Khyber Pass
Khyber pass, located at a distance of 56 kilometers from Peshawar is a narrow, steep-sided pass, 28 miles long, winding through the Safed Koh mountain, bordering with Afghanistan is perhaps the most famous pass in the world because of its geographic as well as historic importance.
Khyber Pass Attractions
Going northwest from the eastern end in Pakistan, the pass starts from near Jamrud, at an elevation of 491m, and ends west of Torkham, at Landi Kotal, at an elevation of 1070 m, followed by a steep decline to Michni Kandao, Landi Khana and the Afghan border just east of Torkham.
The next is Shagai Fort built by the British in the 1920s at the start of the pass followed by Ali Masjid Fort perched on a commanding spur. Cemetery of British soldiers killed in Second Afghan War of 1879 is at Ali Masjid.
Numerous carved and painted regimental insignia on rock faces ,the prominent among them are the Gordon Highlanders, the South Wales Borderers, the Royal Sussex, Cheshire and Dorset regiments are also visible.
Then come the Sphola Stupa erected in 2nd century A.D. At Torkham a ruined Kafir Fort, belonging to Hindu relic of the ninth century AD can be seen.
The pass was also important in the Afghan Wars fought by the British in the 19th cent. The Khyber Pass is now traversed by an asphalt road and an old caravan route. There is also a railroad, which passes through 34 tunnels and over 92 bridges and culverts, climbing 1,200 feet. The British built it in 1920 at an enormous cost of Rs. Two million.
Two or three coaches are pulled and pushed by two 1920 model steam engines. At one point, the track climbs 130 metres in less than a mile by means of the famous Changai Spur, a section of track shaped like a “W” with two reversing stations.
For centuries a trade and invasion route from central Asia, the Khyber Pass was one of the principal approaches of the armies of Alexander the Great, Timur, Babur, Mahmud of Ghazna, and Nadir Shah in their invasions of India.
It It is the gateway from where Emperor Babur crossed it to lay the foundation of Great Moghul Empire in 1505. Jamrud Fort, built by the Sikhs in 1823 is at a distance of 18 kilometers along the road.