In This Post:
Best Route to Travel to Peshawar
History of Peshawar, KPK
Historical Attractions in Peshawar
Tourism in Peshawar
Travel Guide to Peshawar: Weather
Capital City of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tourist Attractions in Peshawar
Top Neighbourhoods in Peshawar
Real Estate Investment in Peshawar
With a history dating back to thousands of years, Peshawar is the oldest and most populous city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In recent years, the metropolis has witnessed many noteworthy infrastructure developments like the launch of Peshawar BRT and the city’s very own Ring Road Project. Since Peshawar is the largest city in the region, it is also the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
One of the key things that makes the metropolis of Peshawar extremely unique is the diversity of culture, which can be observed in many of its traditional market places and historic bazaars. So, if you also want to take a trip to this extremely colourful city in KPK and looking for some guidance in this regard, then we’ve got you covered. Here we have put together a comprehensive travel guide to Peshawar, detailing its history, culinary traditions and noteworthy places to visit.
So, buckle up as our journey is about to begin!
Which is the Best Route to Travel to Peshawar?
When it comes to intercity travelling, you’ll come across a vast network of highways and motorways in Pakistan. Some of these roadlinks have either been constructed or upgraded in recent years under the banner of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Projects. So, if you want to know which is the best route to travel to Peshawar, then it depends on the city you’re coming from.
Suppose, you are heading from Karachi, then to travel to Peshawar you need to take the route of Islamabad-Peshawar M1 Motorway via National Highway 5. The route of M1 Motorway can also be used by people who are travelling from cities like Lahore and Islamabad.
This means the best route to take a road trip to Peshawar is Islamabad-Peshawar M1 Motorway. On a side note, if you are planning to visit Peshawar by road, then don’t forget to read these road trip safety tips for travelling around Pakistan.
History of Peshawar, KPK
Peshawar was founded in the 5th century BC as a small village. It was named after its host valley. It became the hotspot for goods trading in the region and retained this status for centuries. The location of Peshawar in KPK put it in the centre of the ancient Gandhara region. This is why it remained the capital of the Kushan Empire, which ruled the land for many years.
Through the history of Peshawar, we see the rise and fall of many reigns including the Mughal Empire. The historical structures found all across the city speaks volume about its glorious past. So, in the next section of our blog we’ll list them all, which you shouldn’t miss visiting upon your trip to Peshawar.
Historical Places in Peshawar
From beautifully designed mosques to historic forts and an ancient clock tower, the city of Peshawar in KPK is dotted with some really amazing places to visit for history buffs. So, let’s list down some of the most famous ones among them.
- Mahabat Khan Masjid (Founded in 1670 AD)
- Sir Cunningham Clock Tower (Founded in 1900 AD)
- Shahi Bagh (Founded during the Mughal Empire)
- Bala Hisar Fort (Founded in 1930 AD)
- Bab-e-Khyber (Founded in 1964)
- Jamrud Fort (1834 AD)
Quick Fact: Bab-e-Khyber (Gateway to Khyber) is one of the most famous historical places in Peshawar and it has also been featured on a 10-rupee note of Pakistani currency. Here’s our detailed blog on the history of Pakistan currency that may interest you.
If you want to learn more about the landmarks we have listed above, you can read our detailed blog post on historical attractions in Peshawar.
Tourism and Traditional Bazaars in Peshawar
If we talk about tourism in Peshawar, the city is widely famous for its traditional bazaars and culinary delights. The name of Qissa Khawani Bazaar (Story Teller’s Bazaar) stands out when talking about the cultural and historic bazaars in Peshawar. The place used to be a major stopover for traders along the silk route. Here people used to rest and take some time off their journey and exchange their stories. This is how this bazaar got its unique name.
Travelling to Peshawar as a foodie, you’ll come across many different types of traditional foods. The local people in the region of Khyber are fond of eating meaty dishes. This is why you’ll come across most of the restaurants in Peshawar offering different kinds of Karahi, Kebabs and rice meals, the ones that are more salty and less spicy.
