Peshawar: Always a Delight

 Peshawar a city that is always a delight to visit . It is the capital of the Province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, located in the north-west of Pakistan. A city rich in culture and history is mainly remembered due to the “Khyber pass” and Bala hisar fort . ‘City of flowers’ with no flowers in it , the city only had ‘blood ,sweat and tears in the last few decades  but times have now changed. Initially the perception about KPK and mainly Peshawar is quite far from what is depicted or portrayed in the media.. Once you cross the checkpoints, you enter a cantonment, and the beauty of a Cantt area is that it is the same everywhere, so that is one part of all Pakistani cities I have already seen.

The best part of traveling is that you get to meet new people and you get to taste new food . People and food are the two things that you would definitely fall in love with while visiting Peshawar. Just this 3hrs drive from Rawalpindi, the drive to Peshawar is quite scenic and pleasing, and within no time you reach the city. Your arrival in the city is welcomed by the Fort Bala Hisar. The Fort is closed off to civilians, and along with all the important buildings that follow, was very heavily guarded. So there’s this famous “KarKhanoo market” near haytabad. Hayatabad is basically the F-6 of Peshawar ,A posh area with big and beautiful house. The market is a few min drive from their and is  located right on the border of KPK and FATA. As the Afghan border is quit near so one used to find quite good quality stuff in the market. The market is quite diverse and to your luck you can find a ps4 or an original 511 backpack from gun cleaning kits to brand new lcds , from rifle scopes to star bucks coffee, you just need to explore and try to blend in the culture .Shalwar Kameez is a must if you want to visit Peshawar and the bargaining is crazy , you can get Randolph shades in just 400rs . So as usual me and a couple of friends decided to visit the city it was not only the market that we were interested in  it’s the foods as well , The perfectly cooked chapli kebabs and roasted meat is always worth the trip. Pro tip always keep a pushto speaking friend as it helps a lot with language .

The prestigious Islamia College, founded in 1913, is well worth a look for its grand Victorian stye and clock tower. The green surroundings and contemplative atmosphere make it a real treat for the eyes. Inside the college premises is a white masjid; beautiful and peaceful beyond words. The grand architecture demands attentive viewing. And yes this is the same isamic university that is printed on the back of 1000rs note.

Nowhere else in the world is there a collection of Gandharan art more extensive than that of the Peshawar Museum. Based in the mid city the museum is an haven for archeologist and people of might have slight interest in history .

Namak Mandi is bright and luminous, with bulbs hanging over every shop. Inside the open restaurants, you’ll see waiters with a cloth on their shoulders, delicately holding the plates of salad, naan and cooked meat, and memorizing long lists of customers’ orders. Not long ago, some of the restaurants had charpoys set outside, with tables between them. Customers would get cozy in the charpoys, rest their backs against a support, and enjoy their freshly served meal. With the passage of time, the charpoys have been replaced with plastic and wooden chairs, but fortunately the authentic taste of the food remains intact. Most restaurants have a vast menu that includes,chapli kebab, kabuli pula, dum pukht and a variety of meat-heavy dishes, but the two main items that have earned Namak Mandi its repute are tikkay and mutton karahi . Displayed on the outside are hanging, skinned whole lambs, goats, . These skinned animals are cut into smaller pieces on the spot, before being tossed into a karahi or put on a skewer. The karhai is customarily followed by steaming cups of green tea with either honey or lemongrass.