Chakdarra

Publishing Date: Wednesday, June 1 2005

The historic town of Chakdarra in Dir District lies on the ancient route from Central Asia to India on the bank of Swat River. It is about 130 kilometers from Peshawar and 48 kilometers from Saidu Sharif. As far as the origin of the name is concerned, Dr A. H. Dani opines that it could be "Chakradhara" the wielder of wheel, which is one of names of Hindi God Vishnu. Some scholars say that the name could have been coined from the "Chakas", a local tribe that dwelt here. It has also been stated that the name could be of Mughal origin that could be explained as "Chak" or "Revenue Circle of the Pass". Though the village also occupies an ancient site, but today in literary terms, Chakdarra is known for its Fort and Churchill Picket.

Chakdarra Fort

The Chakdarra Fort occupies a small detached hillock that provides observation of the surrounding area. The location suggests that it must have been occupied as a post for more than two thousand years. Alexander the Great came here in 327 B.C and invaded India via Shahbaz Garhi and Hund. Thereafter, it became a centre of Buddhism and the Chinese pilgrims, Fa-Hien (403- A.D), Hwi-Sing (518 A.D), Sung Yun (519 A.D) and Huen Tsang (630 A.D) visited this area. When Hindu Shahi rule was established here, they built the settlement of Damkot on a nearby hill. Then came Mehmud-e-Ghaznavi (RA) in late 10th and early 11th Century A.D and conquered the area. The mound of the present fort is probably known as Shah Dheri or the King's Mound for this reason. The Yusufzais captured the area in late 15th Century A.D and Babur came here in early 16th Century AD. When Akbar the Great invaded the area in 1586 A.D, Zian Khan Kokaltash built a proper fort here. When the British occupied it in 1895, after the siege of Chitral, they built the present modern fort here in 1896 AD. Chakdara saw fierce attacks of Pashtoon Ghazis led by Hazrat Mullah Mastan (RA) in 1897 AD, which brought Churchill here as a war correspondent. Today the fort is occupied by the gallant men of the Frontier Scouts.

Chakdarra Picket

While traveling on Malakand-Saidu Sharif Road, one cannot miss the impressive Churchill Picket of 1897 on a hillock above Chakdarra Fort. Winston Churchill came here in 1897, as a war correspondent for the Allahabad Pioneer and Daily Telegraph. He used to signal his messages from this spot to Malakand and onwards by Helio and that is why the picket is also known as "Shisho Picket". The present picket was constructed by the British and commands the area around.

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