Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is Pakistan's northwestern province, a mountainous region bordering Afghanistan that holds Peshawar, one of South Asia's oldest living cities, the Gandhara Buddhist ruins of Takht-i-Bahi, and the Himalayan, Karakoram and Hindu Kush valleys of Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Dir. Travel conditions vary sharply by district, and official advisories advise against all or most travel to much of the province.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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1
Peshawar Museum
Home to one of the world's largest collections of Gandhara Buddhist sculpture, including Kushan-era reliefs, schist friezes from Sahri-Bahlol and Takht-i-Bahi and a fasting Buddha, plus ethnological galleries on Kalash and Pashtun culture.
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2
Bala Hisar Fort
A hilltop fort whose site was fortified from Kushan times; the present brick walls date largely to the Durrani and Sikh periods (Hari Singh Nalwa, 1830s). It is an active military site, so exterior views from the road may be all that visitors can see.
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3
Qissa Khwani Bazaar
The Storytellers' Bazaar, a historic caravan halt lined with kahwa (green tea) houses, dried-fruit sellers and copper-ware shops; the 1930 Qissa Khwani massacre is commemorated here.
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4
Mahabat Khan Mosque
A Mughal-era mosque built around 1630 by the governor Mahabat Khan, with frescoed arches, a courtyard pool and slender minarets; the most prominent Mughal monument inside Peshawar's walled city.
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5
Sethi Mohalla
A lane of 19th-century merchant mansions of the Sethi family with carved wooden balconies, frescoed interiors and jharokha windows built from Central Asian trade fortunes.
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6
Gor Khuttree Archaeological Complex
A walled complex on a Kushan-era mound once crowned by a Buddhist stupa and later a Mughal caravanserai; it now houses a small museum, a Hindu temple and a historic fire station.
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7
Islamia College Peshawar
An early-1900s Indo-Saracenic campus with arched cloisters and a landmark tower; Muhammad Ali Jinnah bequeathed part of his estate to the college.
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8
Jamrud Fort and Khyber Gate
A fort built by the Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa in 1836; the nearby Bab-e-Khyber (Khyber Gate) marks the start of the Khyber Pass road to the Afghan border at Torkham.
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9
Khyber Pass and Shagai Fort
A corridor of about 50 km connecting Peshawar with Afghanistan, studded with colonial-era forts such as Shagai Fort, regimental plaques and railway tunnels. Access beyond Jamrud may require permission; check current security status first.
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10
Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist Monastery
A UNESCO World Heritage monastery complex founded in the 1st century CE on a rocky hilltop; its stupa court, monastic cells, assembly halls and tank are among the best-preserved Gandhara Buddhist ruins. The UK FCDO advises against all-but-essential travel to Mardan; check current advisories.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Museum
Peshawar Museum
Home to one of the world's largest collections of Gandhara Buddhist sculpture, including Kushan-era reliefs, schist friezes from Sahri-Bahlol and Takht-i-Bahi and a fasting Buddha, plus ethnological galleries on Kalash and Pashtun culture
Swat Museum
A museum with Gandhara sculpture from Butkara and other Swat sites, Hindu Shahi artefacts and ethnographic displays on Swat culture
Fort
Bala Hisar Fort
A hilltop fort whose site was fortified from Kushan times; the present brick walls date largely to the Durrani and Sikh periods (Hari Singh Nalwa, 1830s)
Jamrud Fort and Khyber Gate
A fort built by the Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa in 1836; the nearby Bab-e-Khyber (Khyber Gate) marks the start of the Khyber Pass road to the Afghan border at Torkham
Chakdara Fort
A British frontier fort overlooking the Swat River whose garrison withstood the 1897 Malakand siege; the Dir Museum is nearby
Chitral Fort
A 17th-century fort of the Katur dynasty on the Chitral River; its 1895 siege is well known
Kohat Fort
A British-era fort built on older fortifications, now an army installation; the surrounding bazaar sells pottery and Kohati chappals
Market
Qissa Khwani Bazaar
The Storytellers' Bazaar, a historic caravan halt lined with kahwa (green tea) houses, dried-fruit sellers and copper-ware shops; the 1930 Qissa Khwani massacre is commemorated here
Religious-Site
Mahabat Khan Mosque
A Mughal-era mosque built around 1630 by the governor Mahabat Khan, with frescoed arches, a courtyard pool and slender minarets; the most prominent Mughal monument inside Peshawar's walled city
Shahi Mosque Chitral
A Mughal-style mosque built in the 1920s by Mehtar Shuja ul-Mulk with a white facade and gardens, one of Chitral's best-known landmarks
Historic-District
Sethi Mohalla
A lane of 19th-century merchant mansions of the Sethi family with carved wooden balconies, frescoed interiors and jharokha windows built from Central Asian trade fortunes
Archaeological-Site
Gor Khuttree Archaeological Complex
A walled complex on a Kushan-era mound once crowned by a Buddhist stupa and later a Mughal caravanserai; it now houses a small museum, a Hindu temple and a historic fire station
Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist Monastery
A UNESCO World Heritage monastery complex founded in the 1st century CE on a rocky hilltop; its stupa court, monastic cells, assembly halls and tank are among the best-preserved Gandhara Buddhist ruins
Shahbaz Garhi Ashokan Edicts
Fourteen rock edicts of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka carved around 260 BCE in Kharoshthi script on a large rock face, among the oldest deciphered inscriptions in the subcontinent
Butkara Stupa
