Peshawar: Gateway to the Khyber Pass
The historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar – Storytellers’ Market
History
Crossroads of Ancient Civilizations
Main article: History of Peshawar. Founded as Purushapura around 539 BCE, Peshawar served as the winter capital of the Kushan Empire and the heart of Gandhara civilization.
Unlike coastal settlements, Peshawar’s strategic inland location preserved stone monuments like the Gor Khatri complex (16th-century caravanserai) and Bala Hisar Fort (dating back to at least the 6th century CE). The city witnessed Greek, Buddhist, Hindu Shahi, and Islamic rule before becoming a frontier post for the British Raj.
Traditional architecture along Peshawar’s ancient streets
Geography
Where the Plains Meet the Pass
Located at 34°01′N 71°35′E, Peshawar sits at 359m (1,178ft) elevation in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, just 15km from the Afghan border.
Key geographic features:
- Khyber Pass: The 53km-long mountain pass connecting Central Asia
- Bara River: Seasonal tributary marking the city’s western edge
- Peshawar Valley: 7,200 sq km fertile basin producing 80% of Pakistan’s peaches
- Hindu Kush foothills: Rugged mountains to the west
Chart with us
Experience Peshawar’s living history on our guided Khyber Pass expeditions.