Photos of Nowshera.
Nowshera (known locally as Nowkhaar or Nowshaar) is a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The city of Nowshera is the capital of Nowshera district. Nowshera city is located 27 miles east of Peshawar. The district was part of the Peshawar Division until the administrative reforms of 2000 by the Government of Pakistan. The district is administratively divided into two tehsils (subdivisions); Nowshera and Pabbi. The famous Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) runs through the district. Nowshera cantonment is located on the bank of Kabul River. The Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road) passes right through the cantonment. The city still has post Aglo- Sikh wars barracks built in 1852-60. However, lately the old trees which bordered the GT Road in the Cantt area have been felled to widen the road and old British Raj time bungalows have been pulled down and replaced by much smaller Bhawani and Economy type class bungalows. Akora Khattak, Nowshera is the birthplace of the Pashtun warrior and poet Khushal Khan Khattak. Brirf History: The district was a part of Afghanistan as Nowkhaar Province till it was annexed into British India via the Durand Line Agreement. During British rule, Nowshera was a town and cantonment as well as tehsil of the Peshawar District (later Peshawar Division).
Railway Bridgeon Kabul River near Nowshera on Nowshera-Mardan Section. This bridge is on on Nowshera-Mardan Section of railway line.
Taj Building at GT Road, Nowshera.
Taj Building was constructed in 1920s by Khan Bahadur Taj Mohammad Khan of Badrashi village, Nowshera. He was a famous colonial-era contractor and landlord.
Boat Bridge over Kabul River, Nowshera, 1970. This bridge is no more there, it was washed away in floods.
Another Photo of Boat Bridge over Kabul River near Nowshera, 1960s
Entrance Gate of Bagh-e-Jinnah, Nowshera Cantonment. Photo by stoman niazi.
Armoured Officers Mess, Nowshera Cantonment. Photo by shunny12.
Mazar (tomb) of Khushal Khan Khattak, Akora Khattak, Nowshera. It is located near the Railway Station of Akora Khattak in the Nowshera district.
Khushal Khan Khattak Memorial Library, Akhora Khattak, Nowshera. Photo by by stoman niazi.
A Trolley crossing Kabul River near Akhora Khattak, Nowshera
Pakistan Air Force Academy Risalpur, District Nowshera
Locomotive Factory Risalpur, Nowshera District
A Barrack of 9 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Nowshera, 1946
Rare Photos of Nowshera: Old photo of Officers Club Nowshera
Photos of Nowshera: Khartoum Barracks in Nowshera Cantonment, 1920s - 30s. These barracks still exist in Khartoum Lines.
Rare Photos of Nowshera: Old photo of Cherat Hills, Nowshera, 1910s
Old Photos of Nowshera: Rare Photo of Military Hospital Nowshera, 1888. It was the largest and last major hospital during the 2nd Afghan War (1878-80).
Rare Photos of Nowshera: British Infantry Lines, Nowshera - 1872. Photo by Major Hilbert, Peshawar Elephant Gun Battery.
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Large Visitor Globe
My grandfather Lieut Col Doctor Robert Herrick worked at Nowshera Military Hospital before retiring (from the IMS) in 1937. He then worked at a hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, for a further 7 or 8 years. I don’t know as much about him as I would like, but there is a photo of him in the trenches in World War 1 when he was 2nd Lieut. (and later won the DSO); but I believe he was fighting the Turks at the time (before Allenbys push into the Holy Land). I have a lovely photo of his retirement in 1937- which I will post later- his (very smart) colleagues seem to be mainly Sikhs. He was born in West Cork in Ireland from an old Anglo-Irish family.
Hi James, I m really very happy to know that your grandfather was here in Nowshera. Have you any pics of your grandfather when he was in Nowshera? Plz if you have, then send it to me on my email: mrnowshera@gmail.com & my Whatsapp +923320979756.
I will be very thankful to you.
I want the source of the pic of the Regimental Institute at Nowshera to get permission to publish it in my book on the History of the Pakistan Armoured Corps. Do you know where it was obtained from? Thanks.
Sir,
I picked this photo from the Internet. No idea about the source.
Very interesting article.
Very knowledgeble Post.
First many thanks to the Editor for creating a post on Nowshera. Now for me to stumble upon a blog on my native town and walking away without recording a note of my memories and appreciation would be disrespectful.
Oh! My dear Nowshera. How much I miss you!
The town of Nowshera is divided in to two localities naturally delineated by River Kabul running between them. The area North of the river is referred to as Par Nowshera or Nowshera Kalan while the area South as Nowshera Cantt (Cantonment). It’s the Nowshera Cantt where I lived during my childhood years: my memories thence relate in context to those early years of my life – the mid 1950s to 1960s.
Nowshera then wasn’t host to many recreation spots or places of historical significance but the few that it had have adequately been covered by the photographs in this blog. The Cantt area was laid out well architecturally with all its streets and lanes drawn geometrically at right angles. The one iconic building that stood out was the Taj Building (as shown in one of the photos): it housed two cinemas, one gas station, two photographer shops and the Post Office. With many road-side-hotels on the opposite side of the building (across the GT Road) blaring songs on the gramophones at high volumes and bright lights, this area provided for the open space for stroll till late evening hours.
Back in the 1950s its shopping centre consisted of the main bazaar which though small was large enough to accommodate the needs of the Army and Air force troops stationed in Nowshera and Risalpur. In addition it also served as the shopping hub for the small suburban communities of Amangarh, Pir Sabaq, Hakimabad, Badrashi, Manki Sharif and Ziarat Kaka Sahib.
When it comes to landscape, I am not aware of another city of this size offering such an expansive mix of landscape – a river, undulating land, ample greenery yet pockets of desert and even some mountainous area as one traveled further south towards Ziarat Kaka Sahib. Come to think of it as a package deal offering an extraordinary mix of landscape within four square miles.
The Cantt area was populated by simple, affable and hospitable people. Though the population of the Cantt area residents was dominated by the non-Pashto-speaking, the influence of Pathan culture prevailed. Indeed one had no difficulty communicating in Urdu or Punjabi but Pashto provided for better discretion and recognition. So it wasn’t long before I and my siblings easily settled down acquiring another language skill – the Pashto.
The schooling then was only limited to the Government provided primary, middle and high schools. The two high schools were located very picturesquely on the banks of River Kabul. Later in the 1960s the Army Public School was commissioned providing for better education. Some of the residents also sent their children to Risalpur Convent School but it not only involved more expense but also arranging for a daily commute. I was put through the local schools first but my father soon admitted me to a more attractive option of the Cadet College at Hasan Abdal.
It may be relevant to mention here that I wasn’t born in Nowshera nor were my parents. How and why we landed there? The answer is simple serendipity. As a military contractor my father had businesses at the PAF Academy Risalpur and OTS Kohat, and it suited him administratively to manage both by locating himself in this small town. So the family lived there for as long as it was necessary but didn’t hesitate moving on as the children grew and prospected for better opportunities else where. Ironically over time the entire family has left the town losing that association as is customary with one’s home town. Yet there is one eternal bond that still ties our family to that small town: it’s the bond of lineage. My parents are buried in Nowshera (may Allah bless their souls): hence for so long as I live I’ll continue to visit my native town whenever I can.
AOA sir, i am compiling data on history of flag staff house nowshera, if u can give an insight my whats app no is 03339647060
Shah sahib! I appreciate your interest in researching more on that house in Nowshera: regrettably though, I have neither any photos nor memories of that house. All I remember is that it was one of the well-maintained buildings.
Sorry, I couldn’t be of much help. My best wishes though in your endeavors.