History of great Dhaka's- "Dhaka Gotra".

[rakeshdhaka]

Dhaka is also the name of capital of Bangladesh. It is named after Dhakeshwari i.e. the goddess of Dhakas. According to Dr Naval Viyogi [2] In a period of third century AD many hoards of Taka coins have been recovered from Nagpur region,[3] which were introduced by the Taka Nagas of North-West. Linguists have informed that these Taka people reached and ruled in the region of Dhaka of Bangla Desh, since the word ' Dhaka' is a linguistic (Pali) variation of Taka. [4] In the second act of Sanskrit play mrcchakatika a dialect has been used by author, known as Takki. Taki, Takka or Dhakka is the Prakrit dialect which has been called by Pischal language of East Bengal spoken around Dhaka, but there is another interpretation too, since word 'Ta' has been changed to 'Dha' due to the tendency of change from Sanskrit to Pali or Prakrit as cited above, hence the original word is Taka from which Dhaka has been derived.[5][6]

Dhaka is a name of Nagvanshi King( 2nd Stabdi to 5th stabdi).But,As per Max Mular his name is Dhata son of Dhatusena.Please read in this para " 'Certain members of the Moriyan dynasty, dreading the power of the (usurper) Subho, the bâlattho, had settled in various parts of the country, concealing themselves. Among them there was a certain landed proprietor Dhâtusena, who had established himself at Nandivâpi.His son named Dhâtâ, who lived at the village Ambiliyâgo, had two sons, Dhâtusena and Sîlatissabodhi, of unexceptional descent. Their mother's brother (Mahânâma), devoted to the cause of religion, continued to reside (at Anurâdhapura) in his sacerdotal character, at the edifice built by the minister Dîghasandana. The youth Dhâtusena became a priest in his fraternity, and on a certain day, while he was chaunting at the foot of a tree, a shower of rain fell, and a Nâga, seeing him there, encircled him in his folds, and covered him and his book with his hood. . . . Causing an image of Mahâ Mahinda to be made, and conveying it to the edifice (Ambamâlaka) in which the thera's body had been burnt, in order that be might celebrate a great festival there, and that he might also promulgate the contents of the Dîpavamsa,distributing a thousand pieces, he caused it to be read aloud [2]" and another side some history writers comments Dhaka is an Iranian word.It is changed from Azi-Dahaka "The original meaning of dahāka is uncertain. Among the meanings suggested are "stinging" (source uncertain), "burning" (cf. Sanskrit dahana), "man" or "manlike" (cf. Khotanese daha), "huge" or "foreign" (cf. the Scythian Dahae and the Vedic dasas). In Persian mythology, Dahāka is treated as a proper noun, and is the source of the Ḍaḥḥāk (Zahhāk) of the Shāhnāme. The Avestan term Aži Dahāka and the Middle Persian azdahāg are the source of the modern Persian and Urdu azhdahā (اژدها) as well as the Kurdish Hazhdiha (ههژدیها) which usually mean "dragon". Despite the negative aspect of Aži Dahāka in mythology, dragons have been used on some banners of war throughout the history of Iranian peoples. The Azhdarchid group of pterosaurs are named from an Persian word for "dragon" that ultimately comes from Aži Dahāka".

As per my knowledge Dhaka's are sattled in complete world with changing their title like:- Dhaka,Dhake,Deka,Dahaka,Dhoke and Dhakar etc.

Some of our another Gotra's where we cann't make marriage relations.
Kadak,Bardak,Badak and Bamel.These are known as our pad Gotra's.

[rakeshdhaka]

As per the wikipedia,free encyclopedia "This Area Ruled by Dhata son of Dhatusena and King Dhatusena son of Mahanama.As per History of Sanskrit Literature (1859), p. 267 and as per F. Max Mullar. It was changed Dhata to Dacca or Dhaka (Sanskrit to Pali or English) by time to time. Dhaka(Naga of Nagvanshi King/Kshatriya Ruled India) are one of the most ancient warrior gotra of Jats.Dhaka are said to be the descendants of Dhata king.Naga families ruled between 500 BC and 500 AD and some of them onward up to the Mughal period.Dhaka's are sattled on Indian continant with changing their surname(As per local language style of countries/Estate's) like:- Dhaka,Dhake,Deka,Dahaka,Dhoke and Dhakar etc.
'Certain members of the Moriyan dynasty, dreading the power of the (usurper) Subho, the bâlattho, had settled in various parts of the country".

[rakeshdhaka]

Mr Anil,
Very-2 thanks for appreciation.
There are not only the name of Cities or Capitals on Dhaka's name.There are some mountain also on Dhaka's name Like Kala Dhaka and Gora Dhaka mountains on the border of Pakistan and Afganistan.
I also found a village is also known as Dhaka near by these mountains,which are not mentioned in our Gotra's history on Jatland.
Before some day's I forward some our history fects to Mr I R Burdak(on Burdak Sahab's personel email id) to add the same on this,because I have not good knowledge of Computer as well as English language.

