by Sufiyan Baig
Haripur (meaning 'town of Hari') is an old town, in Hazara region of North-West Frontier Province (some call it KP now) of Pakistan. The town was founded in 1822 , along with the famous 'Harkishangarh Fort' by the able and strong Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa. Nalwa had been appointed to control and bring order to the turbulent Hazara region, by order of the Sikh Darbar (court) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore.
By establishing a strong fort and garrison at this location in lower Hazara, and by setting up a rich and prosperous market town (mostly famous for its grain, fruits and vegetables) Nalwa was eventually not only able to control this area but also monitor and check activities in upper Hazara, and to pacify most of this region. In this process, he also gave Hazara a valuable new town, which went on to become its capital and remain thus, until 1853 when after British annexation (1849) Major James Abbott shifted the seat of local administration up to the new Abbottabad town founded by him.
Haripur used to have a number of old bazaars and 'mohallas' (neighborhoods) around the massive Harkishangarh Fort, with their mosques, temples, Sikh 'gurdwaras' and so on. Most of these were, sadly, over the years since 1947 (Partition of British India and Independence of Pakistan) , were slowly destroyed to be replaced by new shopping markets of modern outlook. Some buildings and old sites from that time are surviving but in poor condition. Many of these are occupied illegally by 'qabza groups' (land-grabbing gangs) or forcefully taken over by supporters of big political persons and parties. So, by and large, nothing much now survives of the rich and beautiful past of Haripur. Only, here and there, we can see glimpses of that lost glory, in some 'haveli' which is gradually falling down; or in a doorway or arch or such structure, telling us some story of by-gone days-- for how long, I wonder.
It's no doubt a good idea to try to record and preserve at least what is left by photos and these accounts, since we can't save these sites themselves. Our federal and provincial governments have time and money for expensive foreign tours, for special allowances and perks for MNAs and MPs, for all sorts of wasteful expenditure, like the recent bakery bill of NWFP (KP) Chief Minister of Rs 4-5 lakhs (400, 000 or 500, 000 rupees) . Why worry about falling old buildings and temples, when you can have delicious cakes and pastries?
Surviving doorway of an old and partially destroyed 'haveli' building
Haripur (meaning 'town of Hari') is an old town, in Hazara region of North-West Frontier Province (some call it KP now) of Pakistan. The town was founded in 1822 , along with the famous 'Harkishangarh Fort' by the able and strong Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa. Nalwa had been appointed to control and bring order to the turbulent Hazara region, by order of the Sikh Darbar (court) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore.
By establishing a strong fort and garrison at this location in lower Hazara, and by setting up a rich and prosperous market town (mostly famous for its grain, fruits and vegetables) Nalwa was eventually not only able to control this area but also monitor and check activities in upper Hazara, and to pacify most of this region. In this process, he also gave Hazara a valuable new town, which went on to become its capital and remain thus, until 1853 when after British annexation (1849) Major James Abbott shifted the seat of local administration up to the new Abbottabad town founded by him.
Haripur used to have a number of old bazaars and 'mohallas' (neighborhoods) around the massive Harkishangarh Fort, with their mosques, temples, Sikh 'gurdwaras' and so on. Most of these were, sadly, over the years since 1947 (Partition of British India and Independence of Pakistan) , were slowly destroyed to be replaced by new shopping markets of modern outlook. Some buildings and old sites from that time are surviving but in poor condition. Many of these are occupied illegally by 'qabza groups' (land-grabbing gangs) or forcefully taken over by supporters of big political persons and parties. So, by and large, nothing much now survives of the rich and beautiful past of Haripur. Only, here and there, we can see glimpses of that lost glory, in some 'haveli' which is gradually falling down; or in a doorway or arch or such structure, telling us some story of by-gone days-- for how long, I wonder.
It's no doubt a good idea to try to record and preserve at least what is left by photos and these accounts, since we can't save these sites themselves. Our federal and provincial governments have time and money for expensive foreign tours, for special allowances and perks for MNAs and MPs, for all sorts of wasteful expenditure, like the recent bakery bill of NWFP (KP) Chief Minister of Rs 4-5 lakhs (400, 000 or 500, 000 rupees) . Why worry about falling old buildings and temples, when you can have delicious cakes and pastries?
Surviving doorway of an old and partially destroyed 'haveli' building
You have a very good blog. Obviously you have made a considerable effort in collecting all the details about these old havelis. But it would have been much better if you had given more pictures of these havelis. It would be helpful if you could give exact location by inserting a map or give coordinates.
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