A view of Peshawar city’s iconic 200-year-old building Khan Klub. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR: Once upon a time, Khan Klub resembled a part of some fabled land right out of an ancient tale. Today the boutique hotel — that was actually a Hindu haveli — is enveloped in particles of flour, and looks nothing like it used to.
Once a favourite haunt of visiting foreigners, it is now employed for commercial purposes. The hotel building is now in a shambles and its halls have been turned into a flour godown.
Built over 200 years ago, the place was renovated and converted into a hotel in 1995 by Martin Jay Davis, an Irish-American, in partnership with a local by the name of Inayatullah. It soon emerged as one of the city’s most attractive hotels. Its rooms were named and designed according to certain themes, says Adil Zareef, head of the Sarhad Conservation Network.
Abdul Qayyum, who was once associated with the Khan Klub, told The Express Tribune that people from around the world have stayed here during their sojourn in Peshawar. “We have seen foreigners here from every part of the world who used to stay in the city without any fear,” said Qayyum.
After 2001 Khan Klub fell into a state of rapid decline. That was when militancy erupted and visitors started avoiding Peshawar.
“Ultimately the Klub had to be closed down. Before militancy, however, its boisterous New Year celebrations invoked the wrath of the Jamaat-e-Islami which accused it of spreading vulgarity in the city.”
“The federal government does not facilitate foreign tourists in K-P. Also, there is a lack of political will in K-P government officials to make efforts for the preservation of the 3,000-year old city,” said Zareef.
In Peshawar alone, there are 300 sites which can earn huge revenue through tourism. Before Khan Klub, Peshawar also lost Deans hotel — the only European-style hotel constructed by the British government — which has since been replaced by a shopping plaza.
The club in situated at the junction of the historical markets of the city, on a side of the old walled city of Peshawar. It has strong influences of old Peshawari architecture. The ceilings of some of its rooms are as high as 22 feet.
The spacious basement where once some of the most famous musicians performed the cultural music of the Pakhtuns is now a flour godown. Reminiscing about the good old days, Qayyum said that the Rabab along with tabla was a regular feature every day.
The Klub used to serve traditional as well as western foods and drinks, but Pakhtun culture was always prominent. In a dining hall done up to remind one of the Mughal era, tourists used to rest on traditional cushions and devour delicacies like Kabuli Pulao before washing down the same with Qahwa. Here was once the most expensive restaurant in the city. A small library of books on the history and culture of the province was also established there to provide maximum information to the visitors.
In Qayyum’s opinion, the club was opened mainly to entertain tourists, and it closed down due to an absence of foreigners. He added that when the owners of the building tried to sell it, no one was ready to invest such a huge amount of money, and potential buyers did not see it as economically feasible option.
“As a part of the fabric of society, buildings have a relation with the social, economic and political system. Without them, nothing will be left of our culture,” adds Zareef.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2014.
Once a favourite haunt of visiting foreigners, it is now employed for commercial purposes. The hotel building is now in a shambles and its halls have been turned into a flour godown.
Built over 200 years ago, the place was renovated and converted into a hotel in 1995 by Martin Jay Davis, an Irish-American, in partnership with a local by the name of Inayatullah. It soon emerged as one of the city’s most attractive hotels. Its rooms were named and designed according to certain themes, says Adil Zareef, head of the Sarhad Conservation Network.
Abdul Qayyum, who was once associated with the Khan Klub, told The Express Tribune that people from around the world have stayed here during their sojourn in Peshawar. “We have seen foreigners here from every part of the world who used to stay in the city without any fear,” said Qayyum.
After 2001 Khan Klub fell into a state of rapid decline. That was when militancy erupted and visitors started avoiding Peshawar.
“Ultimately the Klub had to be closed down. Before militancy, however, its boisterous New Year celebrations invoked the wrath of the Jamaat-e-Islami which accused it of spreading vulgarity in the city.”
“The federal government does not facilitate foreign tourists in K-P. Also, there is a lack of political will in K-P government officials to make efforts for the preservation of the 3,000-year old city,” said Zareef.
In Peshawar alone, there are 300 sites which can earn huge revenue through tourism. Before Khan Klub, Peshawar also lost Deans hotel — the only European-style hotel constructed by the British government — which has since been replaced by a shopping plaza.
The club in situated at the junction of the historical markets of the city, on a side of the old walled city of Peshawar. It has strong influences of old Peshawari architecture. The ceilings of some of its rooms are as high as 22 feet.
The spacious basement where once some of the most famous musicians performed the cultural music of the Pakhtuns is now a flour godown. Reminiscing about the good old days, Qayyum said that the Rabab along with tabla was a regular feature every day.
The Klub used to serve traditional as well as western foods and drinks, but Pakhtun culture was always prominent. In a dining hall done up to remind one of the Mughal era, tourists used to rest on traditional cushions and devour delicacies like Kabuli Pulao before washing down the same with Qahwa. Here was once the most expensive restaurant in the city. A small library of books on the history and culture of the province was also established there to provide maximum information to the visitors.
In Qayyum’s opinion, the club was opened mainly to entertain tourists, and it closed down due to an absence of foreigners. He added that when the owners of the building tried to sell it, no one was ready to invest such a huge amount of money, and potential buyers did not see it as economically feasible option.
“As a part of the fabric of society, buildings have a relation with the social, economic and political system. Without them, nothing will be left of our culture,” adds Zareef.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2014.
source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/791922/khan-klub-another-icon-of-peshawar-heritage-falls/