Again v.v. thanks to you.

[anilsangwan]

आप का जवाब पढ़ कर मैं धन्य हो गया सर ...... इतना ज्ञानवर्धक लेख लिखने के कोटि कोटि धन्यवाद....

Mr Anil,
Very-2 thanks for appreciation.
There are not only the name of Cities or Capitals on Dhaka's name.There are some mountain also on Dhaka's name Like Kala Dhaka and Gora Dhaka mountains on the border of Pakistan and Afganistan.
I also found a village is also known as Dhaka near by these mountains,which are not mentioned in our Gotra's history on Jatland.
Before some day's I forward some our history fects to Mr I R Burdak(on Burdak Sahab's personel email id) to add the same on this,because I have not good knowledge of Computer as well as English language.

Again v.v. thanks to you.

[rakeshdhaka]

• Dhaka -Dhaka is a village of Abbottabad District in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 34° 2' 60N 73° 16' 55E with an altitude of 1860 metres (6105 feet).^[1]
• Gora Dhaka-Gora Dhaka is a mountain resort town .Four small hill resorts close to one another, Khanspur, Khairagali, Changlagali and Gora Dhaka are Ayubia, named after a former President Ayub Khan who hailed from Haripur in then District Hazara. The small town is spread over an area of 26km. the central hill station of Gora Dhaka has a chairlift, providing broad charming view of the surroundings. It boasts of hotels and food outlets serving fast food, tea and coffee along with other eatables.
• Kala Dhaka, a mountain range and tribal area of the Mansehra District .They are also resident in the Agror Valley in the basin of Tur Ghar (Kala Dhaka)or the black mountain, the Pakhli Plain and parts of Upper TanawalGadoon Amazai, Abbottabad (Sheikh-ul-Bandi, NawanShehr, Dhamtor and Mir Pur, Havalian), Haripur(Bagra, Karakki, Gandian, Langrial) these are in Kala Dhaka area.
• Sra Dhaka, Sra Dhaka is a village in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is located at 30°28'0N 69°31'60E with an altitude of 1353 metres (4442 feet).^[1]

[rakeshdhaka]

Ancient History of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where Dhaka village,Kala Dhaka and Gora Dhaka(Ghora Dhaka) are situated.
Since ancient times the region numerous groups have invaded Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa including the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Kushans, Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Mughals,Jat's, Sikhs, and the British. Between 2000 and 1500 BC, the Aryans split off into an Iranian branch, represented by the Pashtuns who came to dominate most of the region, an Indo-Aryan branch represented by the Hindkowans who populated much of the region before the time of the Pashtuns and various Dardic peoples who came to populate much of the north. Earlier pre-Aryan inhabitants include the Burusho.
The Vale of Peshawar was home to the Kingdom of Gandhara from around the 6th century BC and later ancient Peshawar became a capital of the Kushan Empire. The region was visited by such notable historical figures as Darius II, Alexander the Great, Hsuan Tsang, Fa Hsien, Marco Polo, and Mountstuart Elphinstone, among others. Following the Mauryan conquest of the region, Buddhism became a major faith, at least in urban centres, as attested by recent archaeological and hermeneutic evidence. Kanishka, a prominent Kushan ruler was one of the prominent Buddhist kings,Named Dhata son of Dhatusena.

“

The region of Gandhara has long been known as a major centre of Buddhist art and culture around the beginning of the Christian era. But until recently, the Buddhist literature of this region was almost entirely lost. Now, within the last decade, a large corpus of Gandharan manuscripts dating from as early as the 1st century A.D. has come to light and is being studied and published by scholars at the University of Washington. These scrolls, written on birch-bark in the Gandharan language and the Kharosthi script, are the oldest surviving Buddhist literature, which has hitherto been known to us only from later and modern Buddhist canons. They also institute a missing link between original South Asian Buddhism and the Buddhism of East Asia, which was exported primarily from Gandhara along the Silk Roads through Central Asia and thence to China.[17]

”

Rural areas retained numerous Shamanistic faiths as evident with the Kalash and other groups. The roots of Pashtunwali or the traditional code of honour followed by the Pashtuns is also believed to have Pre-Islamic origins. Persian invasions left small pockets of Zoroastrians and, later, a ruling Hindu elite established itself briefly during the later Shahi period.

