Kohat
Kohat (Urdu: کوہاٹ) is a medium sized town in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 meters (1607 feet)[1 and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centers around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. There are a number of tombs of famous personalities in the area, like the Sufi saint and teacher Haji Bahadar Ali Abdullah Shah alias Haji Bahadar Sahib and Mian Fateh Shah (Sherkot, Kohat). The town boasts many mosques and schools. A British built narrow gauge railway runs through the town. To the north of the city lies
History
The History of Kohat in Urdu language first time written by a Local Journalist Zulfiqar Shah Editor of The Weekly Tehqeeq Kohat the book name is " Kohat Tareekh kay Aeenay main" published in the year 2002 and its second Edition was published in April 2009 with more then 200 Classic Pictures.
Ancient History
The early history of the district is limited to the vaguest traditions. It is said that in the Buddhist times, two Rajas named Adh and Kohat settled along with the northern border of the district. Raja Kohat gave his name to the town of | ” |
The only other remnants of the Buddhist days is a road cut off the mountain side, on the western skirts of the Jawaki hills near Kotal Post which leads by an even gradient towards the crest.
Kohat Bangash attacked by Babur
“ | He then narrates that in the year AD 1505, when at Peshawar he was induced by Baki Cheghaniani to visit Kohat on the false hope of obtaining rich booty Babar had never heard even the name of Kohat He reached the town through the Kohat pass in two marches and fell on it in luncheon time. After plundering it he sent foraging parties as far as Indus. Bullocks buffaloes and grain wee the only plunder. He released his Afghan prisoners. After two days he marched up the valley towards "Bangash". when he reached a narrow part of the valley, the hillmen of Kohat and that quarter crowded the hills on both flanks, raised the war shout and made a loud clamour. At last they foolishly occupied a detached hill. Now was Babar's opportunity. He sent a force to cut them off from the hills. About a hundred and fifty were killed . Many prisoners were taken. These put grass in their mouths in token of submission, being as much as to say "I am your ox", a custom which Babar first noticed here. Notwithstanding he had them beheaded at once. A minaret of their heads was erected at the next camping place. The next day he reached Hangu. Here again he met with resistance. The Afghans held a fortified Sangar, which was stormed by Babur's troops, who cut off the heads of one or two hundred of them for another minaret. | ” |
Kohat has mix population of Pashto and Hindko speakers. It is the
Sikh and British Rule
In the beginning of 19th century Kohat came under the control of Sikhs, Ranjit Singh first marched to
Kohat was finally annexed to the British dominion on
Ethnicity and Tribes
The main tribes are Bangash and Khattak along with Sayyed Gillani,Sayyed Pirkhail Bokhari Afridis,Tanolis, Orakzai, Awan, Shinwari, Banoori, Raja,Kiani, Behzadi, Mian, Durani,Sheikhan ,Paracha and Niazi which form the part of the population of the district. A good number of Muhajirs, Afghan Refugees and Bihari repatriates from
Religion
The population of Kohat district is Muslim, the Sunni predominate and there is also large Shias population settled in the district and they stretch from Chikarkot Bala, Sherkot to Kachai (i.e. southern border of Kohat). Usterzai Payan is the largest
Geography
Location of Kohat District (highlighted in red) within the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.
In Buddhist times, two Rajas namely Adh and Kohat settled along the northern border of the district. Raja Kohat gave his name to the town of
The district lies between 33° - 04' and 33° - 34' north latitudes and 70° - 29' and 72° - 01' east longitudes. It is bounded on the north by the Orakzai Agency of FATA, tribal areas adjoining Kohat,
The total area of the district is 2545 square kilometres.
Physical features/Topography
The topography of the district is dominated by the mountains and hills. In the northwest of the district the important ranges include lower Miranzai and Bangash, which run in an eastwest direction. Further in the south is Kamar -Tanda. The height of these ranges varies from 650 to 1000 meters above the sea level. In the northeast the Sowaki and Adan Khel hills run in a southwest -northeast direction. These hills gradually rise in the extreme northeastern part of the district. The intervening open valleys between the hills are seldom more than eight kilometres in width. The Kohat valley is most important agriculturally rich area. Generally, the district is elevated and the ranges attain only inconsiderable heights above the plain area. The headquarter town of
Rivers and Streams
The river
Flora
The common trees are ber, gurgulla, sanatha, phulal, olea etc. All kind of roses, bougainvillea, kashmalo, gul-e-nargis, gui-e-dawoodi Chameli and other seasonal flowers are planted and sown in the district.
Fauna
Typical wildlife found in the district are hare, jackal, wolf, fox, wild cat, chakor, black partridge, grey partridge, urial, chinkara, blue bull, hogdeer, water fowl.
Transport
List of airports in
Much of the transport is privately operated within the city limits. There are also many buses that pass through the city via the
There is a total of 372 kilometres of metalled roads in the district.
Due to demand from the people for a tunnel at the Kotal hills, the Government has recently sanctioned a huge amount for this project, benefiting all the southern districts. Tunnel was completed in 2004. The following are some salient features of the project.
- Total project cost: 6626.75 millions
- Total length of approached road: 29.8 kilometres
- Length of north section: 7.7 kilometres
- Length of south section: 22.20 kilometres
- Length of tunnel: 1.89 kilometres
- Width of tunnel: 10.3 meters
- Black topped: 7.3 meters
- Shoulders: 3.0 meters
- Time of completion: 48 months
Utility services
The city is facilitated with two dams; Tanda Dam and Gandiali Dam. The former is located in the SW of the city and the later is located in the SE. Moreover , the city is giving a good friendship symbol between
Labels: Kohat city