One of the most talked about mountain passes in Pakistan is the Khyber Pass. It is famous for its tough people and all the stories of invaders who enterred India from the west thru this pass. Khyber pass is situated in the Sulaiman range of hills which form the western barrier of Pakistan. The hills dip down here, leaving a passage sometimes as broad as 1 ½ kms (1 mile) and sometimes as narrow as 16 meters (42 feet). The Pass begins near Jamrud Fort 18 kms 11 miles) from Peshawar and extends beyond the border of Pakistan at Torkham 58 kms away from Peshawar. At Torkham PTDC (Pakistan tourism development corporation) has a Motel-cum-Information. Khyber Railway: It threads its way through 34 tunnels crossing 92 bridges and culverts and climbing 1,200 meters. 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 meters in less than a mile by means of the famous Changai Spur, a section of track shaped like a "W" with two reversing stations.
hundreds of years, great camel trains traveled through the Khyber Pass, bringing goods to trade. These merchants brought luxury silks and fine porcelain objects from China to the Middle East.The Khyber Pass today has two highways one for motor traffic and the other for the traditional caravans. A railway line also travels to the head of the pass. This was built in the 1920s. Whilst we are touring the Khyber Pass we will visit Peshawer and stay at one of the cities excellent hotels. Peshawar is the gateway to Afghanistan, which is situated at the mouth of the Khyber Pass. Peshawar is the capital of the North-West Frontier Province. The name Peshawar means High Fort in Persian. During its history, the city was one of the main trading routes on the ancient Silk Road. A trip to Peshawar is not complete without visiting The Khan Club , which is a hotel from a by-gone era. The hotel has been fully restored and the result is magnificent. It is located in the oldest and most historic part of Peshawar. Each room has its own ‘jeweled’ theme. Wherever you meet the famous Pathans of the North West Frontier region they will greet you with their overwhelming hospitality.