[rakeshdhaka]

contd....
The Shahi era
During the early 1st millennium, prior to the rise of Islam, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was ruled by the Shahi kings. The early Shahis were Buddhist rulers and reigned over the area until 870 CE when they were overthrown and then later replaced.
When the Chinese monk Xuanzang visited the region early in the 7th century CE, the Kabul valley region was still ruled by affiliates of the Shahi kings, who is identified as the Shahi Khingal, and whose name has been found in an inscription found in Gardez.
While the early Shahis were Irano-Afghan and Hindus Kabulistani in origin, the later Shahi kings of Kabul and Gandhara may have had links to some ruling families in neighbouring Kashmir and the Punjab. The Hindu Shahis are believed to have been a ruling elite of a predominantly Buddhist, Hindu and shamanistic population and were thus patrons of numerous faiths, and various artefacts and coins from their rule have been found that display their multicultural domain.
The last Shahi rulers were eventually wiped out by tribes led by Mahmud of Ghazni who arrived from Afghanistan early in the 11th century.
[edit] Arrival of Islam

Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Shamanism remained prominent in the region until Muslim Arabs and Turks conquered the area before the 2nd millennium CE. Over the centuries local Pashtun and Dardic tribes converted to Islam, while retaining some local traditions (albeit altered by Islam) such as Pashtunwali or the Pashtun code of honour.
[edit] Ghaznavid Empire

During 963–1187 AD, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa became part of larger Islamic empires including the Ghaznavid Empire, headed by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, and the empire of Muhammad Shahabuddin Ghauri. It Included Afghanistan extending up to Punjab and India Subcontinent and with its capital at Lahore.
Later it was controlled by the Afghan Pashtun Muslims of the Delhi Sultanate. The "Delhi Sultanate" refers to the many Muslim states that ruled the India from 1206 to 1526.
Several Turkic and Afghan dynasties ruled from Delhi Capital instead of Lahore : the Mamluk dynasty (1206–90), the Khilji dynasty (1290–1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413), the Sayyid dynasty (1414–51), and the Lodhi dynasty (1451–1526).
[edit] Mughal Empire

In 1526 the Delhi Sultanate was absorbed by the emerging Mughal Empire and the Ilkhanate Empire of the Turks, coming from Great Timur Lang and his grandsons like Babur the Mughal Dynasty.
Muslim technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists, architects, teachers, theologians and sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to the region and Islam flourished because of these Northern Afghan and Central Asian invaders.
[edit] Afghan control

The area formed part of the Durrani Empire founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747. Ahmed Shah Durrani was born in Multan which was at that time part of Afghanistan. The empire included Bahwalpur, Kashmir, Gilgit, Hazara with its main city Haripur. Under Ahmed Shah Durrani and later his son Timur Shah, who ruled from Lahore and Multan, but later shifted it back to Kandahar.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was an important iranian borderland that was often contested by the Mughals and Safavids who considered it part of their land. During the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa required formidable military forces to control and the emergence of Pashtun nationalism, who opposed Mughals who were trying to infiltrate it from India across the Indus River. A leading force in inspiring Pashtun miltancy was the local warrier poet Khushal Khan Khattak who united some of the tribes against the various empires around the region.
As the Mughal had lost control by 1757, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa came under the control of the Amir of Afghanistan Ahmed Shah Abdali.

[rakeshdhaka]

contd...........
[edit] Sikh rule

The entire region referred to in the twenty first century as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa came under Sikh rule in the first half of the nineteenth century, when the Sikhs defeated the Afghans.^[18]
The Afghans governed Hazara-i-Karlugh, Gandhgarh and the Gakhar territory from Attock; while Kashmir collected the revenue from the upper regions of Pakhli, Damtaur and Darband. In 1813, the Sikhs conquered the fort of Attock, at which time lower Hazara became tributary to them. Upper Hazara shared the same fate in 1819, when the Sikhs conquered Kashmir. The territory referred to as Hazara formed when Maharaja Ranjit Singh bestowed the area as a jagir on Hari Singh Nalwa, Commander-in-Chief of the Sikh army, in 1822.^[19]
The Sikhs forayed into Peshawar for the first time in 1818, but did not occupy the territory. In 1823, following the Battle of Naushehra on the banks of the Kabul river, Hari Singh Nalwa and his men chased the Afghans first to Peshawar and then to the mouth of the Khyber Pass. The Sikhs entered the city of Peshawar for a second time, once again affirming to hold Peshawar as a tributary to the Sikh Court of Lahore. After plundering the city they burnt its fortress, the Bala Hissar.^[20] The Sikh occupation of Peshawar in 1834, was executed in a most unusual manner.^[21] By 1836, with the conquest of Jamrud the frontier of the Sikh Kingdom bordered the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains and the Khyber Pass formed its western boundary.^[22]
The most significant contributions of Sikh rule to this region were the city of Haripur, the first planned city in this entire region, and the forts of Sumergarh (Bala Hissar, Peshawar) and Fatehgarh (Fort of Jamrud at the mouth of the Khyber Pass).^[23]

[rakeshdhaka]

contd...
The British Raj and the Durand Line Agreement
Main article: Durand Line

Afghanistan before the Durand agreement of 1893.



