The Cunningham Clock Tower ( ur, کننگہام گھنٹہ گھر) in
Peshawar
Peshawar (; ps, پېښور ; hnd, ; ; ur, ) is the sixth most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 2.3 million. It is situated in the north-west of the country, close to the International border with Afghanistan. It is ...
,
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (; ps, خېبر پښتونخوا; Urdu, Hindko: خیبر پختونخوا) commonly abbreviated as KP or KPK, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the northwestern region of the country, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, was built in 1900, "in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of
Her Majesty the Queen Empress". The tower was named after
Sir George Cunningham
Sir George Cunningham (23 March 1888 – 8 December 1963) was a civil servant in British India who served as the Governor of the North-West Frontier Province. He was appointed to the post again by the Dominion of Pakistan, after its independenc ...
,
former British
governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
and political agent in the province.
Design and Opening
Designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer of
Peshawar
Peshawar (; ps, پېښور ; hnd, ; ; ur, ) is the sixth most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 2.3 million. It is situated in the north-west of the country, close to the International border with Afghanistan. It is ...
, the foundation stone was laid by the
George Cunningham, Governor of the North West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in 1898. It was opened to the public in 1900 to commemorate the
Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was officially celebrated on 22 June 1897 to mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession on 20 June 1837. Queen Victoria was the first British monarch ever to celebrate a Diamon ...
.
the building was damaged in the 1965 indo-pak war when an Indian plane mistook it for the airstrip of Peshawar airport. It was then rebuilt.
Structure
The tower is 31 feet in diameter. Its base is 13 by 4 metres (43 ft × 13 ft) and stands 26 metres (85 ft) tall at the Ghanta Ghar Chowk (“Clock Tower Square”).
Gallery
File:Kenta Kerr, Peshawar.JPG
File:Cunningham clock tower Peshawar.jpg
File:Cunningham clock tower Peshawar KPK.jpg
See also
*
List of clock towers in Pakistan
References
Tourist attractions in Peshawar
Clock towers in Pakistan
Buildings and structures in Peshawar
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