The tomb of Khushal Khan Khattak, the Pashto warrior-poet, stands in the hills near Akora Khattak in Nowshera district, on a link road of about six kilometres from the Grand Trunk Road. Akora Khattak itself is roughly 14 km east of Nowshera city. It is a small, quiet memorial rather than a developed tourist site, and visits are short: most people spend half an hour.
Nowshera district is one of the areas where foreign governments advise caution, so the section on safety below is worth reading before you plan anything. This guide covers where the tomb is, the road, what you will find, and how to fit it into a longer drive along the Grand Trunk Road.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Place | Chashmai / Esori hamlet, near Akora Khattak, Nowshera district |
| From Nowshera city | About 14 km to Akora Khattak, then a link road of about 6 km |
| Built | Mausoleum completed in 1949 |
| Entry fee | No published ticket price found; a government watchman is on site |
| Time needed | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Facilities | Very few |
Who was Khushal Khan Khattak?
Khushal Khan Khattak was born in Akora Khattak in 1613 and died in February 1689 at Dambara in Tirah. He was a chief of the Khattak tribe, a soldier, and a prolific poet, and is widely called the father of Pashto literature. Estimates put his output at more than 45,000 verses and around 260 books, including the falconry manual Baz-nama and the Swat-nama, which describes a journey through Swat.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned him in 1658 and held him for about ten years, at Gwalior and possibly elsewhere, and his later years were spent in resistance to Mughal rule. Allama Iqbal wrote a poem about him, Khushhal Khan Ki Wasiyat. Following his wishes, he was buried at Chashmai village, near Akora Khattak.
Where is the tomb and how do you get there?
The tomb lies just outside Akora Khattak, in a hamlet the sources name variously as Chashmai and Esori Bala. Akora Khattak sits on the Grand Trunk Road between Peshawar and Attock, about 14 km east of Nowshera.
From the GT Road a metalled road of about six kilometres leads to the tomb. A 2015 Dawn report described that road as in poor condition with many speed breakers, so allow more time than the distance suggests and expect to slow down in the villages. Ask for "Khushal Baba mazar", the name locals use, rather than relying on map labels.
Coming from Islamabad or Peshawar, the site fits into a day along the GT Road rather than a trip of its own. Our guide to forts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa covers other historic stops in the same region.
What is there to see?
The mausoleum was built in 1949 with donations from a Pashto literary society in Kabul, using black marble slabs brought from Afghanistan. It was renovated in 1989 and again in the mid-2000s. Visitors used to scratch graffiti on the marble, so an iron cage now stands over the grave.
The site is modest. There is a small enclosed yard, a watchman appointed by the government, and a visitors' book. Khushal Khan's daughter Halema is buried close by. A single-room guesthouse was built for visiting poets, though reports say it lacked basic facilities. Do not expect a cafe, a ticket office or signage in English.
Two things nearby add context:
- Khushal Khan Khattak Memorial Library in Akora Khattak, established in 1994 by the Government of Pakistan, houses artefacts from the poet's era. Opening hours are not published, so ask locally before making it the purpose of a trip.
- Darul Uloom Haqqania, the large seminary founded in 1947, is also in Akora Khattak. It is a working religious institution, not a sightseeing stop.
Timings, cost and etiquette
We could not find published opening hours or a ticket price for the tomb. In practice it is a shrine visited by locals and admirers of Pashto poetry, and daytime visits are the sensible choice. If a watchman asks for a small tip or to sign the book, that is normal, but nothing is fixed.
Dress modestly, keep voices low, and ask before photographing people. The site is a place of respect for many Pashtuns, and a polite greeting to the watchman goes a long way. Bring your CNIC, since checkposts on the GT Road can ask for it.
Is it safe to visit Akora Khattak?
Nowshera district is on the UK government's list of areas where it advises against all but essential travel, and Peshawar, just to the west, is on its list of areas where it advises against all travel. In February 2025 a suicide bomber attacked Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak during Friday prayers, killing several people including the seminary's head, Hamid ul Haq Haqqani. Pakistani visitors still travel along the GT Road daily, and the tomb itself is quiet, but this is not a destination to visit casually.
Check local news and current police advice before you set out, tell someone your plans, and avoid Friday prayer times around the seminary. Overseas visitors should check their own government's travel advice, which may say not to go, and following it can affect travel insurance. If in doubt, skip it.
Is the Khushal Khan Khattak tomb worth visiting?
It is worth it if you care about Pashto literature or Mughal-era Pashtun history and are already travelling the GT Road. The tomb is simple, the road is rough, and there is little to do beyond paying respects and reading the poet's inscription.
It is not worth a special trip for anyone looking for scenery or facilities. For a wider route through the region, our travel guide explains how we plan trips in the north, and our tours cover the routes we run.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Khushal Khan Khattak's tomb?
Near Akora Khattak in Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on a link road of about six kilometres from the Grand Trunk Road. Akora Khattak is roughly 14 km east of Nowshera city.
When was the tomb built?
The mausoleum was built in 1949 and renovated in 1989 and again in the mid-2000s. Khushal Khan himself died in 1689.
Is there an entry fee?
We found no published ticket price. A government watchman looks after the site, so ask him and carry small cash in case a tip is expected.
Can foreigners visit the tomb?
Nowshera is in an area where the UK government advises against all but essential travel. Foreign visitors should read their own government's advice first, because ignoring it can void travel insurance.
Why is Khushal Khan Khattak important?
He is regarded as the father of Pashto literature and a symbol of Pashtun resistance to Mughal rule. He wrote tens of thousands of verses and around 260 books.