Peshawar is also famous for its very delicious ‘Chapli Kebabs’. The recipe of these kebabs has also originated from the region of Khyber. Chapli Kebabs are actually large patties of minced beef, prepared with traditional spices. This specialty of Peshawar is now available in restaurants around the world.
So, if you have plans to travel to Peshawar, don’t forget to taste Chapli Kebabs. They are easily available in many of the traditional restaurants in Peshawar. So, if you have already started packing for your trip, then check out the next section of travel guide to Peshawar. It is about the average weather conditions in the city.
Weather of Peshawar
The weather of Peshawar usually stays dry and cold all year round. However, it can get really hot during the peak summer season where temperatures can go up to 40 degrees celsius. On the other hand, it can get extremely cold during the height of the winter season. The average temperature in winters is usually recorded around 5 degrees celsius.
So, if you’re travelling to Peshawar from other parts of the country, you can either pick the spring or autumn season when temperatures are usually moderate. You’ll be able to enjoy the city in its full glory if upon your visit to this metropolis in KPK during these seasons. So, pick whatever is the best time to travel to Peshawar for you. Also, don’t forget to check the weather forecast before beginning your journey.
Provincial Capital: Government Buildings in Peshawar
Since Peshawar is the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is home to the head offices and administrative centres of many key government institutions. Some of the major landmarks in this regard include FC Trust Building, KPK Assembly Building, Governor House, and Directorate of Industries and Commerce.
Despite ages old, many of these government buildings in Peshawar are well maintained. They are the noteworthy remnants of architectural trends belonging to different eras of this historically-rich region.
Quick Fact: The city of Peshawar is also home to the Bacha Khan International Airport, which is the KPK’s largest international airport.
Family Attractions in Peshawar
When it comes to family outings , you’ll come across a long list of places to visit in Peshawar. Public parks like Khalid Bin Waleed Park, Garrison Park also serve as relaxing retreats within the busiest parts of the city. With different types of galleries and historic collections, Peshawar Museum is also among the popular tourist attractions in Peshawar. Add these places to your travel bucket list if you want to make the most of your trip to Peshawar in KPK.
Are you also interested in property investment in Peshawar? If yes, then further in this blog we have discussed the city’s top neighbourhoods and price trends for the available property options.
Top Neighbourhoods in Peshawar
If you’re interested in properties for sale in Peshawar, these are the most popular housing societies in the city.
For more details about the city’s most popular housing societies, navigate to our Peshawar Area Guides section. Now let’s take a look at the opportunities available for property investment in Peshawar and their average price trends.
Properties for Sale in Peshawar
The asking price of property in Peshawar have been listed as under for each of the available property types.
- If you’re interested in plots for sale in Peshawar then their asking price starts from PKR 10 lakh to PKR 10 crore
- Houses for sale in Peshawar available in different societies have a price range from PKR 25 lakh – PKR 13 crore
- If you like apartment living, then flats for sale in Peshawar can cost your around PKR 35 lakh – PKR 2 crore
Note: You can also read our comprehensive blog post on DHA Peshawar to learn more about this newly-launched upscale real estate project in the capital city of KPK.
This brings us to the end of our detailed travel guide to Peshawar. We hope it will help you with your trip to the most colourful and largest city in KPK. If you are a resident of Peshawar and have any useful information about the city to share with us, feel free to write to us at blog@zameen.com.
On a side note, you may also like reading our similar blog posts in which we have written detailed travel guides to Multan, Faisalabad and Quetta. If you’re interested in visiting the northern areas of Pakistan, you may like reading our tourism guides to Kumrat Valley, Skardu Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Swat Valley and Deosai National Park.
For informative pieces on tourism in Peshawar and other parts of the country, keep reading Zameen Blogs. You can also receive daily updates from our blog section by subscribing to our e-newsletter. We are also on Facebook and Instagram. So, connect with us and get all our latest feeds.
