Kohat: A Complete Guide

Kohat is the gateway city of the southern frontier. This old town rests below the famous Kohat Pass. People call it the City of Eagles. A British fort, bazaars and a great tunnel mark its story. It links Peshawar to the southern districts of the province. This guide covers Kohat for the curious traveller. It explains the setting the history the pass and tunnel the nature and how to visit.

This guide offers a general overview. Details and figures vary between sources.

Quick answer: Kohat is a city in south central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, set on the Kohat Toi River at around 489 metres, some 72 kilometres south of Peshawar on the Indus Highway. Known as the City of Eagles, it is set at the foot of the Kohat Pass and serves as a gateway to the southern districts. Its highlights include a British era fort the Kohat Tunnel and the Tanda Dam wildlife park. Long a home of the Bangash tribe, it carries a rich frontier history. Spring and autumn are the finest seasons.

About Kohat

Kohat is a city of south central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is located on the bank of the Kohat Toi River. A height of around 489 metres tempers its air. Peshawar rises about 72 kilometres to the north.

This city rests below a famous pass. Kohat Pass climbs through the hills to the north. Rugged Kotal Hills ring the area around. This setting gave the town its strategic weight.

A fond nickname marks the city. People call Kohat the City of Eagles. Rocky hills and open skies surround it. Birds of prey wheel above the ridges.

A great gateway shapes its role. Kohat links Peshawar to the southern districts. Roads reach out to Bannu, Karak and beyond. A busy Indus Highway runs straight through the town.

History of Kohat

Kohat carries a long and shadowed history. Little is known of its earliest days. Local lore ties its founding to a Buddhist raja. This old town rose many centuries ago.

Great rulers passed through in later ages. Babur is said to have visited in 1505. A Bangash tribe settled here over time. Their chiefs held sway across the area.

A British administration made Kohat a frontier post. A cantonment rose here in 1874. A fort guarded the new town near its centre. Soldiers manned the passes and roads around.

A famous fast marked the city once. Communal unrest broke out here in 1924. Gandhi kept a long fast as a plea for unity. This event drew notice across the subcontinent.

Pass and the tunnel in Kohat

A great pass climbs to the north. It climbs through the hills towards Peshawar. British engineers cut a road through it long ago. Travellers long braved its steep and winding way.

A military road opened through the pass. Work on it finished around 1850. Later a wider road followed in 1901. This route bound Kohat to Peshawar and beyond.

A modern tunnel now speeds the journey. It bores nearly two kilometres through the mountains. Japanese aid helped build this great work. People call it the Pak Japan Friendship Tunnel.

This tunnel has transformed travel here. It cut the long climb over the pass. Traffic now flows swiftly beneath the hills. This link joined the southern districts to Peshawar.

Nature and the crafts

Kohat holds fine spots of nature nearby. Hills, lakes and parks ring the city. Wildlife thrives in the protected areas. Green escapes reward a short drive.

Tanda Dam is a beloved retreat. This lake gathers behind a great dam. Calm water and green banks draw visitors. A wetland here shelters many birds.

Tanda Wildlife Park spreads around the lake. It ranks among the largest parks in the province. Urial, chinkara and hog deer roam here. A pheasantry breeds rare and colourful birds.

Crafts and produce mark the city too. Weavers make lungis, turbans and cloth. Leather goods and shoes come from the workshops. Sweet guavas ripen in the orchards around.

Visiting Kohat

Come in spring or autumn. Summers grow hot on the plains. Winters turn cool and pleasant. Mild seasons suit a visit best.

Reach the city with ease. A busy Indus Highway runs straight through it. A great tunnel speeds the way from Peshawar. Roads link the town to the southern districts.

See the fort and the bazaars. Old walls recall the British age. Markets brim with cloth and leather goods. A morning walk takes in the old town.

Enjoy the nature nearby. Tanda Dam offers a calm lakeside escape. A wildlife park rewards a longer visit. Bring time for both history and scenery.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Kohat called the City of Eagles? Kohat is known as the City of Eagles a name that reflects its setting among rugged hills and open skies where birds of prey are often seen wheeling overhead. Set at the foot of the Kohat Pass in south central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the city is ringed by rocky ridges and the Kotal Hills, giving it a dramatic frontier character. This name captures both the wild beauty of the surrounding country and the commanding position of the city. Long a gateway between Peshawar and the southern districts, Kohat has worn this proud nickname for many years.

What is the Kohat Tunnel? A Kohat Tunnel runs nearly two kilometres under the mountains between Kohat and Dara Adam Khel on the Indus Highway. Completed in the early 2000s with assistance from Japan, it is also known as the Pak Japan Friendship Tunnel. Before it was built, travellers had to climb the steep and winding road over the Kohat Pass a slow and difficult journey. It dramatically reduced travel times, letting traffic flow swiftly beneath the hills and greatly improving the link between Peshawar and the southern districts.

What is the history of Kohat? Kohat has a long history, though little is known of its earliest days with local lore tracing its founding to an ancient Buddhist raja. Over the centuries it saw many rulers. A Mughal emperor, Babur, is said to have visited in 1505. A Bangash tribe of Pashtuns settled in the area from the late 15th century. Under British rule, Kohat became an important frontier post with a cantonment established in 1874 and a fort near the centre of the town. In 1924 the city was the scene of communal unrest that led to a long fast by Gandhi as a plea for unity.

What is there to see near Kohat? Kohat offers several fine natural attractions within easy reach of the city. Best known is Tanda Dam, whose calm lake and green banks make a popular retreat. Its wetland shelters many birds under an international conservation listing. Around the lake spreads the Tanda Wildlife Park, one of the largest in the province, home to urial, chinkara and hog deer. A pheasantry there breeds rare and colourful birds. A Jarma Valley and the hill station of Cherat, to the north add further scenery, while the city itself holds a historic fort and busy bazaars.

When is the best time to visit Kohat? A best time to visit Kohat is in spring from around March to April. Autumn from October to November, is also mild and comfortable for sightseeing. Summers on the plains can be very hot, making the middle of the day tiring, while winters are generally cool and pleasant with crisp, clear days. Spring brings green to the hills and orchards adding to the appeal of the area. Whatever the season, Kohat makes a convenient stop on the Indus Highway and a base for exploring the surrounding country.

City of eagles

Kohat is the proud city of eagles on the frontier. This old town rests below its famous pass. A British fort and busy bazaars recall its history. A great tunnel now speeds the way through the hills. Lakes and wildlife parks reward those who linger. Few towns hold such a commanding frontier place.

You may come to Kohat for the history the pass or the nature. This city rewards the visit either way. You can walk the walls of the old British fort. You can speed through the great tunnel beneath the hills. You can watch the wildlife at the Tanda Dam park. Come to the City of Eagles and discover the frontier. This is Kohat.