Afghan tribesmen attacking the British-held Shabkadr Fort outside Peshawar in 1897


The British, who had captured most of the subcontinent without significant problems,^{[dubious – discuss]} faced a number of difficulties here. However, crossing the Indus River on to the Iranian plateau and Pashtun territory which lay there gave them a new type of challenge. The Pashtuns, strong in their belief that they must defend their land from foreign incursion resisted the British advancement. The first war between British and the Pashtuns resulted in a devastating defeat for the British, with just one individual, Dr. William Brydon coming back alive (out of a total of 14,800-21,000 people). This happened during the First Anglo-Afghan War of 1849 and later the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1876. The Third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919, was also a continuation of the fight for Reclaiming Areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and claiming independence from British occupation efforts which the Afghans or the Pashtuns resisted with greatest zeal and effort to remain as independent nation.
Unable to enforce their rule and invade these territories fully in the region, the British changed their tactics and played a game of divide and rule. They exploited religious differences, installed puppet Pashtun rulers, divided the Pashtuns through artificially-created regions, and ruled indirectly to reduce the chance of confrontation between Pashtuns and themselves. Although the smallest size province Pushtoons were divided into Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Frontier Regions (FR) and Settled Areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was restricted to five districts.
Occasional Pashtun resistance and attacks did take place on British in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including the Siege of Malakand and Swat, both well documented by Winston Churchill who was a war correspondent at the time.
A series of conflicts known as the Anglo-Afghan Wars during the imperialist Great Game, wars between the British and Russian governments, led to the eventual dismemberment of Afghanistan into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and Khurasan. Divide and rule policy and the annexation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan region led to the demarcation of the Durand Line and administration as part of British South Asia.
The Durand line is a poorly marked 1,519-mile (2,445 km) border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. After fighting in two wars against Afghans, the British succeeded in 1893 in imposing the Durand line, dividing Afghanistan from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, FR regions, FATA which were incorporated into what was then British India. It was agreed upon by representatives of both governments.
The international boundary line separating two countries was named after Sir Mortimer Durand, foreign secretary of the British colonial government, who in 1893 had negotiated with Abdur Rahman Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan, on the frontier between modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Areas annexed from Afghanistan were the FATA, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan, the successor state of British India and the successor Iranian state of Khorasan.
In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand was sent to Kabul by the government of British India for the purpose of settling an exchange of territory required by the demarcation of the boundary between northeastern Afghanistan, Iran and the Russian possessions.
The Amir showed ability in diplomatic argument, his tenacity where his own views or claims were in debate, with a sure underlying insight into the real situation. The territorial exchanges were amicably agreed upon; the relations between the British Indian and Afghan governments, as previously arranged, were confirmed; and an understanding was reached upon the important and difficult subject of the border line of Afghanistan on the east, towards India.
From the British side the camp was attended by Sir Mortimer Durand and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum the, Political Agent for the Khyber Agency. Afghanistan was represented by Sahibzada Abdul Latif and the Governor Sardar Shireendil Khan representing the King Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.^[24]

[rakeshdhaka]

contd....
While the Afghan side greatly resented the border and viewed it as a temporary development, the British viewed it as being a permanent settlement. The North-West Frontier Province was formed on November 9, 1901, as a Chief Commissioner ruled province, the Chief Commissioner was the chief executive of the province.
He ran the administration with the help of his principal advisers and Civil servants better known as judicial and Revenue Commissioners.
The formal inauguration of the province took place five and half months later, at Shahi Bagh on April 26, 1902, on the occasion of the historical Darbar in the Shahi Bagh (Kings Garden) in the capital town of Peshawar.
It was held by Lord Curzon the Governor of the North-West Frontier Province. The province then comprised only five districts after dividing annexed areas from Afghanistan into FATA, Frontier Regions and the North-West Frontier Province and Southern Punjab.
North-West Frontier Province districts were Peshawar District, Hazara District, Kohat District, Bannu District and the Dera Ismail Khan District.
The first Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province was Harold Deane. He was known as a strong administrator and he was succeeded by Ross-Keppel, in 1908, whose contribution as a political officer was widely known amongst the tribal/frontier people.
North-West Frontier Province was raised to a full-fledged governor-ruled province in 1931 in accordance with the demand by the Round Table Conference held in 1931. It was agreed upon in the conference that the North-West Frontier Province would be raised to a governor-ruled province with its own Legislative Council. Sir Ralph Griffith was appointed the first Governor in 1932 (having succeeded Stuart Pearks as Chief Commissioner in 1931).
Therefore, on January 25, 1932, the Viceroy inaugurated the first North-West Frontier Province Legislative Council. The first provincial elections were held in 1937 and the independent candidate and noted British loyal civil servant Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum was elected as the province's first Chief Minister.
[edit] After independence

During the early 20th century the so-called Red Shirts led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan agitated through Non-violence for the rights of Pakhtun areas.
Following independence, the North-West Frontier Province voted to join Pakistan in a referendum in 1947. However, Afghanistan's loya jirga of 1949 declared the Durand Line invalid, which led to border tensions with Pakistan. Afghanistan's governments have periodically refused to recognize Pakistan's inheritance of British treaties regarding the region, leading to a counter-claim by Pakistan that the original treaties, if they must be discussed, can only be held with the original signer, the Kingdom of Afghanistan, which is now defunct - essentially denying modern Afghanistan the same sort of inheritance rights that it denies Pakistan.
During the 1950s, Afghanistan supported a secessionist movement called that failed to gain substantial support amongst the tribes of the North-West Frontier Province known as the Pashtunistan Movement. Afghanistan's refusal to recognize the Durrand Line, and its subsequent support for the Pashtunistan Movement has been cited as the main cause of tensions between the two countries that have existed since Pakistan's independence.
After President Ayub Khan eliminated Pakistan's provinces, President Yahya Khan, in 1969, abolished this "one unit" scheme and added Amb, Swat, Dir, Chitral and Kohistan to the new North-West Frontier Province as PATA.

[rakeshdhaka]

It is not only a Historical and also a beautiful area.
Nature has gifted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with rich cultural and tourism friendly environment. It has the potential of becoming a big tourist attraction in the world, due to its scenic beauty, geographical location, climate and natural resources.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is exceptionally rich in terms of multitudes of tourist attraction. The essence of this attraction is visible from the remarkable natural picturesque comprising beautiful rivers, splendid water falls, spell-bound lakes mostly in the mountainous region and green valleys in most parts of the province. Due to its geographical location, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa has had been a confluence of different civilizations which flourished and vanished with the passage of time.
The quasi contiguity of the province, with the Central Asian states and with xiangiang province of China attracted many migrants, businessmen, warriors and fortune seekers in different ages for settlement. The interaction among different races and their co-existence led to a rich cultural heritage. The glimpses of such heritage are evident from the Ghandhara archaeological sites at Gur Khattree Peshawar, Takh-Bahi (Mardan), Seri Behlol (Mardan), Shabaz Gari (Mardan) Nimo Gram Buddhist Stupa (Swat), and collection of Ghandhara art preserved at Swat Museum, Chakdara museum (Dir Lower) and Peshawar museum.
• The total area of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 100200 sq.km
• Northern Zone: A mountainous region full of natural picturesque having 5 small and big rivers.
• Mid Part: It comprises of Peshawar Valley, a seat of different civilizations.
• Southern Zone: Rugged dry hills and vast gravelly plains with patches of alluvial agri fields.
• North of province is exceptionally rich in picturesque and alluring landscape, exotic valleys and dense pine forest.
• The natural lakes and thick forests of the province are safe heaven for eco tourism.
• Ghandhara remains testify the rich cultural heritage of the province.

PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE PROVINCE

The province is broadly divided into three different zones with their peculiar physical stratum. The northern part of the province is adorned with beautiful valleys having 5 rivers running roughly north to south inter alia the Chitral, Dir, Swat, Indus and Kaghan. These valleys are on the northern edge of the monsoon belt, fairly green and partially wooded in their southern sections. The mid part had been the seat of the ancient civilizations particularly Peshawar remained the hub of activities for different civilizations including Buddhist Hindu Shahi, Sikh, Islamic and British culture all having their mark on the city. The southern part of the province is below the monsoon belt and consists of low, rocky mountain and wide, gravely plains. The important cities and areas of the province are described for the convenience of the reader.

[rakeshdhaka]

contd.....
HAZARA REGION
The region of Hazara is like a door to heaven, opening up to visitors a world replete with natural beauty. It was a favourite gateway from the plains into Kashmir during Mughal, Durrani and Sikh rules. It is a large area some 10,000 sq. km. The world famous Karakoram Highway starts from Havelian, a town in this region at a distance of 101 km from Islamabad. The mighty "Lion River" Indus or Abasin flows through the entire length of Hazara. It is strategically located between the Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and the rest of the North West Frontier Province. Hill stations collectively known as the Gallis and the Kaghan valley are the best known parts of Hazara. Pakistani and foreign tourists throng its cool and serene valleys during sizzling summer.

HARIPUR


Located at 81 km from Islamabad on Hasan Abdal-Abbottabad road, Haripur was founded in 1822 by Hari Singh, a general of Ranjit Singh's army. He was the Governor of Hazara in 1822-23. A fort built by the Sikhs called Harikishan Garh is at present being used as a police station. There is also a British cemetery.




ABBOTTABAD

Abbottabad is named after its founder James Abbot, Hazara's first British Deputy Commissioner. It is at a distance of 121 km from Islamabad via Hasan Abdal. It is 1220 meters above sea level and is situated at the crossroads of most of the areas of tourist interest in Pakistan like Nathiagali, Murree, Thandiani, Kaghan valley, Swat valley, Skardu, Gilgit and Khunjrab. Taxila, one of the most important archaeological treasures of the subcontinent is not very far from here. There are two hills towering above Abbottabad, Shimla Peak and Sarban Peak. There are very fine panoramic views of the town and its surroundings from Shimla Peak. The famous Pakistan Military Academy is on the hill to the north-east side of the town. Shimla Park located on a nearby hill with a pine forest is well worth a visit. Abbottabad has still a very British air with its European style bungalows, the club, the church and the cemetery.

