Christ Church, Nowshera
Nowshera’s significance stems from its location at the threshold of the historic frontier region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While not a classical ancient city, it gained prominence under Afghan, Sikh, and British rule due to its control of movement between the Indian plains and the Afghan highlands.
During the Sikh Empire, it was the site of the pivotal Battle of Nowshera (1823) between Ranjit Singh’s forces and Afghan tribes. Later, the British developed it into a major cantonment and military logistics hub. Its position on the GT Road (Sher Shah Suri’s route) made it a crucial staging post for trade, military campaigns, and governance.
Nowshera served as a vital artery in the GT Road network, functioning as:
The GT Road enabled Nowshera to connect distant markets—linking Kabul and Kandahar to Lahore and Delhi.
Attock Fort, Attock
Attock was strategically founded by Emperor Akbar in 1581 to guard the crucial bridge over the Indus River, the westernmost edge of the Mughal Empire’s heartland. Known originally as Attock Fort, the settlement evolved into a major military post guarding the empire’s frontier against Afghan and Central Asian incursions.
Its position at the nexus of Punjab and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region made it indispensable to both defense and administration. The British later inherited this strategic vision and maintained Attock as a vital cantonment and supply post well into the 20th century.
Attock was indispensable to the function of the GT Road, acting as:
The GT Road’s passage through Attock ensured that the town was always on the radar of traders, kings, and invaders moving between Delhi and Kabul.
The GT Road shaped Attock as a symbol of continuity and defense—from Mughal emperors to modern national armies. Its presence at the crossroads of history and geography continues to define its identity.
Rawalpindi City
Rawalpindi’s foundations stretch back to ancient Buddhist settlements such as Sircap and Sirsukh near Taxila, but its modern significance began in the 18th century, when it was revived from ruins by the Ghakkar tribe and later absorbed into the expanding Sikh Empire.
By the mid-19th century, the British had established Rawalpindi as a key military cantonment after the annexation of Punjab in 1849. Its location near the GT Road and foothills made it an ideal base for operations toward Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Central Asia.
After independence, it became the headquarters of the Pakistan Army and continues to be one of the country’s most strategically important cities.
Rawalpindi became a major GT Road hub connecting the plains of Punjab with the rugged north. It served as:
Its position allowed for fluid troop movements, postal services, and later rail connectivity, blending road and rail for maximum strategic utility.
Rohtas Fort, Jhelum
Jhelum thrived as a transport, defense, and trade point along the GT Road. It functioned as:
A salt and timber export point, especially from the nearby Khewra mines
A military garrison and rest stop for soldiers moving between Rawalpindi and Lahore
A local collection hub for agricultural goods, shipped down the Jhelum River or overland
A connector between the northern hill tracts and the central Punjab plains
During the British period, Jhelum gained even more strategic value due to its road-rail integration and proximity to the Kashmir route.
Founded during ancient times and referenced by early historians and travelers, Gujrat became a prominent urban center due to its location between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. Though smaller than cities like Lahore or Multan, its location made it a natural midpoint between key administrative and military centers of Punjab.
It gained further historical significance during the Mughal, Sikh, and British eras, and later as the site of the decisive Battle of Gujrat (1849) that marked the final defeat of the Sikh Empire.
Gujrat rose in importance due to its direct connection to the Grand Trunk Road, serving as:
Its location along the Delhi–Lahore–Rawalpindi stretch allowed both local and long-distance commerce to thrive.
Known for: ceramics, furniture, agricultural tools, and electrical appliances
Tomri Sahib Mandir, Gujranwala
Gujranwala, located in modern-day Punjab, Pakistan, emerged as a significant urban center in the 18th century. Its rise is closely tied to the Sikh Confederacy and the Bhangi Misl, but it gained particular prominence when Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, was born here in 1780 and later made it his early capital. Its fertile plains and proximity to the Ravi River supported agricultural growth, and the city developed into a key military and political hub.
Situated along the Grand Trunk Road, Gujranwala functioned as a strategic link between Lahore and Rawalpindi. Its position made it a key staging point for caravans, troops, and administrative convoys. The city’s economy and significance were directly tied to the traffic and movement on this route, and local merchants thrived on trade passing through.
The British annexed Punjab in 1849 and developed Gujranwala as a district headquarters. They introduced railways, telegraph lines, courts, and schools, embedding it into the colonial administrative network. Though Lahore overshadowed it, Gujranwala was valued for its grain markets and artisan industries.
Historically, Gujranwala was a grain and livestock market, but it also developed metalwork and crafts during the Sikh period. By the British era, it was a key rail-trade town, especially in agricultural exports. Today, it remains one of Pakistan’s leading industrial cities. The culture reflects Punjabi resilience—rooted in Sikh legacy, transformed by Partition, and industrialized over time.
Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
Lahore’s origins are ancient and semi-legendary, dating back over 2,000 years, possibly mentioned in Ptolemy’s geography and associated with Luv, son of Lord Ram, in Hindu mythology. By the 11th century, it had emerged as a cultural and political center under the Ghaznavids, and later the Delhi Sultanate. Due to its location just west of the Ravi River, Lahore naturally became a key node on the Grand Trunk Road, serving as a gateway between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Lahore was a critical junction on the GT Road, linking Kabul, Peshawar, and Multan with Delhi and Bengal. It functioned as a military headquarters, a cosmopolitan trade stop, and a resting point for emperors, merchants, and saints alike. The GT Road passed through the heart of Lahore’s walled city, integrating it into South Asia’s largest trade and travel network.