PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is the home of diverse cultural heritage, Gandhara civilization, and mesmerizing natural beauty while the land of hospitability is also known for more than 200 religious-archaeological sites.
UNESCO Declares Takht Bhai of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Among World Heritage Site
Countless tourists, historians, monks, architects, and art lovers from across the globe including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, and China throughout the year visit the province to explore 2,000 religious-heritage sites, 30,000 relics of Gandhara civilization, world heritage sites of Sahr-I-Bahlol, Takht Bhai, Jamal Ghari in Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the world’s unique Ghandhara Art Museum of Peshawar.
The building of museum’s main hall was constructed in 1906 in memory of British Queen Victoria. This is the only museum across the globe, where the complete story of the life of the Founder of Buddhism was preserved in the form of panels and statues.
Similarly, Swat Museum, Gandhara Trail, Butkara III Site, Jehanabad Buddha, Amluk Dara, Bazira and Ghaligy archaeological sites draw tourists in large numbers throughout the year. UNESCO had declared Takht Bhai a world heritage site.
The KP government had also declared the site an “Archaeological Reserve” to control urbanization in the area. Bulgarian envoy Irena and Ambassador German Embassy in Islamabad also visited the Takht-i-Bhai and were highly overwhelmed by its conservation work.
Peshawar Museum and British Queen Victoria
Bakht Zada Khan, an official of the Archaeology and Museums Department told the media that the conservation of the Mughal-era monument, Ali Mardan Villa in Peshawar has been completed.
Ali Mardan Khan, the famous commander and engineer of the Mughal era, the Governor of Kabul, Lahore, and Kashmir during Shah Jahan’s reign had built this villa in Peshawar, where there was a three-story pavilion surrounded by fountains while the garden had a variety of fruit trees and roses, attracting tourists.
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The official said conservation work for the restoration of the iconic white architecture of Mohabat Khan Mosque has been completed besides the preservation of Islamia College Peshawar’s mosque founded on March 2, 1912, by great freedom fighter Fazal Wahid alias Haji Sahib Turangzai while the historic mosques at Kalam, Pishmal and Odigram would be kept preserved.
He said that 2,000-years old Buddhist fresco paintings found first century AD coins and three fresco paintings at Abba Saib Cheena Swat believed to be used for religious and education purposes were unearthed and kept preserved.
He said that survey for the exploration of new archaeological sites in merged areas formerly called FATA was started when a 2,000 years old Shapula Stupa was discovered in the Khyber district and was conserved.
Buddhist Stupa ‘Bhamala’ in Haripur
Bakht Zada said that Cultural Heritage Trail Project had been completed under which an about 500 meters long trail from ancient Ghanta Ghar to Gor Gathri in Peshawar was renovated including 85 centuries-old buildings and houses.
He said Sethi House, an architectural wonder at Peshawar City built in 1880, was preserved and opened for tourists where a museum was established.
He said the Buddhist stupa ‘Bhamala’ in Haripur was preserved after discovery and lighted heritage branding was installed beside Penaflex and signboard boards on BRT Route in Peshawar for public education.
Besides Pena-flex and signboards on archeological sites in Swat, Information signboards at Takht Bhai, Jamal Ghari, and Shahbaz Ghari, he said these signboards were installed at different archeological sites on Swat motorway to facilitate tourists.