[rakeshdhaka]

contd....
THANDIANI


Thandiani means "cold" in the local language. Therefore being a cool place it got the name of "Thandiani". It is 2700 meters above sea level on a small plateau surrounded by pine forests. This beautiful spot can easily be approached from Abbottabad, which is 24 km away. It is totally unspoiled and has the loveliest of views of all the hill stations of Pakistan. The scenery here is breathtaking and superb.


NATHIAGALI

Nathiagali clad in pine, walnut, oak and maple trees, is the prettiest hill resort in the Galiyat region. It can be approached both from Murree and Abbottabad. It is 34 km from Abbottabad as well as from Murree. Nathiagali is 2501 meters above sea level and is surrounded by lush green lofty mountains. The British tried to create a little England here with its small timbered churches, parks, bungalows and the Governor's House. Breathtaking landscapes, spring water and fresh air make it one of the most peaceful hill stations in Pakistan.


DUNGAGALI


This beautiful tourist resort is situated on the slopes of Mukshpuri Hills. The hills are wooded and present a beautiful view. Behind.Dungagali stands Mukshpuri, one of the highest peaks in the area (2800 m).





AYUBIA


A cluster of four small hill stations of Khanaspur, Khairagali, Changlagali and Ghora Dhaka is called Ayubia and was named after President Ayub Khan who belonged to Haripur district of Hazara. The complex is spread over an area of 26 km. The central place of Gora Dhaka(present Name is Ghora Dhaka) has a chairlift, which gives a panoramic and mesmerizing view of the surroundings.

[rakeshdhaka]

contd...
MANSEHRA

Mansehra is named after Man Singh, its Governor General under Ranjit Singh. This town is at a distance of 24 km to the north of Abbottabad. It has a very lively bazaar. The major tourist attraction of Mansehra are the three granite boulders on which edicts of Ashoka the Great have been inscribed. This great Mauryan king ruled this area in the 3rd century BC. After his conversion to Buddhism he tried to dictate a new morality based on piety, moderation, tolerance and respect for life.



KAGHAN VALLEY

Out of the numerous beautiful valleys of Hazara, Kaghan is the most attractive of all. A holiday retreat with alluring scenic beauty, the Kaghan valley is about 160 km long and between two to four thousand meters above sea level at various places. Towering peaks of Himalayan Range, glaciers, water falls and crystal clear water of the lakes are still in a pristine state and make the valley an unspoiled paradise. Kunhar river with plenty of trout fish flows through the valley and has the villages of Balakot, Kaghan, Naran on its banks. The nomads take their flocks of cattle to the high pastures of the Kaghan valley in spring and bring them down again in autumn. Their women are colourfully dressed.

BALAKOT

Balakot is the gateway to Kaghan valley. Balakot itself is 72 km from Abbottabad. This beautiful small town is located on the banks of Kunhar river. Journey from Abbottabad to Balakot is a charming experience. The road passes through beautiful green hills and thick forests. The views are spectacular especially between Attarshisha and Garhi Habibullah. A famous battle was fought here between the Sikh Army and Mujahideen in 1831. The Mujahideen leaders, Hazrat Syed Ahmed Shaheed and Hazrat Shah Ismail Shaheed lie buried here along with other martyrs.


SHOGRAN


Shogran, one of, the most beautiful plateaus in the whole area is situated at a distance of 33 km from Balakot via Kawai. From there a jeep track leads to this tranquil summer retreat of superb climate and spectacular views. The air is impregnated with the scent of flowers and the pine forest around. It is at an altitude of 2326 m and mighty peaks of Himalayan Ranges such as Musa ka Masalla (4419 m) and Malika Parbat (5290 m) are visible from here.

[rakeshdhaka]

NARAN

About 86 km from Balakot lies Naran, the main attraction of the Kaghan valley. This town is situated on the banks of Kunhar river at an altitude of 2498 m at a point where the valley widens. The river is wider and quieter here. There is a very good view downstream, with some tree-covered islands in the foreground. It is a starting point for lake Salful Muluk, Battakundi, Lalazar Plateau, lake Lulusar and Babusar Pass. Outstanding attraction of Naran is its air of peace and serenity.



LAKE SAIFUL MULUK

It is situated at a distance of 10 km from Naran at an altitude of 3500 m. It provides an excellent view of the 5290 m high Malika Parbat (Queen of the Mountains). The lake and its surroundings have a touch of unreal about them and are breathtakingly lovely. There is a charming legend about a prince called Saiful Muluk who fell in love with a fairy of the lake. The lake is named after the prince. The best way to reach the lake is to walk but you may also take a pony or a jeep.



BABUSAR PASS


Babusar Pass is at a distance of 80 km from Naran. It is on the way to the pass that the Kaghan valley's scenery becomes most dramatic. Battakundi is at a distance of 16 km from Naran and provides access to Lalazar Plateau, lake Dodiputsar and lake Lulusar which is the biggest natural lake in Hazara and the source of Kunhar river. From Babusar Top mighty Nanga Parbat (8126 m) can be seen on a clear day.




