Charsadda (Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa)

 

Charsadda is situated at a distance of 32 km from Peshawar at an altitude of 906 feet and is accessible by Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway M1 and then following the Noshera-Charsadda Road. It is located on the left bank of the Kabul River as well as the Swat River in the middle of the district.

Charsadda has boundaries with Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, and Mohmand districts. Charsadda is a fertile area for different types of crops due to flow of several streams and three rivers, the Swat River, the Jindi River, and the Kabul River. The Swat River and the Jindi River merge into the Kabul River, which then merges into the Indus River near Attock city.

Charsadda is a historical city and was part of the Gandhara dynasty in 516 BC. It was also the Capital of Gandhara dynasty. There are several archaeological sites related to the ancient Gandhara Civilization and development of the Sanskrit in Charsadda. Bala Hisar, Shar-e-Napursan, Bactrian Greeks, and Palatu Dheri are the important remains of Gandhara Civilization in the city. Charsadda was originally known as Pushkalavati as mentioned in the story of the Ramayana. Ashoka, a king in the Gandhara dynasty, built one of this stupas in Charsadda.

Bibi Syeda Dheri is situated half a mile from the Umarzai village. It was the site of the stupa to commemorate the conversion by Buddha of goddess Hariti. She used to devour children of the town. But the area is called due to a shire of Bibi Syeda.

Shar-i-Napursan is an archaeological site near Rajjar village and there are remains of the settlements of the Buddhist period and two of the Muslim periods. Coins of various dynasties are also found here.

Palatu Dheri is located a mile from Shar-i-Napursan. There are the remains of stupa on the mound built by Deven. The image of Kalika Devi, coins of first century, and inscribed jars are found from here and now those are in the Peshawar Museum.

Shabqadar fort is made of stone and mud by Sikh Tota Ram in 1837 near Shabqadar town that lies 28 km in north from Peshawar. At present, fort is in the control of Frontier Constabulary. Sahbqadar Bazaar is a traditional style shopping center in the town, where you can purchase anything.

There are several scenic and beautiful visiting spots such as Shrine of Yousaf Baba, Munda Headworks, Munda Dam, etc. Munda Headworks is constructed on the Swat River to generate canal for irrigation purpose in various areas of Charsadda.

The main sources of irrigation in Charsadda, are the Swat River, the Kabul River, and the Jindi River. Most of the people in Charsadda are belonging to agriculture to grow various cash crops.

The weather of Charsadda district is extreme hot in the summer season, whereas it becomes moderate in winter season. It also receives considerable amount of rainfalls in the monsoon period.