Hello Local Guides Family
As a foodie, I never miss a chance to try unexplored food and visit new places just for food.
So some months ago, I got an opportunity to visit the North of Pakistan, and on an awesome trip, my two days were spent in Peshawar where the world of taste was waiting.
If you are a meat lover from any country of the world, you must visit Peshawar’s Namak Mandi Food Street in person or through different Vlogs. It is famous for its Mutton Ribs Babeque, Chapli Kabab, Peshawari Lamb Karhai, Mutton Ribs, and many other delicious signature foods of the Province KPK.
So how can I miss visiting it when the unique taste of Namak Mandi was not so far from me?
But, before I visited Namak Mandi, I had an enriching experience exploring the Khyber Pass, a renowned landmark in Peshawar, Pakistan. It was especially meaningful as we often see images of Pakistani currency notes and postal stamps. The distance from the place I was staying, Hassan Garhi, to the Khyber Pass was approximately 50 kilometers, and the drive took about an hour.
Bab-E-Khyber is an esteemed arched entrance that serves as the main gateway to the famous Khyber Pass. Next to it lies Jamrud Fort. This splendid structure was constructed in June 1963 and features engraved plaques depicting the historical significance of the past, including past rulers and invaders. The Khyber Pass, known as the gateway to the Indian subcontinent, begins approximately 3 miles northwest of Fort Jamrud and stretches for 23 miles. It leads travelers through a rugged and desolate terrain that gradually narrows near Ali Masjid, providing a striking change in scenery. The pass ascends to the Landi Kotal Plateau, reaching an altitude of 3,518 feet, before descending towards Torkham and the Shinwari region. The Durand Line, which marks the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, can be found in this area. From Bab-E-Khyber, which is located a one-hour drive from Peshawar, one can easily reach Kabul. This iconic gate serves as a proud symbol of Pakistan’s identity worldwide.
During my visit, I had the opportunity to ride the BRT bus station near Hassan Garhee, which offered a unique perspective of the city from an elevated vantage point. The bus route was lined with pillars, providing a bird’s-eye view of Peshawar. I was struck by the city’s abundant greenery, which contrasted with the concrete jungle of my hometown, Karachi.
Upon reaching the Khyber Pass, my priority was to capture some photographs, as it was relatively uncrowded at that time. However, after spending around 30 minutes there, we noticed a significant influx of tourists from Pakistan and abroad, including vloggers who were busy creating videos of their experiences.
On the same night, even though I was so tired after a long trip to Khyber Pass and Mohmand Agency. But I insisted my host let me visit Namak Mandi food street which is famous all over the world for its unique tastes. So after the evening, we started our journey again from the Hassan Garhee area of Peshawar.
It was just a 15-minute drive and we reached there comfortably.
It was about a one-kilometer street with a lot of famous restaurants which I only saw in Vlogs of different bloggers’ videos.
Our destination was Iqbal Tikka Karhai Shop, which is underrated among tourists but so popular for its Chapli Kabab and Lamb Ribs Babeque among the locals of Peshawar, which they cook with fewer spices but with some ingredients which make this dish so unique and tempting.
We were four people including Local Guide @DrFoodieOfficial (I mean myself ), so we ordered a__2-kilogram Lamb Ribs Babeque__ and some four __Buff Chapli Kabab__at a weight of 1 kg. It was more than enough if we all were from Karachi, but as the rest of the three people excluding me were people from the mountains, so they surely can eat more than a person from a city of concrete buildings in Karachi
Every item we sampled there was incredible, but the standout was undoubtedly the Lamb Ribs Babeque paired with fluffy Tandoori Naan. I have never experienced such an exceptional flavor of food in Karachi or anywhere else before.
One aspect that truly impressed me was the excellent seating arrangements and accessible entrance. It was heartwarming to witness how well-designed and accommodating the facilities were for differently-abled individuals.