MALAKAND AND SWAT REGION

The Malakand division of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan covers one third of the total area of the Province. The region is further divided into Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, Shangla Districts and Malakand Agency. It's distinctive features make the area a "Tourist's Heaven".


MALAKAND

The area has a reich history, covering thousands of yers. Alexander the Great traveled through the region in 327 BC. The famous Gandhara Buddhist Civilization later flourished in the valleys of Swat and Dir, There are many stupas and Buddhist settlements in the region. The Famous Chinese travllers Huein Tsang and Fa Hien came here for learning and a great Buddhist missionary Padma Sambhava, belonging to Swat traveled to Tibet to spread Buddhism.
A forest around Malakand gives a very refreshing view. Malakand is a fertile valley surrounded by hills moderately cold in winter and pleasant in summer. An excellent road extends from the main Malakand Highway to Swat.

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NIMOGRAM BUDDHIST STUPAS


While travelling from Chakdara towards Saidu Sharif, one reaches Landakai. About 7 km from here, a road leads towards Nimogram, which is further 21 km away. A Buddhist monastery is situated here on the top of a hillock, giving an overall view of the area. There are three main stupas, surrounded by a number of small votive stupas. Dressed stones have been used in the construction and bear similarity to Andan Dheri monastery.

SHINGARDARA STUPA

About three kilometres from Barikot, one gets a glance of a magnificent Buddhist stupa on the right side. This stupa is perhaps the only one, whose dome is complete. The period of its construction is estimated between third and fourth centuries AD. Just about one and a half km away from this stupa, one can see large figures of Buddha carved on the rock.





MINGORA

Mingora has been an important trading centre for the last 2000 years. The bazaars are interesting to explore for semi precious stones, hand-woven and embroiled clothes, shawls, bedsheets, woodwork, tribal jewelry and antiques of different kinds. The hills having the world famous "Emerald Mines" are located to the north of the town.





SAIDU SHARIF



Saidu Sharif and Mingora are twin cities. Saidu Sharif has several government buildings, the Swat Museum, the Tomb of Akund of Swat and the archaeological remains of the Butkara Buddhist Stupa.




SWAT MUSEUM


This museum is situated between Mingora and Saidu Sharif. The archaeological finds belong to Gandhara Buddhist art of Swat. The samples of local embroidery, jewelry and carved wood objects are on display.

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MARGHZAR


Marghzar is a small town situated at the foot of Mount Ilam about 13 krn away from Saidu Sharlf. It is famous for its White Marble Palace, built by the Wali-e-Swat in early 1940's. The palace now serves as a hotel. While going towards Marghzar, a road turns to Islam Pur, which is famous for its woodwork, shawls and blankets.




MIANDAM


This is one of the upcoming hill resorts, about 56 km away from Saidu Sharif. The surrounding area.offers natural beauty, with forests, orchards, mountains and streams which can be enjoyed by hiking.





MADYAN

Madyan is a tourist resort on the banks of Swat river. It is 1312 m above sea level. The town is famous for handicraft, embroidery and antique shops. A trout hatchery is also located here. Many beautiful side valleys can be approached from here. The distance of Madyan is 56 km from Saidu Sharif.
BAHRAIN

The town of Bahrain is situated 66 km from Saidu Sharif and is 10km from Madyan. It is another popular riverside resort, with bazaars worth exploring for their handicrafts. The surrounding area has beautiful valleys and is suitable for hiking. The mosques and buildings are worth seeing for wooden carved pillars and other fixtures.

KALAM


Kalam is the main town of Swat Kohistan. It is about 40 km north of Bahrain. Kalam is inhabited by Kohistanis having their own language and customs. Beautiful valleys of Ushu (2286 m), Utrot (2225 m) and Gabral (2550 m) are accessible from here through thick pine forests. The 6257 m high snow capped Falaksair Peak is clearly visible from Matiltan (3000 m). Lake Mahodand is about 23 km beyond Matiltan valley. The rivers offer good chances for trout fishing.

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CHAKDARA MUSEUM



The Chakdara Museum is situated about one km from the fort. It has an excellent collection of Buddhist Gandhara Art, from first to seventh century AD. It helps people to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the area.




CHURCHILL PICKET


Close to the Chakdara Fort, a picket crowns the hillock towards the west. This is known as the Churchill Picket because Winston Churchill came here during the Pathan Revolt of 1879. This place was used by him for sending reports. He was then a war correspondent.




KALASH VALLEYS


The world famous Kalash People live in the three valleys of Birir, Bumburet and Rambur. The Kalash are an ancient tribe and have a religion and a culture of their own. They have many festivals around the year during which the men and women perform colourful dances. The major festivals are Chilamjusht, Phool and Chawas.




