Charsadda
Charsadda is 30 km (17 Miles) North East of Peshawar. It is potentially one of the most important ancient sites of Asia; representing a group of imposing mounds in the area. It is situated in a productive and well-watered Peshawar plain, with its enormous working buffalo and the unique sight of tropical sugar cane & cold climate sugar beet growing side by side. It is officialy divided into three Tehsils (Charsadda, Tangi, and Shabqadar) and these are further divided into small villages. Geographically, it is divided into two regions; Hashtnagar & Do Aba.
Of these, Hashtnagar mans eight villages; Prhang, Charsadda, Rajar (Razarh), Turangzai, Utmanzai, Umarzai, Sherpao, and Tangi. Do Aba is the local word for a land which lies in the middle of rivers and is covered by all sides with it. The main villages in Do Aba are Hajizai, Kangrha, Batagram, & Shab Qadar.
The site has long been identified with Pushkalavati (The Lotus City); the pre-Kushan capital of Gandhara from about the 6th Century BC to the 2nd Century AD.. This city was captured in 324 BC after a siege of 30 days, by the troops of Alexander the Great and its formal surrender was received by Alexander himself. It has been established beyond doubt that this city was the metropolitan center of Asiatic trade and meeting place of oriental and occidental cultures even as long ago as 500-1,000 BC.
Pushkalavati ensured the survival of the city as a center for pilgrims until the 7th century AD though the capital was moved to Peshawar.
Today District Charsadda Total Population is more than 10, 22,000, most of them are Agriculture based. Total area of District Charsadda is about 996 square Km. There are 826 Primary Schools, 91 Middle Schools, 63 High Schools, 7 Higher Secondary Schools, 3 Degree colleges, One commerce College and one Technical & Vocational College, while two Degree colleges are in Private Sectors. There are 12 Computer Institutes and 8 Internet Clubs, providing state of the art facilities and education. There two special education centers for Disable persons. There is a total land of about 98646 Hectors, out of which 43433 is under cultivation. The popular crops are Sugar Can, Sugar Beet, Potatoes, Edible Oils, Onion, Maize, and wheat.
There are 49 Union Councils, 5 Hospitals, out of which One is DHQ Hospital Charsadda, and Two are Tehsil Headquarters Hospital - at Tangi and Shabqadar, Five Dispensaries, three Rural Health Centres, 38 Basic Health Units and Two TB and Diabetic Clinics, and Two Mother and Child Health Care centres. There are 102 NGOs, working in District charsadda and taking active part in the social and welfare development of the people of District Charsdda.
There are many places of interest to visit near Charsadda. These are: