Mardan

Mardan is situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. It is the administrative headquarter of the Mardan district and is located 65 km from the provincial capital, Peshawar. The town is on the northern side of the River Kalpani and in the Peshawar valley and is well-known for being one of the wealthiest places in KPK.

Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and the Sikh community in the town make this place the hallmark of multicultural diversity. Younus Khan, a famous former cricketer and caption of the Pakistan National Team belongs to this town. This article contains all the information about the city, including Mardan History.

Mardan History

Mardan is an ancient and historic place that is full of archeological artifacts and remains like Buddist monasteries. Historians attribute the town’s name to a Muslim Sufi saint, Pir Mardan Shah, who came to this region to propagate Islam. Mardan means the land of brave men.

The archeological findings in the region connect its history with the ancient civilization of the Gandhara kingdom. Alexander the great used this region as a route to reach Indus Valley in 326 BCE. Subsequently, Ashoka’s grandfather (Indian Buddist ruler of Maurya Dynasty) reigned this region starting 297 to 321 BCE. Until the 7^th century CE, nomadic people ruled this valley.

Around the 11^th century, this region fell into Afghans’ hands who invaded along with  Rajput clans, Gakkhars. In the 10^th century, Turk sultan Subaktekin conquered this land by defeating Raja Jaipal. Mughal emperor, Babar, captured this region in 1505. Weakening the Mughal empire could hold control of the area. Sikhs seized power from the Mughal and remained in control until 1837, when the British defeated them.

Geography

The city is located at 34°12′4.4′′ North (latitude) and 72°01′33′′ East (longitude) on the geographic coordinate system.  The district’s total area is 1,632 km² (630 mi²) in length, and its height above sea level is 1,020 ft. (310 m.)

Mardan Climate

The town observes sweltering hot and long hot weather for approximately 4.6 months, and in summers, the temperature may rise to reach 43.5 °C. During the whole year, the temperature can vary from 39°F to 105°F.

Winters are chilly and continue for nearly three months when the temperature could drop to 0.5 °C. Rain falls in the whole year, and the yearly recorded average of rainfall is 73.66mm.

Population

The city is the residence of 358,604 people, according to the 2017 census. It is the 23^rd most populous city in Pakistan and 2^nd in KPK.  The population density of the district is 1,500/km² (3,800/mi²).

Mardan Culture

Traditional Pashtun culture is dominant in the region, primarily based on Islam and a conventional lifestyle, called Pashtunwali, of the Pashtun people. Natives are hospitable, straightforward, and brave. Men’s attire usually includes shalwar-kameez, Pashtun hat (called pakul), topi (cap), white kufis (rounded cap), karkul (like Jinnah cap).

Women’s attire includes traditional long dresses, chaddar, or dupatta to cover their head and hair. Women also ornament themselves with Pashtoon dresses and hand made jewelry. Attan, Khattak, Mahsud, Waziri are their traditional dances. Dishes such as chapli kabab, kabala palao, kawa, serge, tikka, special long naans, and sugi ka halwa are among the most preferred items.

Education

Education and literacy in the town are gently improving. The current literacy rate is 48%. Both; private and public sectors are establishing new educational institutes.  The number of institutions by the KPK Government include:

• Primary Schools: 843
• Middle Schools: 86
• High And Higher Secondary School: 87
• Boys Institutes: 617
• Girls Institutes: 617

Following are among some well-known institutions:

• Abdul Wali Khan University
• ANSI School & Degree College
• Government Degree College
• Government Post Graduate College
• Green Institute Of Education And Technology
• Harris Institute
• IT Trainers Institute & College System
• Khyber College Of Education
• Mardan Institute Of Learning Systems School And College
• Mardan Institute of Science & Technology
• National College of Physical Education
• Orbit Schools Habib Campus
• Pics Institute
• Prime Institute of Medical Education
• The Leaders International School & Girls College System
• The Mardan Model School And College
• The Peace Group Of Schools & Colleges
• The Read Schools
• University of Engineering & Technology
• Vertex college of science and technology
• Women University

Sports

Sports culture in Mardan is flourishing. A well-constructed sports complex located near Sheikh Maltoon town provides the following facilities for:

• Athletics
• Badminton
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Football
• Hockey
• Judo, Wushu, and Taekwondo
• Swimming
• Table Tennis

Economy

The economy of the district is dependent on both; agriculture and industry. The region has a great potential to exploit natural resources, and optimally utilize the mining industry. Tourism is another area contributing a reasonable portion of its share of its economic progress and GDP.

Industry

The district heavily relies on agroindustry and manufacturing and economically, and it is one of the industrialized regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Following are among the most thriving industries which are not only providing employment opportunities to the locals as a source of income and livelihood but also to the people of the nearby regions:

• Arms
• Ceramics
• Chemical, Petroleum, Rubber & Plastic Goods
• Food, Beverages & Tobacco
• Ice
• Marble
• Metal & Metal Products
• Mineral Products
• Oil & Ghee
• Paper & Paper Products
• Plastic
• Soap & Shampoo
• Sugar
• Textile, Wearing Apparel & Leather Products
• Wood & Wood Products

Agriculture

The total cultivated area is 99977 hectares. A significant portion of the population is engaged in agribusiness for their livelihood and source of income.

The soil and climate are conducive for cultivation and crops such as wheat, rice, maize, millet, jowar, groundnut, sesamum, mung, mash, arhar, masoor, chilies, turmeric, sun hemp, fooders, fruits, vegetables, sugarcane, cotton, barley, rape & mustered, garlic, coriander, onion, potatoes, and sunflower are hugely grown here.

Tourism

The city and surrounding are full of worth visiting historical monuments. Tourists from all over the country and abroad witness the magnificence of:

• Afridi Farm House
• Behroch Waterfall and Shrine
• C Sector Park
• Chato Chowk
• Darweyzay Waterfall
• Garru Waterfalls
• Ghareeb Abbad Number 2
• Green Acree Park
• Guides’ Memorial Park
• Hund Museum
• Lachyane
• Maqbara Attock
• Mardan Museum
• Old Attock bridge
• Pushkalavati Museum
• Seri Bahlol
• Tableeghi Markaz
• Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist Monastery
• Topu Chowk
• Rani Gat Buddhists Ruins
• Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist Monastery

Mardan Languages

Locals can speak and understand:

• Pashto (mother tongue)
• Punjabi
• Saraiki
• Urdu (national language)
• English

Travel

The city is linked with the other parts of the country with a network of roads and highways. By-road travelers can take National Highway (N-45), Motorway (M-1), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway S-1, Mardan Ring Road, Dobian Mardan Road, and Charsadda-Mardan Road to reach the city.

Many transport operators are running conveyance services for this region from all over Pakistan. The town is connected to the outer regions with a network of railroads. Mardan Junction railway station, located on Nowshera Road, is a central stopover place for incoming and outgoing trains.

There is no domestic or international airport in the city. Air routes connect the town with the nearest cities. The closest airports to the city include:

• Peshawar International Airport (PEW), Peshawar, 5394 km
• Saidu Sharif Airport (SDT), Saidu Sharif, 97 km
• Benazir Bhutto International Airport (ISB), Islamabad, 75 km

Mardan Postal Code

Postal Code: 23200

Area Code:  0937