The main places to visit in Kohat are Tanda Dam, a lake and picnic spot about 10 km from the city; the Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel on the road south towards Dara Adam Khel; the old city's bazaars, built around Kohat Fort; and the Shahi Masjid. Kohat is also one of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts the UK government advises against all travel to, after a large attack on the city's police lines in September 2026.
Kohat sits on the Indus Highway between Peshawar and Bannu, at the northern end of the Kohat Pass. It has never been a tourist town in the way Swat or Hunza are; it is a garrison and market city that most travellers pass through rather than stop in. This guide covers what there is to see, and the security picture you need before you go.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the N-55 Indus Highway |
| From Peshawar | About 65 km, under 1.5 hours by road |
| From Islamabad | About 190 km via the M-1 and Kohat road |
| Known for | Tanda Dam, the Kohat Tunnel, Kohat salt and Khattak culture |
| Best months | November to March; summers are very hot |
| UK advice (September 2026) | Against all travel to Kohat district |
Is Kohat safe to visit?
This has to come first. On 18 September 2026 a suicide car bomb and gun attack hit the mosque inside the Kohat Police Lines during Friday prayers, followed by a gun battle as several attackers tried to storm the compound. At least 23 people were killed, including 17 police officers and six civilians, and more than 100 were injured, before security forces cleared the site the next morning (Dawn). A faction linked to the Pakistani Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur claimed responsibility.
The UK government's Pakistan travel advice, updated 22 September 2026, advises against all travel to Kohat district, along with the neighbouring districts of Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and the former tribal areas. Kohat city itself functions day to day, with shops, offices and schools open, and it is a normal place to live and pass through. But it is not a place to visit for tourism at present. If you have reason to travel through the district, go by daylight on the main highway, check local news before setting out, and follow police instructions at checkpoints. Overseas visitors should be aware that their own government's advice may say not to go, and that travelling against it can void travel insurance.
Tanda Dam
Tanda Dam, about 10 km east of the city, is Kohat's main leisure spot: a reservoir ringed by hills on three sides, built for irrigation in the 1960s and now a Ramsar-listed wetland that draws migratory birds in winter. Families come for boating, fishing and picnics on the lakeside.
Treat boating there with real caution. In January 2023, a boat carrying children from a local madrassa on a day trip capsized on the lake and 51 people, including 49 children, drowned. Wear a life jacket if one is offered, don't overload a boat, and keep young children close to the water's edge rather than on the water. Our full guide to Tanda Dam covers access and what to expect in more detail.
The Kohat Tunnel
South of the city, the Indus Highway passes through the 1.89 km Kohat Tunnel under the Khigana hills, built with Japanese development funding and opened in 2003, which is why it is also called the Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel. It replaced the old, narrow Kohat Pass road and cut the journey towards Dara Adam Khel and onward to Bannu. Our guide to the Kohat Tunnel has the history and what the drive is like.
Kohat Fort and the old bazaars
Kohat Fort, in the old city, dates from the Sikh and early British period and later served as a cantonment building; it is not generally open for casual visits. Around it, the old bazaars are the more accessible draw: narrow lanes selling cloth, dry fruit and household goods, much like other Khyber Pakhtunkhwa market towns.
The Shahi Masjid, one of Kohat's older mosques, is a landmark of the old city. Kohat is also known regionally for rock salt, mined nearby, and for being the historic centre of Khattak Pashtun culture, including the Khattak sword dance performed at weddings and festivals.
Dara Adam Khel
Just south of the Kohat Tunnel is Dara Adam Khel, long known across Pakistan as a centre for locally made firearms, sold openly from shops along the main road. It sits in what was formerly tribal territory and carries the same UK advisory as the rest of the district. It is not a stop to make without a specific, well-informed reason, and never to buy or handle weapons as a novelty.
Who is Kohat for?
At present, mainly for people with business, family or a specific reason to be in the district, travelling with local knowledge. It is not somewhere to build a family holiday around in 2026. If your interest is Tanda Dam's boating and picnic scene or the Kohat Tunnel's engineering, those alone are not worth the district's current risk profile as a standalone trip.
For a look at the rest of the province, our guide to places to visit in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa covers the valleys further north, where most visitors go, and where the UK advisory does not apply. If you would like help thinking through a KP itinerary, tell us what you have in mind.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kohat famous for?
Tanda Dam, the Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel, rock salt mining, and Khattak Pashtun culture, including the Khattak sword dance. It also sits at the northern end of the historic Kohat Pass.
Is Kohat safe for tourists right now?
The UK government advises against all travel to Kohat district. A suicide bomb and gun attack on the city's police lines killed at least 23 people on 18 September 2026. It is not a place to visit casually as a tourist at present; check current news and local advice before any journey there.
How far is Kohat from Peshawar and Islamabad?
About 65 km from Peshawar, under 1.5 hours by road on the N-55, and about 190 km from Islamabad.
Is Tanda Dam safe for boating?
Take it seriously. A boat carrying schoolchildren capsized there in January 2023 and 51 people drowned. Use a life jacket, don't overload a boat, and supervise children closely near the water.
Can I visit Dara Adam Khel?
It is on the same UK "all travel" advisory as the rest of Kohat district. It is not a stop to make casually, and buying or handling firearms there is not something to do as a tourist activity.
