Pari Chera, wife of an emperor
Bakhtiar Agha
Peshawar is one of the oldest living cities in the Pak-India subcontinent. It holds immense historical significance, with many ancient buildings and stories preserved in the old history books or passed down through generations. However, the new generation remains largely unaware of Peshawar’s rich past.
The old city once had 12 grand gates, one of which is Kohati Gate, located in the heart of the metropolis. Upon entering this gate, there is a mosque on the right side, adjacent to an old wall that extends toward a nearby building. This portion of the wall is known as “Pari Chera”, a site now reduced to less than a kanal in size. Here lies the grave of an Iranian queen, Pari Chera, the beloved wife of Nadir Shah Afshar, an Iranian king who invaded India in 1736-37, delivering a decisive blow to the weakening Mughal Empire.
When Nadir Shah marched toward Delhi from Qandahar via Kabul, Khyber Pass, and Peshawar, the city was under the governorship of Nawab Nasir Khan, appointed by the Mughal ruler Muhammad Shah, commonly known as Muhammad Shah Rangila. Instead of resisting, Nawab Nasir Khan wisely chose diplomacy, welcoming the Iranian emperor near Kotla Mohsin Khan and handing over the city’s keys. His strategy saved Peshawar and its residents from destruction, earning the appreciation of Nadir Shah, who decided to halt in the city for a few days.
Pari Chera, who had accompanied her husband on this military expedition, fell seriously ill. Despite all efforts to cure her, her condition worsened. She urged Nadir Shah to continue his mission to conquer Delhi, rather than delay for her sake. With a heavy heart, Nadir Shah left Peshawar, entrusting the care of his ailing wife to Governor Nasir Khan. As the Iranian emperor engaged in battle against Muhammad Shah Rangila’s forces, Pari Chera passed away at the governor’s residence in Peshawar.
Messengers were immediately dispatched to Delhi to inform Nadir Shah of his wife’s death. Pari Chera was laid to rest in a garden near the governor’s house, which, in Mughal times, was located at the present-day site of Mission School inside Kohati Gate. This garden was once part of what is now Wazir Bagh.
Upon his victorious return from Delhi, Nadir Shah halted in Peshawar for nearly two months and ordered the construction of a grand tomb over his wife’s grave. 10-kanal of land was allocated for this purpose, and expert builders were summoned from Iran, Afghanistan and India. Precious stones were transported from various regions to adorn the mausoleum. While the queen’s true name remains unknown, historical accounts suggest that she was extraordinarily beautiful, inspiring those who saw her to praise her unmatched charm. This admiration led to her being called “Pari Chera” meaning ‘fairy-faced’.
Today, there are little remains of her grave. The 10-kanal land has been reduced to just a few marlas, with only a notice board hanging from a tree to mark the site. Multiple parties, including the prominent Qizilbash family of Peshawar, have laid claim to the land, and the matter remains pending in court. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also claims ownership, having declared the site an official archive under the KP Archives Act 2016. Authorities remain hopeful that the land will be reclaimed and that Pari Chera’s tomb will be restored to its former glory in the near future.
The writer is a senior journalist and political analyst, based in Islamabad. He can be reached at: aghabakhtiar7@gmail.com.
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