The prime attraction in this region is the Khyber Pass situated in the Sulaiman hills which form the western barrier of Pakistan. The hills dip down here, leaving a passage sometimes as broad as 1 1/2 kms (I mile) and sometimes as narrow as 16 metres (42 feet). The pass begins near jamrud Fort 18 kms (11 miles) from Peshawar and extends beyond the border of Pakistan at Torkham 58 kms (36 miles) away. At Torkham PTDC has a Motel-cum-Information Centre which is closed at present due to unsettled conditions in Afghanistan.

You may travel by road from Peshawar via Jamrud fort which lies amongst low stony hills capped will, pickets manned by Khyber Rifles. Also on the way you will see Ali Masjid and the fort with insignia of the regiments that have served in the Khyber On route is also the Sphola stupa of Buddhist period (2-5 centuries A-D) and Landikotal Bazaar until you reach the border post at Torkham. The other exciting way of seeing Khyber Pass is to under take a 42 kms and 31/2 hours journey to Landikotal by the equally legendary Khyber Railway.

Khyber Railway: It threads its way through 34 tunnels crossing 92 bridges and culverts and climbing 1,200 metres. The British built it in 1920 at an enormous cost ot Rs. two million. Two or three coaches are pulled and pushed by two 1920 model steam engines. At one point, the track climbs 130 metres in less than a mile by means of the famous Changai Spur, a section of track shaped like a "W" with two reversing stations.

The Khyber Pass is presently closed to visitors and the Khyber Railway is also not operative due to unsettled conditions in Afghanistan. The Railway will, however be operative in the not too distant future. Darra Adam Khel is 42 kms (26 miles) south of Peshawar and leads on to Kohat. Darra is the biggest centre of indigenous arms manufacture. It has been supplying arms to the whole tribal belt for the last 100 years.

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