PESHAWAR, Aug 1: Renovation of Gor Khuttree, a historic monument of Peshawar and a revered place for Hindus and Buddhists, is in progress. The Archaeology Department of NWFP is working on a plan to decorate Gor Khuttree and publicise the same to highlight archaeological importance of Peshawar city throughout the world, said curator Ehsanullah while talking to APP.

“The fort-like building located in the heart of the city is archeologically very important site and was used by Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians,” said Ehsanullah.

The monument, he added, has been declared ‘protected site’ and its construction dates back 5000 years BC. Originally it was a natural mound of soil revered by Hindus and Buddhists.

Excavation of the site had revealed that Hindus and Buddhist used to perform their religious rituals of hair cutting here, he said and added that Hindus also came here to perform Sradja (funeral sacrifices) in honour of their ancestors. Some places in its basement were specially built for 40-day meditation by Hindus and Buddhists.

It is also believed that a spiritual Hindu leader, Gorak Nath, used to sit here and people visited him for religious guidance and treatment of different diseases.

The mound during these days was called ‘Gor De Hatti’ (the sitting place of Gor or Gorak) and with the passage of time the phrase changed into Gor Khuttree, he said.

In 1640, Ehsan said, the Mughals got control of Peshawar and Shah Jehan built here an inn in the name of Jehan Ara, his daughter. He also build a mosque which was later converted into a Sikh temple, he added.

The Mughals, he said, made different inns in the Sub-continent for travellers and some of them were ‘Begum ki Sarayei’ (Begum’s Inn) in Attock and ‘Akbari Sarayei’ in Lahore. After Mughal regime, Sikh got control of the area and Gor Khuttree was used by them for defence purpose.

Commander of the Sikh force, Gen Evitable, an Italian by birth, used this building as his official residence. Later, the British used Gor Khuttree as tehsil office, fire brigade station, revenue office and police station.

The archaeology department official said that beauty of the monument was marred by Sikhs who ruthlessly destroyed the developments made by the Mughals.

Ehsan said at present the Federal Archaeology Department is engaged in conservation of western and eastern gates and some apartments made during the Sikh rule in Gor Khuttree.

The Archeology department has also released funds to CDMD (City Development Municipal Department) for carrying out conservation of the historic monument and developing a park in its premises.

He said the park has been established and conservation work would complete in due course of time. Under the project a museum would also be established within the premises of Gor Khuttree. In the said museum articles recovered during excavation would be displayed. The city museum will contain items related to the history of Peshawar, he added.

—APP