CHITRAL

Chitral is the "Jewel of the Hindukush" guarded by the majestic Trichmir Peak. The famous town of Chitral is situated about 322 km from Peshawar. It is also connected to Peshawar by air. The whole area is mountainous, having green valleys and the towering Trichmir Peak (7700 meters) of the Hindukush. The Chitral Fort is one of the famous monuments of the town. There is also a palace inside the fort and a beautiful mosque outside the fort. All the foreign visitors to Chitral must register with the police on their arrival. Chitral is about 322KM (10 hours jeepable journey) from Peshawar. Daily two flights are available from Peshawar to Chitral.

KALASH FESTIVALS

Joshi or Chilimjusht (14th and 15th May) This festival is held in spring, when girls pick first flowers of the year. The days are marked by dancing, visiting each other and exchanging flowers, milk and milk products.
Utchal Mid July) It is celebrated to mark the harvest of wheat and barley. The celebration lasts for two days, which includes dancing, singing, and feasting.

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PESHAWAR:

It is the capital of the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa is a frontier town and quite different from any other city in Pakistan. It has a modern university, first-class hotels, international banks and one of the best Museums in Pakistan. The Bala Hisar Fort overlooks the mass of narrow streets in the old town and the elegant Mughal Mosque. One the other side of the railway is the cantonment, its wide treelined streets bordered by gracious administrative buildings and spacious bungalows in large gardens.


MAHABAT KHAN MOSQUE:


The beautifully proportioned Mahabat Khan Mosque is at the top of the hill on the fight; a narrow gateway between the jewellary shops leads onto its large courtyard. Built in the 1670s, the Mughal mosque is orthodox in design, with an ablution pond in the middle of the open courtyard.





GOR KHATRI:


The Gor Kharti is a large Mughal caravanserai at the top end of Sethi Street. The caravan serai was built on a spot that has been a holy place for nearly 2,000 years. In the 2nd century AD(Made by Dhata king in very ancient era) it was a Buddhism declined it became a Hindu shrine.




PESHAWAR MUSEUM:


The Peshawar Museum has one of the best collections of Gandhara Art in Pakistan, all well arranged and labelled. Sculptures illustrating the life of Buddha are laid out in chronological order. The fasting Buddha here is even more haunting than the one in Lahore Museum. There is also an ethnological section, the Hall of Tribes, With wooden carvings form the Kalash people in Chitral and a Muslim Gallery.



JAMRUD FORT:


Jamrud Fort, made of rough stonework and faced with mud plaster, was built by the Sikhs in 1823 on the site of an older fort.

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SPHOLA STUPA:


Sphola stupa, of the second to fifth centuries, stands on the right of the road above the railway at the village of Zarai, 25 km from Jamrud. The stupa has a high hemispherical dome resting on a three-tiered square base. Beautiful Gandharan sculptures were found here when the site was excavated at the beginning of this century some of which are now in the Peshawar Museum.



KHYBER STEAM SAFRI :


The Khyber Railway from Peshawar to Landi Kotal is, for rail enthusiasts, a three-star attraction. It has 34 tunnels, which add up to five km of darkness, as there are no lights on the train, and crosses 92 bridges and culverts.





Mardan:

Mardan, 60 km north-east of Peshawar is famous as the birth place of the Guides the Queen's Own Guide Corpos, an elite British regiment of North-West Frontier soldier-spies founded in the 1840s. The town itself has little to offer but it acts as a base point for seeing a concentration of Buddhist and other ancient sites of Gandhara civilization.




TAKHT-I-BHAI:

By far the best and most complete of all Gandhara ruins are those of the 7th century AD. Bushiest monastery, spectacularly placed on a rocky hill 15 km north-west of Mardan. It was excavated (and stripped of statuary and friezes) from 1907 to 1913, and later reconstructed. From the top of the hill behind the monastery on e can see down across the plains as far as Peshawar on one side, and up to the Malakand Pass and the hills of the Swat on the other Surrounding the monastery on the ridge above it to the south, and on the spurs to the east and west, are the ruins of private houses, some of which are three storey high. Federal Archeology department is the administrative authority for the operation & maintenance of the old relics. It is also on UNESCO list and is a National Heritage.

SHAHBAZ GARHI AND THE ASHOKAN INSCRIPTIONS:

Shahbaz Garhi is located 13 km east of Mardan on the road to Swabi. Sown a dirt track to the right, a few meters, are the famous Ashokan inscriptions, carved in two rocks on a hill about 300 meters to the left. The Ashokan inscriptions date from the 3rd century BC and are the oldest surviving writings of any historical significance in the Subcontinent.
At Shahbaz Garhi 12 edicts are carved on the rock, two on another, Shahbaz Garhi is important to Buddhists because f its association with prince Sudana, or Buddha in one of his previous incarnations, Sudana means of noble charity; the area is still popularly know as the Sudana Plan(another Sudana Jat village is situated in punjab near delhi on the name of prince Sudana).