Cultural Heritage in Peshawar

In Pakistan, little by little people are returning to their homes following
the mop-up campaign against the armed groups. Look at the details here.

With the help of JEN’s supporters and the Japanese government JEN is working
on a livelihood improvement program, targeting the repatriated inhabitants of
FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Area) Khyber Agency.
This program focuses on breeding livestock.

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Peshawar is one of the historical cities of Pakistan having several cultural heritage places. The cultural heritage indicates the fantastic art work in terms of construction. The historical profile of the city dates back to the 3rd century BC, which makes it one of the oldest existing cities of South Asia. It reveals the rich archeological signs of Peshawar. These cultural heritage places are located in 10 km distance from JEN field office.

One such heritage place is called “Gorkhatri”. It is a typical Mughal sarai (guesthouse) built in the Mughal Era by Jahan Ara Begum, a daughter of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in 1641. It is a refreshed yet complex compound, spread over an area of 90 Kanal (45,527 square meters). She renamed it as 'Sarai Jahanabad', constructed a mosque and had dug wells up with stairways inside them, allowing people coming from long distance to either drink or fill their pitchers of water.  The compound used to serve as a safety inn for camel caravans loaded with merchandise. There are two main gates on its western and eastern sides, each with double-storied pavilion and a 10-room apartment.

[The Gorkhatri (guest house)]



Sethis Mohallah is another place in the heart of Peshawar city. It contains seven houses including the famous “Sethi House”, a cultural heritage, built by the Sethis family. These unique houses are a blend of the art and architecture of Ghandhara and Central Asia cultures. The first was built by Haji Ahmed Gul in 1884.

[Sethi House Balcony Windows]



[Sethi House First Floor]



It is located close to the Ghanta Gar (clock tower) in Peshawar old city. The Ghanta Ghar was constructed in 1900 and was open to the public. It’s 85 feet tall and give an attractive historical look as a cultural heritage. The ‘Sethis’ were traders, who had business in China, the sub-continent, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia, with trade centers at Mazar Sharif, Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarqand and other cities in the Asia region. In the Sethi House, merchandisers used to exchange currency.

[The Ghanta Gar (Clock tower)]



It is constructed from wood and took thirty-five years to complete.

[Street in old Peshawar city where the Sethi houses are situated]





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