# Hund, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Hund (Pashto: هنډ), known in antiquity as Udabhandapura, is a small village in Swabi district, situated on the right bank of the Indus River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is about 15 km upstream of Attock Fort and is located 80 km to the east of Peshawar.
It was the site of Alexander the Great's crossing of the Indus in 327 BC, and an important site of Gandhara ruins. It is also the site of Hund Museum.

## Name

The historical city of Hund, known by various names throughout different periods, has been mentioned in several ancient texts and accounts.
* Embolima – A strategic supply depot mentioned in Anabasis by Arrian, associated with Alexander the Great’s Indian campaign.
* Hound – A name attributed to the British colonial period, possibly related to Hund’s legal or administrative significance.
* Oond – Named by British officer James Abbott, reflecting colonial-era phonetic variations.
* Ohind (ओहिन्द / اوہند) – Mentioned by Mirza Mughal Beg, derived from Udabhandapura, a significant town of the Hindu Shahi dynasty.
* Udabhandapura (उदभांडपुर / اُدبھانڈپور) – Also known as Udakhanda (उदखंड / اُدکھنڈ), it was the capital of the Hindu Shahi dynasty before its fall to the Ghaznavids.
* Udakabhanda (उदकभंड / اُدکبھند) – Mentioned as "U-To-Kia-han-Cha" by the Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang.
* Waihind / Wahand / Vaihind / Wayhand (वैहिंद / وۂیند) – Referred to in the works of Al-Biruni, especially in relation to the Ghaznavid Empire.
* Unda (उंड / اُنڈ) – A historical name found in Indian and Persian records.
* Udbhanga (उद्भांग / اُدبھانگ) – A lesser-known variation used in some Sanskrit inscriptions.
* Udbhanda – Mentioned in the Rajatarangini by Kalhana, referring to Hund’s historical importance.

## History

It was Turk Shahi capital of Gandhara, which possibly functioned as a winter capital alternating with the summer capital of Kabul, within their kingdom of Kapisa-Gandhara in the 7-9th century AD.
Hund was also the last capital of Gandhara, following Charsadda (then Pushkalavati) and Peshawar (then known as Purushapura), under the Hindu Shahi rulers until the beginning of 11th century AD, when Mahmud of Ghazni defeated Anandapala, the last Hindu Shahi ruler in Gandhara. The Hindu Shahi capital was then shifted to Nandana in the Salt Range, Punjab. It has also been said that the Mongol invader Genghis Khan also followed Khwarezm Shah up to Hund, before the prince jumped into the Indus River on his way to India.

## Geography

The village Hund is surrounded by a fort, remains of which are still visible. There were four gates of the walled city which are visible till to date and were used as entry and exit points. It is said that of the walled city a deep trench was also dug to control un authorized entry. The trench was crossed by a movable wooden bridge which used to be lifted at night by the guards of the gates and Garrison closed at night. According to some historians there was a tunnel inside the walled city which connected Hund Garrison with Attock Fort so that both Garrisons can reinforce each other in case of attack and used the tunnel as a withdrawal route in case a Garrison fell into enemy hands.
Old relics and remains of ancient civilizations have been found in the village after excavation work was undertaken by the government in recent past. The history and past glory of the Hund has been preserved by the govt by constructing a museum in the village on the bank of river Indus. A replica of tower of Olympia has also been constructed watching the mighty Indus in the memory of Alexander the Great who crossed river Indus and stayed in Hund during his last military campaign of the Indian sub continent.

## Settlements

Before Pakistan-India partition, the village was a mixture of Hindu and Muslim population. Remains of Hindu worship places and their residences were visible till near past, however same are now nearly non existent after increase in population. After partition most of the nonuslims left for India. Now the village was mainly inhibited by Pathans who later on invited artisans from other clans and casts to settle down in the village so as to make it an independent entity. The settlements of Balar Khel are mainly in villages Zaida, Maini, Yaqubi, Yar Hussain, Hund, Ambar, Lahor, Kaddi and Panj Pir in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Hund has also the unique honour to be the capital of a Hindu Maharaja and a military Garrison of Akbar the According to Historians Hund is one the oldest city in earth surviving till to date.
* Buddhist Devata statue from Hund, 6–7th century AD. Museum of Oriental Art (Turin)
* Buddhist Devata, 6–7th century AD, Hund. Museum of Oriental Art (Turin)
* Hund Museum

