Chakdara facts for kids

Chakdara (چکدره) is a city in the Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is the second largest city in Dir Lower after Timergara. Chakdara acts like a main entrance to the Malakand Division. It is located in the center of Malakand Division. It is also near the entrance of the Lower Dir District and the Swat District. The Swat Expressway's Chakdara interchange touches this area. Chakdara is about 130 km from Peshawar. It is 40 km from Mingora and 38 km from Timergara.

A Glimpse into Chakdara's Past

An early stupa, 6 meters in diameter, with a fallen umbrella. This ancient structure is found in Chakpat, near Chakdara. It likely dates back to the Maurya empire, around the third century BCE.

Chakdara has been an important place for a very long time. People have lived here for about 3,500 years! This area is full of clues about its past. You can find remains from ancient cultures like the Gandhara grave culture. There are also old Buddhist sites and forts built by the Hindu Shahi rulers.

An old travel route from Afghanistan used to pass through Chakdara. The Swat River also flows through the city. In 1586, the Mughals built a fort here. Later, in 1895, the British took over this fort. They built the current fort in 1896. The British had to defend it during a big battle called the Siege of Malakand in 1897.

Discovering Ancient Sites

Chakdara is home to many interesting archaeological sites. These are places where scientists dig up old objects and buildings. They help us learn about how people lived long ago. You can see Buddhist sculptures and Hindu Shahi items at the Chakdara Museum. These items date from the first to the seventh centuries.

Damkot Hill: A Treasure Trove

One of the most important sites in Chakdara is Damkot Hill. Scientists have dug up the top of this hill. They found old houses with pottery and jewelry inside. These amazing finds are now on display at the Saidu Sharif Museum.

At the bottom of Damkot Hill, there is an ancient graveyard called Salami. Early settlers buried bodies here after partly burning them. They placed everyday tools and pots around the bodies. Large stone slabs were used to seal these graves.

A Buddhist stupa and monastery were found here. They date back to the first century AD. Ahmad Hasan Dani, a famous archaeologist, excavated them in the 1962-1965 period. You can also see some Buddhist carvings at the foot of the hill. During the Hindu Shahi period, a fort was built on Damkot Hill. This fort was destroyed in the 11th century. In the 19th century, the British took control of this hill. Behind Damkot Hill, at a place called Chat pat, there was a monastery from the late fourth century. Sculptures from this monastery are now in the Chakdara Museum.

Andaan Dheri: A Buddhist Mystery

"Andaan Dheri" is another important Buddhist archaeological site. It is about 7 km north of Chakdara Bridge. Professor Ahmad Hasan Dani excavated it in 1966. He wanted to understand the timeline of Greco-Buddhist art. Even though the site had been looted over the years, Dani's team still found 534 sculptures!

Andaan Dheri is near the village of Uchh. A Buddhist traveler named Xuanzang wrote about this site. He said it was linked to a legend about Buddha. The legend says Buddha changed himself into a giant serpent. He lay dead in the valley to save people from a famine. The hungry people cut pieces from his body to eat and survive.

Another story says that Gandhara might be the location of a magical place called Lake Dhanakosha. This lake is believed to be the birthplace of Padmasambhava. He was the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Kagyu group of Tibetan Buddhism thinks this lake is connected to the Andaan Dheri stupa. They believed a spring flowed from the stupa's base to form the lake. Archaeologists have found the stupa, but they haven't found any spring or lake.

Learning in Chakdara

A view of the University of Malakand

Chakdara is an important center for education. The University of Malakand is located here. Many other important schools and colleges are also in the city, including:

• Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Malakand
• OPF Public School (Overseas Pakistani Foundation)
• Degree College Gulabad (for boys)
• Higher Secondary School (for girls)
• FC Public School Chakdara
• Madeena Medical Center Chakdara, near THQ Hospital Chakdara
• Govt Higher Secondary School Chakdara (for boys)
• Chakdara Fort, which is an academy for the Chitral Scouts
• Swat Public School (Chakdara campus)
• Cadet College Chakdara
• THQ Hospital (Tehsil Headquarters Hospital)
• FEF Girls Degree College
• Polytechnic Colleges for Girls and Boys (separate)
• Faran Public High School Chakdara