A Buddhist stupa traditionally attributed to Ashoka and enlarged several times; the surrounding sacred area was a major Gandhara monastic centre in the Swat valley
Landmark
Islamia College Peshawar
An early-1900s Indo-Saracenic campus with arched cloisters and a landmark tower; Muhammad Ali Jinnah bequeathed part of his estate to the college
Tarbela Dam
One of the world's largest earth-filled dams, about 143 m high; the reservoir fills the Indus gorge and is a major water and power source for Pakistan
Scenic-Route
Khyber Pass and Shagai Fort
A corridor of about 50 km connecting Peshawar with Afghanistan, studded with colonial-era forts such as Shagai Fort, regimental plaques and railway tunnels
Mountain-Resort
Malam Jabba
A hill resort at about 2,600 m with a ski slope, a chairlift and views over Swat
Valley
Kalam Valley
A pine-and-river hill station at about 2,000 m on the upper Swat River, a base for walks to Ushu Forest and Mahodand Lake
Naran and Kaghan Valley
The main resort town of the Kaghan Valley at about 2,400 m, a base for Lake Saif-ul-Malook, Lalazar plateau and the Babusar Pass road
Kumrat Valley
A forested valley on the Panjkora River with Jahaz Banda meadows and pine-lined camping spots, popular with domestic travellers
Lake
Mahodand Lake
A glacial lake at about 2,800 m in the Gabral-Usho valleys reached by a rough jeep track, popular for camping and trout fishing
Lake Saif-ul-Malook
A glacier-fed alpine lake at about 3,200 m beneath Malika Parbat, known for local folktales and reflections of snow peaks
Hill-Station
Nathia Gali and Ayubia
A colonial-era hill resort of pine forest, wooden churches, walking trails and the Ayubia National Park chairlifts; summer weekends are crowded
Thandiani
A quiet pine-clad hill resort at about 2,700 m with views toward Kashmir on clear days
Shogran and Siri Paye
A Kaghan Valley hill resort with a jeep road to the Siri and Paye meadows beneath Makra Peak
Mountain-Pass
Babusar Top and Lulusar Lake
A high mountain pass at about 4,170 m linking Kaghan with Gilgit-Baltistan, passing Lulusar Lake
Cultural-Site
Bumburet Valley (Kalash)
Home of the Kalasha people, a small Indo-Aryan community with a polytheistic faith; the valley holds wooden houses, the Kalash Museum and festivals such as Chilimjusht, Uchau and Chawmos
Rumbur and Birir Valleys
The quieter, more traditional Kalash valleys, with stone and cedar villages, terraced fields and festival grounds
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Mosques and shrines are closed to sightseers during prayer times; museums usually close or shorten hours on Friday; hill roads are best travelled 8AM-4PM
- Fees
- Most sites are free or PKR 200-600 (~$0.72-$2.17) for foreign nationals; Kalash valley tickets and jeep hire are the main extra costs
- Best Times
- April-June and September-October for the hills; November-March for Peshawar and the plains; Kalash festivals in May and December
- Booking
- Hotels in Naran, Kalam and Chitral fill on summer weekends and around Eid; book 2-4 weeks ahead and confirm by phone
- Safety
- The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Swat and along the N45 to Chitral City including the Kalash valleys, and against all-but-essential travel to Malakand, Shangla, Swabi, Mardan and Nowshera; US and UK advisories flag most of KP including Peshawar. Check advisories and register with the KP Tourism Authority before travel.
- Currency
- Pakistani Rupee (PKR); this guide uses 1 USD = 277 PKR
- Dress Code
- Modest dress is expected; women should carry a dupatta or scarf
- Language
- Pashto, Urdu, Hindko, Khowar and Kohistani; English is limited outside hotels
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Check the latest UK FCDO, US State Department and KP Tourism Authority advisories before every trip; the situation changes by district and season.
A formal No Objection Certificate is generally no longer required except in high-security areas; the KP Tourism Authority offers online registration, so register before travel.
Many mountain roads (Naran, Babusar, Kalam, Chitral) close by landslides or snow; allow a spare day and confirm road status the night before.
Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered, loose clothing; scarf for women at religious sites) and remove shoes at mosques and shrines.
Carry cash in PKR; ATMs and card acceptance are limited outside Peshawar, Abbottabad and Mingora.
Carry photocopies of the passport and visa; checkpoints are common on roads to Swat and Chitral.
Photograph people, especially women, only with permission; the Kalash valleys have photography and festival rules.
Start day trips early; many roads are closed to tourist traffic after dark for security reasons.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Risk is high and varies by district. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Swat and along the N45 to Chitral City, and against all-but-essential travel to Malakand, Shangla, Swabi, Mardan and Nowshera. US and UK advisories flag most of the province including Peshawar. Check current advisories, register with the KP Tourism Authority and consider an experienced local operator.
Do foreigners need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
A formal NOC is generally no longer required except in high-security areas, but rules change. The KP Tourism Authority offers online registration, and checkpoints may ask for passport copies and the visa. Verify before departure.
When is the best time to visit the Kaghan Valley and Galiyat?
June to September for Naran and Kaghan, April to June and September-October for Galiyat. The Babusar Pass typically opens from late June.
What is the best way to see Peshawar's old city?
On foot with a local guide from Qissa Khwani Bazaar through Sethi Mohalla and Mahabat Khan Mosque, in the morning. Dress modestly and expect checkpoints.
How do I reach the Kalash valleys?
By 4WD jeep from Chitral City (about 2 hours). Chitral is reached by road via the Lowari Tunnel or by flight from Islamabad (weather dependent), subject to the FCDO advice above.
How much time do I need for the main attractions?
Allow 2-3 days for Peshawar and Takht-i-Bahi, 3-4 days for Galiyat and Kaghan, and 4-5 days for Swat and Chitral, subject to advisories.