Mardan: A Complete Guide
Mardan is the ancient garden city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is the second largest city of the province. It is set in the fertile Peshawar Valley near old Gandhara. Buddhist ruins and rock edicts crown the country around it. Sugarcane, tobacco and sweet oranges fill its rich fields. This guide covers Mardan for the curious traveller. It explains the setting the history the great sites the city and how to visit.
This guide offers a general overview. Details and figures vary between sources.
Quick answer: Mardan is the second largest city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, set in the fertile Peshawar Valley around 60 kilometres north east of Peshawar. Once part of the Gandhara world, it is famed for its ancient sites above all the hilltop Buddhist monastery of Takht i Bahi a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby lie the Ashoka rock edicts at Shahbaz Garhi and other Gandhara ruins. A rich farming area, Mardan is known for its sugarcane, tobacco and sweet oranges. Spring and autumn are the finest seasons.
About Mardan
Mardan is the second city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Only Peshawar outranks it in size. It is located in the fertile Peshawar Valley. A drive of about an hour links it to Peshawar.
Rich plains surround the city. Fields of wheat, sugarcane and orchards spread wide. Low stony hills edge the plain to the north. Beyond them the Hindu Kush rises in the distance.
Streams water the fertile land. A river called the Kalpani and other channels cross the plain. They flow at last into the Kabul River. A canal brings Swat water to the fields.
Farming shapes life in Mardan. Most people here work the land. Sugarcane and tobacco fill the fields. Sweet oranges ripen in the orchards.
History of Mardan
Mardan carries a very ancient story. This valley formed part of old Gandhara. People settled here thousands of years ago. A Gandhara Grave Culture left early traces.
A great Buddhist age flowered here. Monasteries rose across the valley. Monks studied and worshipped in the hills. Gandhara art blended Greek and Buddhist forms.
This art left a lasting mark. Sculptors carved the Buddha in a Greek touched style. Fine stone reliefs told sacred tales. Their work spread far across ancient Asia.
These rock edicts recall a famous king. Ashoka carved his words at Shahbaz Garhi. Kharosthi script preserves them to this day. These are among the earliest writings in South Asia.
Later ages passed over the valley. Empires rose and fell through the centuries. British rule made Mardan a garrison town. This city grew fast in more recent times.
Takht i Bahi and the ancient sites
Takht i Bahi is the crowning glory of Mardan. This Buddhist monastery crowns a rugged hill. Monks built it around the first century. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1980.
This complex has survived the ages well. Courtyards, shrines and cells still stand. Its walls rank among the best preserved of their kind. Visitors walk paths trodden by monks long ago.
Shahbaz Garhi is located close at hand. Ashoka carved his edicts on its rocks. An old Kharosthi script covers the stone. This site marks the dawn of writing in the area.
More ruins dot the country around. Jamal Garhi holds another monastery. Sawal Dher and old caves add to the tally. This whole valley brims with Buddhist heritage.
Ancient caves add to the story. Sanghao held Stone Age tools and traces. Kashmir Smast sheltered monks for centuries. These caves deepen the long human record here.
Mardan city today
Mardan is a busy, growing city. Its markets bustle with trade and life. Modern quarters spread beyond the old centre. Farming and commerce drive its economy.
Mardan Museum holds fine treasures and its halls display Gandhara art and relics. Buddha statues and carvings fill the cases. Many finds come from Takht i Bahi nearby.
Learning has grown in the city. New universities have opened in recent years. Students fill the campuses and colleges. Mardan has become a centre of study.
Green spaces soften the busy streets. A Guides Memorial recalls the British age. Parks offer a place to rest and walk. City life blends the old and the new.
Visiting Mardan
Come in spring or autumn. Summers grow hot on the plain. Winters turn cool and pleasant. Mild seasons suit sightseeing best.
Make Takht i Bahi your first stop. This great ruin is the highlight of the area. A short climb reaches the hilltop monastery. Allow a few hours to explore it well.
Add the nearby sites to your trip. Shahbaz Garhi is a short drive away. Jamal Garhi rewards the keen traveller. A day can take in several ruins.
Reach Mardan with ease. Good roads link it to Peshawar and beyond. It serves as a gateway towards Swat. A private vehicle suits touring the sites.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mardan famous? Mardan is famous above all as a cradle of Gandhara history and the home of Takht i Bahi. This ranks among the finest Buddhist monastery ruins in South Asia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set in the fertile Peshawar Valley the second largest city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is surrounded by ancient sites, including the Ashoka rock edicts at Shahbaz Garhi and other monastery ruins. Beyond its heritage, Mardan is known as a rich farming area, producing sugarcane, tobacco and sweet oranges. This blend of deep history and fertile land gives the city its lasting fame.
What is Takht i Bahi? Takht i Bahi is an ancient Buddhist monastery complex set on a rugged hilltop near Mardan among the most impressive Gandhara sites in Pakistan. Founded around the first century and used until about the seventh, it was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. This complex is remarkably well preserved with courtyards, shrines, stupas and cells still standing, offering a vivid picture of monastic life two thousand years ago. Its hilltop setting with wide views over the valley adds to the sense of stepping back into the distant past.
What are the Ashoka rock edicts at Shahbaz Garhi? These Ashoka rock edicts at Shahbaz Garhi, near Mardan are ancient inscriptions carved into rock by order of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka around the third century BCE. Written in the old Kharosthi script they set out the emperor's moral teachings and are among the earliest clear examples of writing in South Asia. These edicts reflect a turn towards Buddhist ideals of peace and good conduct, spread across a vast empire. For visitors the site offers a rare and moving link to one of the great figures of ancient South Asian history.
What is Mardan known for producing? Mardan is known as one of the richest farming areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, thanks to the fertile soil of the Peshawar Valley and its network of streams and canals. This area is a major producer of sugarcane and tobacco. Surrounding orchards are famous for their sweet oranges along with other fruit and wheat. This strong agricultural base has long shaped the life and economy of the city, supporting markets, mills and trade. In recent years, education and commerce have added new strength to the local economy.
When is the best time to visit Mardan? A best time to visit Mardan is in spring from around March to April. Autumn from October to November, is also mild and comfortable for sightseeing. Summers on the plain can be very hot, making the climb to hilltop sites such as Takht i Bahi tiring, while winters are cool and generally pleasant. Spring brings green fields and blossom to the valley adding to the beauty of the ancient sites. Early in the day is the best time to explore the ruins, before the heat and crowds build up.
Cradle of Gandhara
Mardan is the fertile cradle of old Gandhara. This valley has held people and monks for thousands of years. Takht i Bahi crowns its hills with ancient stone. Rock edicts and ruins recall a great Buddhist past. Sugarcane, tobacco and oranges fill its rich fields. Few cities blend such history and bounty.
You may come to Mardan for the ruins the history or the farms. This city rewards the visit either way. You can climb to the monastery of Takht i Bahi. You can read the ancient edicts at Shahbaz Garhi. You can taste the sweet oranges of the valley. Come to Mardan and discover the cradle of Gandhara. This is the garden city of the frontier.
