Peshawar Historical Tour: Mughal Mosques & Old City

Walk through centuries of Peshawar's layered history with a guide who knows the stories

A full-day guided historical tour departing from Islamabad at 7 am, visiting Peshawar Museum, Mahabat Khan Mosque, Kissa Khwani Bazaar, Sethi Mohallah and the Walled City with an English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. The tour covers a city with recorded history back to 539 BCE, including Gandharan sculptures, 17th-century Mughal architecture and 19th-century carved wooden mansions. Gratuities are optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day historical Peshawar city tour

• Meet guide at Islamabad hotel lobby
• Travel from Islamabad to Peshawar
• Visit Peshawar Museum
• Explore Mahabat Khan Mosque
• Walk through Kissa Khwani Bazaar
• Tour Sethi Mohallah neighborhood
• Explore Walled City of Peshawar
• Return to Islamabad hotel

The Experience

The day starts at your Islamabad hotel at 7 am, when your guide meets you in the lobby and you begin the drive to Peshawar. The first stop is Peshawar Museum, built in 1906–07 as a memorial to Queen Victoria. The two-story building blends British and Mughal architecture, with four cupolas at the corners and a main hall flanked by side aisles. Inside are Gandharan sculptures excavated from Shah-Ji-Ki-Dheri and Sahri Bahlol—artifacts that anchor the city's place in the ancient Kushan Empire, when Peshawar served as capital under Kanishka and housed the Kanishka Stupa, once among the tallest buildings in the ancient world.

From the museum, you move to Mahabat Khan Mosque, a 17th-century structure completed in 1630 and named after the Mughal governor Nawab Mohabat Khan Kamboh. The white marble façade is the landmark most visitors recognize first. Your guide will point out the minarets—historically used during Sikh times to hang prisoners, five per day, as a substitute for gallows. Next comes Kissa Khwani Bazaar, the old market famous for its chai and qehwa houses. The bazaar carries a different kind of history: Indian film actors Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Trilok Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan's family all have ties to the neighborhood. Dilip Kumar was born here in 1922.

The afternoon takes you through Sethi Mohallah, an old neighborhood in the Walled City where seven mansions built by the Sethi family stand with elaborate wooden carvings in a Central Asian style, completed in the late 19th century. You'll explore the Walled City itself, the oldest portion of Peshawar, and taste local kabab while your guide answers questions about the layers of history you've walked through. The tour ends with a pass by Islamia College Peshawar before the drive back to your Islamabad hotel.

What’s included

• Entrance tickets to Peshawar Museum, Mahabat Khan Mosque and the Walled City.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• all taxes and service charges.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from your Islamabad accommodation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trips Planners

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or solo travelers who want a structured day with a guide who can explain the history as you move through each site—the fixed itinerary and early 7 am start mean you cover Peshawar's main historical landmarks without building the day yourself, and the guide handles the route so you stay focused on what you're standing in front of.

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Top questions

What exactly is inside Peshawar Museum that makes it worth the visit?

Peshawar Museum holds Gandharan sculptures excavated from major archaeological sites around the city, artifacts from the era when Peshawar was the capital of the Kushan Empire under Kanishka. The building itself, finished in 1906–07, combines British and Mughal architecture with a main hall, side aisles and four cupolas at the corners.

How old is the Mahabat Khan Mosque and what makes it stand out?

Mahabat Khan Mosque was built in 1630 during the Mughal era and is named after the Mughal governor Nawab Mohabat Khan Kamboh. Its white marble façade is one of Peshawar's most recognizable sights, and the minarets have a darker history—they were used to hang prisoners during Sikh times.

Why do people know Kissa Khwani Bazaar from Indian cinema?

Kissa Khwani Bazaar is where Indian film actors Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Trilok Kapoor were born, and where Shah Rukh Khan's family still lives. The bazaar is also known for its chai and qehwa houses, making it a cultural landmark beyond its role as a market.

What's the difference between Sethi Mohallah and the rest of the Walled City?

Sethi Mohallah is a neighborhood within the Walled City containing seven mansions built by the Sethi family in the late 19th century with elaborate wooden carvings in a Central Asian style. The Walled City itself is the oldest part of Peshawar, dating back centuries, and you'll explore both during the tour.

How long is the full day and what time do I need to be ready?

The tour runs 8 to 10 hours total. Your guide picks you up from your Islamabad hotel at 7 am, and you return to your hotel after visiting all the sites and tasting local kabab in the Walled City.

What's included in the price and what do I need to arrange separately?

The tour includes entrance tickets to all sites, an English-speaking guide, all taxes and service charges, and hotel pickup and drop-off from Islamabad. Food and beverages are not included, though you'll have the chance to taste local kabab during the tour; gratuities for your guide are optional.