PESHAWAR: The historic Chuha Gujar aka Bara Bridge located in the southeast of Peshawar city is still intact with past glory despite ravages of time including the devastating flash floods in 2010.

The historians of heritage sites seem divided regarding the construction of the oldest bridge in Khyber Pakhtukhwa.

Just located on 30-minutes’ drive from the main Peshawar city, the Bara Bridge takes even the occasional visitors to the Mughal era when it used to witness the passage of trail of horses with kings and soldiers on their backs.

Plaque shows the structure was built by King Shah Jahan over 400 years ago

Surprisingly enough, the over 400-year-old bridge has four different names -- Chuha Gujar, Speen, Sethian and Bara bridge -- but its big purpose to provide safe passage to vehicles, animal drawn carts and commuters over its torso is still the same.

According to one opinion, Sher Shah Suri, who ruled India for1476 to 1545, had built the bridge while another says that King Shah Jahan, who reigned from 1627 to 1658, had erected the structure. Yet the third opinion attributes its construction to Haji Karim Bakhsh Sethi, a noted business tycoon lived in the Mughal period, hence locals call it Sethian Bridge but residents commonly know it by its two names, Bara or Speen (white) bridge.

About 290 feet long and 33 feet wide founded over 26 big and small pillars; the unique bridge is a wonderful symbol of Mughal architecture under which 12 spillways had been built for water flow where tall Bodhi trees with deep roots could also be seen around the old construction.

Around eight feet long, 13 arched pillars, it has been built over the spillways that could also be seen from distant due to beautiful domes on the top of all the pillars. The bridge has been built of Waziri red bricks, being small in size compared to modern day bricks.

Nawazuddin, spokesperson for KP directorate of archaeology, told this scribe that various binding materials had been used in the construction of the bridge including jute, dagger stone, eggs and flour that would make any building get stronger and durable with the passing of time.

Regarding different opinions about builders of the historic bridge, he said that some time back, during digging for foundation of a mosque in Qissakhwani Bazaar, a broken marble slab had been retrieved inscribed with Persian in Arabic style that read King Shah Jahan, Governor Lashkar Khan and Abdul Lateef Khan, the engineer, and it clearly substantiated the argument that Mughal King Shah Jehan had constructed the bridge so it was 400-year-old that survived till today in its fine shape.

“The discovery of a stone plaque in eight pieces was indeed a curious item, which has been preserved in Peshawar museum. It has resolved the issue of the original builders of this oldest structure. Such structures have great archaeological significance in determining the origin and importance of the art, culture and civilisation of the people in a particular area,” said Nawazuddin.

He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was rich in such heritage sites and offered much to the eyes of national and international tourists.

Daftar Khan, 75, a local resident, said that the Bara Bridge was still a great boon for the local people and he felt proud that his village had a unique heritage site.

He said that more than a decade ago the provincial government had renovated the structure but it hadn’t set up outlet for visitors to enjoy local foods, culture and sightseeing.

He said that tourists came and went back without paying much attention to the sights around the historic bridge.

Nawazuddin said that archaeology directorate had renovated the oldest bridge in 2004-5 at a cost of Rs.1.80 million and currently had been working on a PC-1 to renovate all heritage sites in the province.

He said that such heritage sites could be exploited to attract foreign tourists as provincial government was taking concrete steps to protect, preserve, renovate and market the historic places of international repute.

Tahira Kaleem, head of an organisation working for youth entrepreneurship and tourist guides, said that cultural events should be arranged around the Bara Bridge and other such heritage sites so that people could be made aware of their importance and historical significance.

She said that outlets could be set up to display local culture, traditional foods and flora fauna around the heritage sites. “An awareness drive is need of the hour because the incumbent government wants to promote tourism. Our province offers a lot to the foreign visitors,” said Ms Kaleem.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2019