## Rulers and Periods

Achaemenid Empire (6th–4th Century BC)
During the Achaemenid Empire, Hund was part of the Gandhara region, a satrapy (province) of the Persian Empire, which was based in modern-day Iran. The Achaemenids, under rulers like Cyrus the Great and Darius I, controlled vast territories stretching from the Balkans to the Indus Valley. Hund, strategically located on the banks of the Indus River, likely served as a crucial trade and military outpost, connecting the Persian heartlands with the Indian subcontinent. The Behistun Inscription of Darius I mentions Gandāra as a province, indicating Hund’s inclusion in this administrative structure. This period established Hund's strategic importance, as evidenced by Persian inscriptions and accounts such as those found in Herodotus' Histories.
Alexander the Great (327–323 BC)
In 327 BC, Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king, crossed the Indus River at Hund during his campaign in India. Historical texts, such as Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander, describe this site as Embolima, a strategic supply depot. Alexander’s forces used Hund as a base for their operations, highlighting its importance as a crossing point on the Indus. After his death in 323 BC, his empire fragmented, leaving the region open to new powers. This event marked Hund’s role as a key military and logistical hub during one of history’s most famous campaigns.Arrian (1884). The Anabasis of Alexander. Translated by Edward James Chinnock. Hodder & Stoughton. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
Maurya Empire (321–185 BC)
After Alexander the Great’s departure, the Maurya Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, rose to power in 321 BC. Hund, as part of Gandhara, came under Mauryan control, which stretched from modern Iran to southern India. The emperor Ashoka (r. 268–232 BC) is particularly notable for promoting Buddhism. Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to various parts of his empire, including Gandhara, where Buddhism began to spread. Rock edicts of Ashoka, found in nearby regions like Shahbazgarhi, indicate the empire’s administrative reach, likely influencing Hund’s cultural and religious development.
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom & Indo-Greek Kingdom (185 BC–c. 50 AD)
Following the decline of the Maurya Empire around 185 BC, the region came under the influence of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and Indo-Greek Kingdom. These Hellenistic kingdoms, established by successors of Alexander the Great’s generals, ruled parts of Central Asia and northern India. Hund, as part of Gandhara, was exposed to Greek culture, which blended with local traditions to create the Gandhara art style—a fusion of Greek and Indian artistic elements, seen in sculptures and architecture. Rulers like Menander I (c. 155–130 BC) left a lasting impact, with numismatic evidence supporting their presence
Kushan Empire (1st–3rd Century AD)
The Kushan Empire, under rulers like Kanishka (c. 127–150 AD), controlled Gandhara, including Hund, from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. This period saw the peak of Buddhist influence, with Hund likely serving as a center for Buddhist learning and culture. The Kushans were known for their patronage of Buddhism and the arts, building many stupas and monasteries. Hund’s location on trade routes made it a hub for pilgrims and merchants, with archaeological findings like Buddhist artifacts supporting this role.
Kidarites (4th Century AD)
The Kidarites, a Huna tribe from Central Asia, ruled parts of Gandhara, including Hund, in the 4th century AD. After the decline of the Kushan Empire, they established control over trade routes and settlements. While specific records about Hund during this period are scarce, its strategic location on the Indus River suggests it remained an important settlement. The Kidarites were known for their military prowess, with coins and inscriptions providing evidence of their rule.
Hephthalites (5th–6th Century AD)
The Hephthalites, another Huna tribe, succeeded the Kidarites and controlled the region, including Hund, from the 5th to early 6th century AD. Known as the White Huns, they interacted with both Indian and Persian civilizations, with archaeological evidence like coins found in Gandhara. Detailed records of Hund during this period are limited, but its role as a trade and military hub likely continued under their rule.
Turk Shahi Dynasty (7th–9th Century AD)
Hund served as the capital of Gandhara under the Turk Shahi dynasty from the 7th to 9th centuries AD, possibly functioning as a winter capital alternating with Kabul. The Turk Shahis, of Turkic origin, ruled over a vast territory, including parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hund’s prominence as a political and cultural center is noted in historical texts, with its role in the Kapisa-Gandhara kingdom highlighted.

## Muslim Merchant Community of Hund

Contrary to the narratives that Muslims first appeared in the regions of today's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab as conquerors, the first contact between this region and Islam was through flourishing Muslim merchant communities settled in local cities.
One such city that housed a Muslim merchant community was Hund, also known historically as Wayhind. This illustrious city, located along the Indus River in Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was one of the principal towns of the Hindu Shahi kingdom and served as the last capital of Gandhara in the 11th century.
The 10th-century Muslim geographer from Palestine, Al-Muqaddasi, described Hund in the following words:
   Wayhind is an important capital, larger than al-Mansura. It has numerous pleasant and pure gardens, placed on level ground, abundant rivers, great rains, and various other riches. [It has] beautiful fruits, tall trees, evident prosperity, and cheap prices: three measures of honey cost one dirham, in accordance with the cheapness of bread and milk. And don’t ask! They have freed themselves from troubles and liberated from diseases.
The Hindu Shahi dynasty, the last local non-Muslim rulers of parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, were known for their religious tolerance, which perhaps extended to the settled Muslim merchant community in Hund. Their high character and courage earned them the admiration of even their adversaries after their kingdom fell.

## Buddhism and cultural ties between Hund and South Korea

Hund is renowned for its rich Buddhist heritage and is home to numerous Buddhist stupas and archaeological sites, reflecting its historical significance in the spread of Buddhism across Asia.
Hund holds historical importance as the birthplace of Monk Maranatha (Malananda), who introduced Mahayana Buddhism to the Kingdom of Baekje (18 BC–660 AD) in 384 AD. His efforts contributed to the establishment of Buddhism in Korea, shaping religious and cultural developments in the region.
In July 2019, a South Korean delegation visited Hund and expressed interest in establishing a sister city relationship between Hund and Yeonggwang County, South Korea. This initiative was based on their shared Buddhist heritage and archaeological significance.

## Population

The following data represents the population and housing statistics of Hund, collected in the year 2023 census.

### Population and education statistics

| Population (All) | Male | Female | Transgender | Literacy (All) | Literacy (Male) | Literacy (Female) | Primary Below Matric (Male) | Primary Below Matric (Female) | Matric Below Degree (Male) | Matric Below Degree (Female) | Degree & Above (Male) | Degree & Above (Female) | Muslim | Others | Age 10+ | Age 18+ | Age 60+ | Area (Acres) |
| 13,897 | 7,184 | 6,713 | – | 56.4% | 72.4% | 39.5% | 1,560 | 975 | 1,196 | 422 | 347 | 118 | 13,876 | 21 | 9,856 | 7,186 | 914 | 6,946 |

### Housing characteristics

| Total Houses | Pacca | Semi-Pacca | Kacha | Average Household Size | Potable Water | Electricity | Gas | Kitchen | Bathroom | Latrine |
| 2,009 | 1,466 | 300 | 243 | 6.8 | 1,478 | 1,874 | 5 | 1,320 | 1,285 | 1,252 |