by
the British Government. Since partition it is occupied
by the army.
CHOWKYADGAR:
It was earlier a Monument designed by the local authorities
. However very recently it has been redesigned and reconstructed
by PDA.
QISSA KHWANI BAZAR:
 This
place is famous for its specialized bazaars as well
as its name is said to have come from the old caravans
passing by this place and narrating their journeys to
those present and other caravans.
Mardan:
 Mardan,
60 km north-east of Peshawar is famous as the birth
place of the Guides the Queen's Own Guide Corpos, an
elite British regiment of North-West Frontier soldier-spies
founded in the 1840s. The town itself has little to
offer but it acts as a base point for seeing a concentration
of Buddhist and other ancient sites of Gandhara civilization.
TAKHT-I-BHAI:
 By
far the best and most complete of all Gandhara ruins
are those of the 7th century AD. Bushiest monastery,
spectacularly placed on a rocky hill 15 km north-west
of Mardan. It was excavated (and stripped of statuary
and friezes) from 1907 to 1913, and later reconstructed.
From the top of the hill behind the monastery on e can
see down across the plains as far as Peshawar on one
side, and up to the Malakand Pass and the hills of the
Swat on the other Surrounding the monastery on the ridge
above it to the south, and on the spurs to the east
and west, are the ruins of private houses, some of which
are three storey high. Federal Archeology department
is the administrative authority for the operation &
maintenance of the old relics. It is also on UNESCO
list and is a National Heritage.
SHAHBAZ GARHI AND THE ASHOKAN INSCRIPTIONS:
 Shahbaz
Garhi is located 13 km east of Mardan on the road to
Swabi. Sown a dirt track to the right, a few meters,
are the famous Ashokan inscriptions, carved in two rocks
on a hill about 300 meters to the left. The Ashokan
inscriptions date from the 3rd century BC and are the
oldest surviving writings of any historical significance
in the Subcontinent.
At Shahbaz Garhi 12 edicts are carved on the rock,
two on another, Shahbaz Garhi is important to Buddhists
because f its association with prince Sudana, or Buddha
in one of his previous incarnations, Sudana means of
noble charity; the area is still popularly know as the
Sudana Plan.
JAMAL GARHI:
The ruins of a monastery and a beautiful courtyard of
stupas are on a hill-top overlooking the village 15
km north of Mardan. The view including Takht-i-Bhai
and Shahbaz Garhi, is especially grand at sunrises sunset.
KOHAT:
Kohat is basically a cantonment with in it is the Garrison
Town. The main road by passes it, but it is worth going
through the centre to see the old British establishments.
TANDA DAM:
This site has been selected for a restaurant presently
under construction by the corporation within the protected
area of the Wild Life Park there.
KHUSHAL GARH:
This rest house located on main Pindi Kohat road has
been transferred to the Corporation and has been offered
for lease to the private sector through print media.
D.I.KHAN:
D. I. Khan is the getaway to Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa for the tourists entering
Pakistan from Balochistan and Punjab. Majority of the
tourists entering from the western border on motorbike
follow this route to Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa . Most of them however just
pass through D.I. Khan. There are two ancient sites,
one is on Chashma Road know as "Kafir Kot"
just 1 km towards left near Bilot Head Works, and the
other is Rehman Dheri, which is about 25 km on the Bannu
Road, very few people know about it.
AMUSEMENT PARK:
On the west bank of river Indus near Hotel Midway an
amusement park may be developed for local residents.
This is easily approachable and in the evening local
communities stroll on the river side. The river side
is very crowded on Fridays when families come for a
picnic.
KAFIR KOT FORTS:
 On
the way to Chashma Barrage (from D.I. Khan), The Southern
Kafir Kot Fort stands on low (Marwat) hills and is clearly
visible from the road. Kike the Northern Kafir Kot Fort,
38 km further up the Indus, it was built at the time
of the Hindu Rajput Kingdom (8th to the 10th century)
and was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghaznavi in the 11th
century. Neither fort was rebuilt.
As the Southern Kafir Kot Fort there are three main
temple and shrines on the same plinth. THe carving deep
chiselled and reminiscent of Mayan sculpture, is fine
and well preserved.
The Northern Kafir Kot Fort is about 6 km north of
the western end of Chashma Barrage. The fort commands
a splendid defensive position. It covers a rubble-strewn
area of about 25 hectares (62 acres). Inside there are
four temples, two badly eroded, the others intricately
carved. The best preserved walls including a fate, are
on the north side of the fort; the walls are about 8
Meters (20 feet) high.
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