PESHAWAR IN TERM OF URBAN CONTEXT

BY: SYED HAMID AKBARSEM:8TH/BATCH VI

C.NO:15

INTRODUCTION

liveliest city of Pakistan heart of the KPK province lies at the edge of the historic Khyber Pass Weather station: 415300 (OPPS) Latitude: 34.01 Longitude: 71.58 Altitude: 359

DEMOGRAPHICS

Urban Population: 51.32% (1,536,000 persons) Rural Population: 48.68% (1,600,000 persons) Male/Female ratio: 1.1:1 Average annual growth rate 3.56%

CLIMATE

a semi-arid climate with very hot summers and mild winters maximum temperature in summer surpasses 40 °C (104 °F) minimum temperature during winter is 4 °C (39 °F)

HISTORY

founded over 2,000 years ago by the Kushan Kings of Gandhara

was known as Lotus Land Babur came to Peshawar in 1530

and found a city with name Begram

The Mughal emperor Akbar gave the city its present name “Peshawar”

means “The Place at the Frontier.

derives from a Sanskrit word “Pushapapura” meaning “The city of flowers”.

Earlier also known as “ The City Of Grain”,

From 2nd century AD, to about 7th century AD, Peshawar was the

centre of Buddhist Gandharan civilization

and an important place of pilgrimage.

THE OLD

CITY:

SIXTEEN GATESOF PESHAWAR

SETHI HOUSES: situated in Mohallah Sethian built in 1882 AD. by Haji

Ahmed Gul approached from Chowk

yadgaar highly decorated style of

buildingwith carved wooden doors, partitions, balconies, mirrored and painted rooms

STREETS & BAZAAR’S

STREETS BAZAAR’S The business streets & bazaar of

Peshawar are highly specialized; one is for shoes (known as Mochi Lara) for head gear yet another for cloth a forth for silver & Gold smiths a fifth for carpets & so on for the seemingly infinite variety of goods which the boasts the city.

QISSA KHAWANI BAZAR bazaar of coper smith Khyber Bazaar, Bird Bazaar & Meena Bazaar etc.

BUILDINGS & PLACES

CHOWK YADGAR

sprawling convergence point of different major roads & bazaars

1885. as a memorial to british COLONEL HASTINGS

In 1969, dedicated to the heroes of 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.

MAHABAT KHAN MOSQUE

constructed by the Governor of Peshawar Mahabat Khan Mirza Lerharsib, in 1630 during the era of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan In early nineteen, damaged by the Sikhs fire broke out in 1898

BALA HISAR FORT

Constructed by Zaheer-ud-din Babur In 1530AD symbol of his victory on this side of Khyber Pass rebuilt in the present form by the Sikh governor of Peshawar Hari Singh Nalva Presently Bala Hisar fort houses headquarters of a prestigious Frontier

Corps

PESHAWAR CANTONMENT

Across the railway line was built the new modern Peshawar, the cantonment (sadder), like the ones which the British built near every major city for their administrative offices typical colonial garrisons with bazaar, military barracks, residences, parks, churches & shops

EDWARD’S COLLEGE

established in 1901 named in the memory of famous administrative Sir Herbert Edward as missionary boarding school

GOR KHATRI:

Gor khatri is an ancient citadel In 2nd century AD, Buddhist pilgrims came to visit a shrine and

monastery known as tower of Buddha's Alms Bowl After the demise of Buddhism, the site became a place of Hindu

Pilgrimage. The Sikhs demolished the mosque build by shah Jahan’s daughter

and replaced it with a Temple to Gorakhnath, a Sikh deity. It also became residence of Italian general Paolo de Avitabile during

Sikh rule.

The Cunningham Clock Tower

The Cunningham clock tower(ghanta ghar) was constructed in 1900 in commemoration of the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria

and later named after Georage Cunningham who became governor of NWFP(present KPK) in 1937.

ISLAMIA COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY of PESHAWAR

Haji Sahib of Turangzai laid down the foundation of Islamia College in 1911

pride of Peshawar domes, kiosks and pinnacles rising above the green trees contrast sharply with red brick The architectural taste is peculiar of Mughal with a touch of colonial style

Personalities Of The City

• Abdur Rab Nishtar,Leader in Pakistan Movement& First Governor of Punjab, Pakistan

• Dilip Kumar, Bollywood actor• Taj Muhammad Khan,Famous Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khanfather• Ghulam Muhammad Qasir, Urdu poet• Shashi Kapoor, Bollywood Actor• Shammi Kapoor, Bollywood Actor• Patras Bokhari, Urdu humourist• Rahman Baba, Pashto poet• Ismail Gulgee, artist• Khush Khan Khattak

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Historic houses : bay windows, jharoka & naqqashi work

People here are found : of liberty, faithful to their friends, kind to their dependants, hospitable, brave, hardy frugal, arborous & prudent Joint Family System

TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS

very well known commonly played traditional games for young men are: Young and little girls play

Nezabazi, kabady, guthka, guli danda, and piddi uthana. For very young boys there are : dubgub, perpatoonia,.

dabaly, guda guddi, tapnitapane. Kikli

These are all important and significant in the rich folkore of the Peshawar cultural heritage, but many of them are disappearing

TODAY’S PESHAWAR

Once standing on the top of imposing Bala Hisar Fort in Peshawar, one could see the historic Khyber Valley gateway that has seen traders, conquers, and travelers passing through it

But today, you can only see the jungle of high concrete structures, plazas and clouds of hanging over the cityscape.

Beyond history, heritage and culture, Peshawar faces all problems urbanization. City once famous for gardens and flowers is turning grey.