Hund, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Hund (Pashto: هنډ), historically known as Udabhandapura, is a small village in Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is located on the right bank of the Indus River, approximately 15 km upstream from Attock Fort and 80 km east of Peshawar.
The village is historically significant as the site where Alexander the Great crossed the Indus River in 327 BC during his Indian campaign. Later, from the 7th to 9th centuries AD, Hund served as the winter capital of the Turk Shahi dynasty, alternating with Kabul as the summer capital. After the decline of the Turk Shahis, the Hindu Shahi dynasty made Hund its primary capital until the early 11th century when Mahmud of Ghazni conquered the region.
Hund’s strategic location on the Indus made it a vital crossing point and trade hub in ancient times. Over the centuries, it was ruled by various empires, including the Achaemenids, Mauryas, Kushans, Ghaznavids, Mughals, Sikhs, and the British Raj, each leaving a mark on the village’s development. During the Mughal Empire, Akbar used Hund as a military garrison.
Prior to the Partition of India in 1947, Hund had a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims, with remnants of Hindu temples and traditional residences still visible. After partition, most non-Muslim residents migrated to India, and the village is now primarily inhabited by Pathans. The demographic shift reflects the broader migration patterns of the subcontinent during that time.
Today, Hund is known for the Hund Museum, which displays artifacts from the Gandhara civilization, including coins and Buddhist relics. Recent archaeological excavations by the Provincial Archaeology and Museums Directorate have uncovered remains of houses, coins, and household items from the Hindu Shahi period, including evidence of an advanced drainage system. These findings continue to highlight Hund’s historical importance.
Hund’s transformation from an ancient capital to a modern village highlights centuries of cultural, political, and demographic change. Its long history is preserved through ongoing archaeological efforts and the Hund Museum, ensuring its legacy remains for future generations.
The historical city of Hund, known by various names throughout different periods, has been mentioned in several ancient texts and accounts.
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.
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.
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.
Akbar’s Fort in Hund is a historical military fort located in Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Constructed in 1586 AD under the orders of Emperor Akbar, the fort was built as a strategic military outpost to monitor the movements of the Yousafzai tribe and secure the Indus River crossing. Situated approximately 15 km from Swabi and 5 km from the M1 Swabi Interchange, the fort played a crucial role in the defense and trade of the region. Hund has a rich history dating back to ancient times. It was once known as Udabhandapura and is notably recognized as the site where Alexander the Great crossed the Indus River in 326 BC. Later, it served as the capital of the Hindu Shahi dynasty until it was conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 AD. The area also gained historical prominence in 1221 AD when Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, the last ruler of the Khwarazmian Empire, leapt into the Indus near Hund to escape Genghis Khan. During the Mughal Empire (1526–1707), Hund was a crucial military base, with Akbar’s Fort serving as a significant defensive structure. The fort is believed to have been designed by Raja Birbal, one of Akbar’s closest advisors and generals. Built using red bricks, its square layout, with gates positioned centrally on each wall, reflects the traditional Mughal military architecture. Following the decline of the Mughals, Hund came under the rule of Nader Shah in 1738, later falling to the Sikh Empire under Ranjit Singh in 1818. After the British annexation of Punjab in 1849, Hund became part of the North-West Frontier Province. Throughout these transitions, the fort remained a key military site. Although now in ruins, Akbar’s Fort remains an important historical site. Since 1995, excavations conducted by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have uncovered artifacts, including coins, pottery, and weapons from earlier periods such as the Hindu Shahi and Kushan Empire. A survey conducted in 1996–97 mapped the fort’s dimensions, identifying a fortified area approximately 3 km in length and 38 feet in depth. Some historical accounts also suggest that a tunnel once connected Hund Garrison to Attock Fort, facilitating military reinforcements.
Today, Akbar’s Fort is part of Hund’s historical heritage, surrounded by the modern village and situated near the Hund Museum. The museum preserves artifacts from various historical periods, including relics from the Gandhara civilization, items dating back to Alexander the Great, and remains from the Hindu Shahi period. These discoveries highlight Hund’s long history of human settlement and make it an important site for archaeologists and history enthusiasts.
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.
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.
Hindu Shahi Dynasty (9th–11th Century AD)
Hund remained the capital of Gandhara under the Hindu Shahi rulers from the 9th century until the early 11th century AD. The Hindu Shahis, successors to the Turk Shahis, resisted Islamic invasions, with Hund (known as Udabhandapura) as their last capital. In 1001 AD, Mahmud of Ghazni defeated Anandapala, the last Hindu Shahi ruler, leading to the fall of Hund as a capital and its integration into Islamic rule.
Ghaznavid Empire (11th–12th Century AD)
After Mahmud of Ghazni’s conquest in 1001 AD, Hund became part of the Ghaznavid Empire, which ruled over much of northern India and Afghanistan. Known as Waihind during this period, Hund’s strategic location on the Indus River made it an important administrative center. The Ghaznavids, under Mahmud and his successors, expanded their influence, with Al-Biruni’s works documenting this era.
Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 AD)
Following the decline of the Ghaznavids, the Delhi Sultanate extended its control over the region, including Hund, from 1206 to 1526 AD. Various dynasties, such as the Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, and Lodis, governed the area. Specific details about Hund during this period are not well-documented, but it remained part of a larger administrative structure under the Sultanate.
Mughal Empire (1526–18th Century AD)
The Mughal Empire, founded by Babur in 1526 AD, brought Hund under its rule. The Mughals maintained control over the region for several centuries, with Hund serving as part of their vast administrative structure. Its location on the Indus made it a key point for trade and military movements, with emperors like Akbar and Aurangzeb overseeing the region.
Sikh Empire (1818–1849 AD)
In the early 19th century, the Sikh Empire under Ranjit Singh expanded its territory to include Hund around 1818 AD. The Sikhs ruled the region until their defeat by the British in 1849 after the Second Anglo-Sikh War. This period marked a brief but significant phase of Sikh rule, with Hund part of their northwestern territories.
British Raj (1849–1947)
After the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849, Hund came under British control as part of the British Raj. Administered as part of the North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955), Hund was known by names like Oond and Hound, reflecting colonial phonetic variations. The British maintained order and developed infrastructure, with Hund’s historical significance noted in colonial records.
Pakistan (1947–Present)
Since the Partition of India in 1947, Hund has been part of Pakistan, located in Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Today, it is a small village known for its historical significance and the Hund Museum, which preserves artifacts from its rich past, attracting tourists and historians. The village remains a symbol of its ancient heritage, with ongoing efforts to protect its archaeological sites.
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:
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.
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.
The following data represents the population and housing statistics of Hund, collected in the year 2023 census.
schools, literacy rates
access to Hund
agriculture, tourism
This article is currently being researched and expanded by a resident of Hund village, Shehryar Khan S/O Lal Bahadur. It remains incomplete, and further improvements are ongoing to enhance its coverage and accuracy.