Qissa Khwani Bazaar: A Complete Guide

Qissa Khwani Bazaar is the storied heart of old Peshawar. This famous market fills the lanes of the ancient walled city. Its name means the bazaar of storytellers in the old tongue. Caravans from across Asia once rested and traded here. Green tea and tall tales still flavour its narrow streets. This guide covers Qissa Khwani Bazaar for the curious traveller. It explains the setting thename thetrade thetea houses thefood and how to visit.

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

Quick answer: Qissa Khwani Bazaar is a famous bazaar located in the historic old town of Peshawar. It is known as Bazaar of Storytellers. The origin of its name is derived from the long standing practice of the travelers who used to meet at the bazaar and share stories while drinking green tea. The bazaar is famous for being one of the greatest trading centers of the famous silk road through which caravans came to unload their goods. The bazaar is located near Kabuli gate and Chowk Yadgar.

About Qissa Khwani Bazaar

Qissa Khwani Bazaar fills the heart of old Peshawar. It is located in the ancient walled city. Narrow lanes wind between old buildings. Trade and life fill the busy street.

A famous name marks the great market. Qissa Khwani means the storytelling in the old tongue. Travellers once swapped tales in its tea houses. So the street became the bazaar of storytellers.

This bazaar is set near many old landmarks. Kabuli Gate opens the way from the west. Chowk Yadgar rests a short walk off. Bala Hisar Fort rises close at hand.

A long history fills these lanes. Some say the bazaar is as old as Peshawar. This city ranks among the oldest on earth. Trade has flowed here for many centuries.

Name and the storytellers of Qissa Khwani Bazaar

Qissa Khwani carries a beloved name. These words mean storytelling in Persian and Pashto. Weary travellers once gathered in its tea houses. They swapped tales of love, war and long journeys.

The teahouses stood along the historic street. The traders relaxed here after their long journeys and exchanged news and stories while drinking green tea. It was through this tradition that the market got its name. 

There were also professional storytellers who performed occasionally. They narrated the ballads and stories of adventures. Many people came to listen to them. Their voice would reverberate in the evening air. 

The street had earned itself an elegant title. A British officer called it Piccadilly of Asia. This title reflected the glory of the place. Very few markets had such reputation. 

Trade and the caravans in Qissa Khwani Bazaar

Qissa Khwani grew as a great trading hub. Caravans crossed the Silk Road to reach it. Merchants came from far off lands. This bazaar served as their campground and market.

Traders came from many distant cities. Kabul, Samarkand and Delhi sent their caravans. Goods from Central Asia filled the stalls. Its city gates hummed with traffic.

Rich wares passed through the market. Silk, saffron and spices changed hands. Gold thread, lace and shawls drew buyers. Peshawar traded the treasures of Asia.

This bazaar has changed with the times. Old tea cafes gave way to new shops. Electronics and cloth now fill many stalls. Yet the old spirit lingers in the lanes.

Food and the tea of Qissa Khwani Bazaar

Qissa Khwani is a paradise for food lovers and its stalls fill the air with rich aromas. Grilled meats and sweets tempt the hungry. Few streets offer such a feast.

Chapli kebab draws crowds to the stalls. Cooks fry these flat, spiced patties fresh. Mutton karahi sizzles in heavy woks. Kabuli pulao heaps rice with meat and fruit.

Sweet treats round out the table. Kulfi and falooda cool the summer heat. Dried fruits and sweets fill the shops. A hungry visitor finds much to enjoy.

Green tea flavours the whole bazaar. Qehwa flows in the old tea houses. A warm cup rewards the weary walker. This drink has long been the soul of the street.

Visiting Qissa Khwani Bazaar

Come in the morning for the best experience. A busy market wakes with the early light. Cooler hours make the walk more pleasant. Crowds grow thicker as the day goes on.

Start at Kabuli Gate. This old gate opens the way to the bazaar. A short walk leads into the lanes. Old landmarks ring the busy street.

Wander the narrow lanes on foot with comfortable shoes help on the uneven ground. Shops and tea houses line the way. Each turn reveals a new sight or scent.

Taste the food and the tea. Chapli kebab rewards a hungry visitor. Qehwa warms a rest in a tea house. Chat with the shopkeepers for local tales.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called Qissa Khwani Bazaar? Qissa Khwani Bazaar takes its name from the old tradition of storytelling that gave the street its soul. In Persian and Pashto thewords mean the storytelling. This bazaar was long a place where travellers, traders and warriors gathered in its tea houses to swap tales of love, war and distant lands over green tea. At times, professional storytellers would hold court, reciting ballads and tales of adventure to the crowds. This custom, carried on over many centuries, earned the street its famous name as the Bazaar of Storytellers.

What is the history of Qissa Khwani Bazaar? Qissa Khwani Bazaar is believed to be as old as the city of Peshawar itself, one of the oldest living cities in South Asia. For centuries it served as a great trading hub on the Silk Road. Caravans of merchants from Central Asia afghanistan and India entered the city gates to rest and unload their goods. Traders from cities such as Kabul, Samarkand and Delhi gathered here, giving the bazaar a fame that led one British officer to call it a Piccadilly of Central Asia. Its tea houses were centres of news, trade and storytelling for travellers from across the continent.

What can you buy in Qissa Khwani Bazaar? Qissa Khwani Bazaar has long been a market for a wide range of goods, reflecting its history as a Silk Road trading hub. In earlier times, merchants traded silk, saffron, spices, indigo, sugar, gold and silver thread, lace and fine Kashmiri shawls along with carpets and jewellery. Today the bazaar bustles with a mix of old and new with shops selling spices, dried fruit, sweets and fabrics alongside newer trades in electronics and clothing. This street is also famous for its food and its tea houses, making it as much a place to eat and rest as to shop.

What food is Qissa Khwani famous for? Qissa Khwani Bazaar is famous as a paradise for food lovers, filled with the rich aromas of Peshawari cooking. Its most celebrated dish is the chapli kebab a flat, spiced patty fried fresh at the stalls. Other favourites include mutton karahi cooked in heavy woks, Kabuli pulao, fried fish and chicken roast. For those with a sweet tooth there are treats such as kulfi and falooda along with dried fruits and sweets. Above all thebazaar is known for its qehwa thegreen tea that flows in its old tea houses and gives the street its warm and welcoming spirit.

When is the best time to visit Qissa Khwani Bazaar? A fine time to visit Qissa Khwani Bazaar is in the morning, when the market is waking up and the lanes are less crowded. Cooler pre sunset hours are also lovely, when soft light falls on the old walls. A busy market keeps its own rhythms with shops and tea houses open from early morning until late evening. It grows liveliest through the middle of the day. In terms of season, spring and autumn bring the mildest weather for walking the lanes, while the heat of summer can make the middle of the day tiring. Comfortable shoes and some cash are useful for a visit.

Street of storytellers

Qissa Khwani Bazaar is the timeless street of storytellers. This famous market fills the lanes of old Peshawar. Caravans from across Asia once rested and traded here. Green tea and tall tales still flavour its streets. Rich food and old crafts reward every visitor. Few markets hold such deep and living history.

You may come to Qissa Khwani for the history thefood or the tea. This bazaar rewards the visit either way. You can wander the lanes where caravans once camped. You can taste chapli kebab fresh from the stalls. You can sip green tea where storytellers once held court. Come to Qissa Khwani Bazaar and hear the echoes of old tales. This is the street of storytellers.