PESHAWAR
\nBeig a gateway to subcontinent, Peshawar has allways remained a strategic city where kings and invaders of various dynasty constructed historic buildings for their families\u2019 residences to prolong their rule.
\nBesides Balahisar fort, historic buildings including Sethi House and Khan Klubs were constructed at the heart of Peshawar City where kings, commanders and monarchs stayed before marching to subcontinent.
\nConstructed by Mughal rulers in 1800 on Ashraf Road at Peshawar City, Khan Klub was also main centre of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists due to its boutique style and sooth environment.
\nHowever, Khan Klub has started losing its eye-catching ancient architecture and woodwork after it was converted into floor godwons and general stores for monetary gains in recent past.
\nLocated at Hastnagri bazaar near Balahisar fort and Chowk Yadgar, Khan Klub\u2019s four storey building built on five marla land was presently in shamble condition with no facilities for tourist and art lovers for which it was once famous far and required immediate reconstruction and conservation work before it falls.
\nWhile passing on Ashraf road near Rampura gate, a visitor would be extremely disappointed after seeing the deteriorating boutique style primitive building with dust of floor, fodder and materials of daily use commodities.
\n\u201cKhan Klub is neither a hotel nor a guesthouse or Havalli, but it is a home of centuries old civilization reflecting Mughal era architecture and traditional craftsmanship and its conservation was need of the hour being an identity of Peshawar,\u2019 said Bakhtzada Khan, senior research officer KP archeology and museum department while talking to APP.
\n\u201cKhan Klub was the most preferred choice of foreign tourists and dignitaries for stay at Peshawar due to its peaceful environment, architectural significance and close proximity with historical buildings including Balahisar fort, Mohabat Khan mosque and Qissa Khwani bazaar,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cBefore 2,001, booking of a room was a herculean task for foreign tourists, ambassadors and missions, who stayed here due to its pleasant atmosphere, mouthwatering cuisines, cultural music and closed location with other historical buildings including Qisa Khwani bazaar, Ghanta Ghar, Mohabat Khan Mosque, Chowk Yadgar, Ghanta Ghar and Sethi House,\u201d he said, adding in its main halls were flooded with tourists where they enjoyed the traditional Peshawari music including \u2018Rubab with Tabla.
\nTourists explored the historical Chowk Yadgar monument constructed in 1892 after it was dedicated to General Hastings and were highly impressed by the historical Mahabat Khan mosque\u2019s architecture built in 17th century by the Mughal Governor Mohabat Khan.
\nPeshawar Museum, which is the lone museum of Ghandhara Art with complete life story of Lord Bhudda housing around 30,000 artifacts and statues had drawn Ghandara art lovers and enjoyed the traditional Peshawari Qehwa at historical Qissa Khwani bazaar in the company of the international storey tellers.
\nBesides cultural programs, he said the tourists enjoyed local traditional music and taste of varieties of foods including the mouthwatering Peshawari Palao, Qahwah (Green Tea), lemon grass tea with an aroma of jasmine , Bengal tea, Kerala coffee and darjeeling spring bud at Qissa Khwani and returned back to Khan Klub for night stay.
\nBakht Zada said Khan Klub had been formally converted into a full fledged hotel by a local influential Inayatullah Khan with support of an Irish American Martin Jay Davis in 1995 and has soon become the most ideal choice of foreign and domestic tourists.
\nThe owners said they were ready to reserve its two upper storey for tourists if the provincial government provides financial support for its repair and renovation. The architecture and artwork of the historical building were badly affected by earthquakes, torrential rains and changing weather patterns and at least five million would be required for its complete renovation and conservation works. Its sophisticated artwork on exterior and interior designs besides its beautifully designed balconies required immediate renovations before it collapsed.
\nIts eight rooms with different colorful names were totally different from one another.
\nBy visiting its \u201cGarnet Room\u201d a visitor enjoyed the panoramic view of the old city of Peshawar and mountain ranges of Koh-e- Shalman. The room is decorated with garnet inlaid floor and saffron colored silk.
\n\u201cPeridot\u201d is another room with a 12-feet ceiling, a balcony and shuttered windows from where a fine view of the walled city could still be seen.
\nThere was a Mughal era restaurant, where the guests sat on takiyas (pillows) and enjoyed KP\u2019s traditional live musical shows in the form of Rubab and Tabla besides popular cultural dances, also needing the attention of concerned authorities for conservation and repair works.
\nBakhtzada said that 1868 ancient houses, monuments and religious places in KP including Khan Klub have been included in the protected list and its architecture would be kept preserved.
\nKP government has completed a cultural heritage trail project under which 500 meters long trail from ancient Ghanta Ghar to Gor Gathri has been renovated including centuries-old buildings, houses and shops besides establishment of a food street at Namak Mandai Peshawar.
\n\u201cThe trail started at the historical Ghanta Ghar and passed through ancient Bazaar-e-Kalaan and primordial Mohallah Sethian with a number of beautifully architectural houses constructed by wealthy Sethi family way back in 1880s.\u201d
\nSethi house with a unique woodwork has been purchased by the government keeping in view of its historical significance and was opened for tourists after establishment of a museum in it. The renovation of Ali Mardan Khan Valley built during the British era at cantonment was also completed besides ancient inns of Mughal period at Gor Kathri at Peshawar.
\nUnder the heritage project, the facade or outer appearances of 85 heritage buildings of Mughal, British and Sikh period with a cultural and historical touch was renovated.
\nThe experts requested the KP cultural and tourism authority and Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation to come forward and financially support owners of such buildings to conserve Khan Klub like architectural wonders of Pakistan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Beig a gateway to subcontinent, Peshawar has allways remained a strategic city where kings and invaders of various dynasty constructed historic buildings for their families\u2019 residences to prolong their rule. Besides Balahisar fort, historic buildings including Sethi House and Khan Klubs were constructed at the heart of Peshawar City where kings, commanders and monarchs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-400176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-peshawar"],"yoast_head":"\n