Mardan is a part of Peshawar valley, the whole area was once part of the ancient kingdom of Gandhara, the remains of which are scattered throughout the district.
Armies of Alexander the Great reached Indus Valley through two separate routes, one through the Khyber Pass and the other through Kunar, Bajaur, Swat, and Buner in 326 BCE led by Alexander himself. After Alexander's death, the valley came under the domination of Chandragupta, who ruled the valley from 297 to 321 BCE. Buddhism became the religion of the Peshawar Valley during the reign of the Buddhist emperor Ashoka (the grandson of Chandragupta). The valley saw the revival of Brahmanism when the Greeks took over the supremacy of the area during the time of King Mehanda. The Scythians and Indians followed Greeks and retained control of the valley till the 7th century CE.
Afghans came to the valley in the 8th century. Peshawar valley at that time was under control of the rulers at Lahore. The Afghans joined the Gakkhars, who held the country between the Indus and the Jhelum and compelled the Lahore rulers to cede to them control of the west of the Indus and south of the Kabul River.
Sultan Sabuktigin defeated Raja Jaipal, the Hindu ruler of Lahore, during 10th Century and got control of the area. Sultan Mahmmod of Ghazni, son of Sultan Sabuktigin, made this area a rallying point for his numerous raids into the interior of India. The era of Ghaznavis came to an end in the 12th century when the Pashtun of Ghor overthrew the Ghaznavis.
Mughal emperor Babar invaded the area through Khyber Pass in 1505. The most prominent rathan of Emperor Akbar, Beerbal, was killed in the Katlang Area during a battle with the Yousafzai tribe. It remained under the rule of the Mughal emperors up to the time of Aurangzeb. During his regime the Pashtun tribes revolted and Aurangzeb himself led his army to re-establish his authority but after a hard struggle which lasted for two years (1673-75), he was compelled to agree to the terms which left the Pashtuns practically independent. In 1738 came the surrender of Peshawar to Nadir Shah and the territory west of the Indus, which included present Mardan district was ceded by the Mughals to Nadir Shah.
Ranjit Singh conquered Attock and Peshawar in 1814 and 1818 respectively. He left Hari Singh Mfl1a in command and went back to Lahore. This valley remained under the control of the Sikhs till 1849. They were defeated by the British in the Second Sikh War. Major Lawrence was appointed first Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar. From that time Peshawar (which included Mardan) became an administrative district under the Punjab Government. In 1903 Frontier Province was constituted and in 1937, Peshawar district was bifurcated into Peshawar and Mardan districts.
In the beginning, the name Mardan was given to a small area and gradually it spread through a vast area of the surroundings. The name means the land of brave men. (Historically the name is derived from old Sanskrit "Amar Daan". According to the history one monk of Lord Buddha donated his eyes (at the point of Pakeer Banr) to avoid materialistic gimmicks of the world and thus concentrate on his purification. Lord Buddha liked his scarifies and blessed him with his good deeds. It is also stated that he belonged to the present "Mardan" area and with the passage of time the name evolved from Amar Daan into Mardan). There is also a small village within Mardan which is called Mardan too.
The area constituting Mardan district was part of Peshawar valley. In 1937, Mardan was set up as an independent district after the name of its headquarters town. It was further divided into Swabi and Charssada districts in 1980s. However from police Administration point of view it's Regional Command Office is situated in Mardan, having jurisdiction over Nowshehra, Charssada and Swabi. The Regional commander is of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police who command the District police Officers of the above stated districts.
Mardan district may broadly be divided into two parts, north eastern hilly area and south western plain. The entire northern side of the district is bounded by the hills. The highest points in these hills are Pajja or Sakra, 2056 meters high and Garo or Pato, 1816 meters high. The south western half of the district is mostly composed of fertile plain with low hills strewn across it. It is generally accepted that this plain once formed the bed of a lake which was gradually filled up by the load of the river flowing into from the surrounding hills. From the foot hills the plain runs down at first with a steep slope which carried the rain water to the lower levels and ultimately to the Kabul river.
Armies of Alexander the Great reached Indus Valley through two separate routes, one through the Khyber Pass and the other through Kunar, Bajaur, Swat, and Buner in 326 BCE led by Alexander himself. After Alexander's death, the valley came under the domination of Chandragupta, who ruled the valley from 297 to 321 BCE. Buddhism became the religion of the Peshawar Valley during the reign of the Buddhist emperor Ashoka (the grandson of Chandragupta). The valley saw the revival of Brahmanism when the Greeks took over the supremacy of the area during the time of King Mehanda. The Scythians and Indians followed Greeks and retained control of the valley till the 7th century CE.
Afghans came to the valley in the 8th century. Peshawar valley at that time was under control of the rulers at Lahore. The Afghans joined the Gakkhars, who held the country between the Indus and the Jhelum and compelled the Lahore rulers to cede to them control of the west of the Indus and south of the Kabul River.
Sultan Sabuktigin defeated Raja Jaipal, the Hindu ruler of Lahore, during 10th Century and got control of the area. Sultan Mahmmod of Ghazni, son of Sultan Sabuktigin, made this area a rallying point for his numerous raids into the interior of India. The era of Ghaznavis came to an end in the 12th century when the Pashtun of Ghor overthrew the Ghaznavis.
Mughal emperor Babar invaded the area through Khyber Pass in 1505. The most prominent rathan of Emperor Akbar, Beerbal, was killed in the Katlang Area during a battle with the Yousafzai tribe. It remained under the rule of the Mughal emperors up to the time of Aurangzeb. During his regime the Pashtun tribes revolted and Aurangzeb himself led his army to re-establish his authority but after a hard struggle which lasted for two years (1673-75), he was compelled to agree to the terms which left the Pashtuns practically independent. In 1738 came the surrender of Peshawar to Nadir Shah and the territory west of the Indus, which included present Mardan district was ceded by the Mughals to Nadir Shah.
Ranjit Singh conquered Attock and Peshawar in 1814 and 1818 respectively. He left Hari Singh Mfl1a in command and went back to Lahore. This valley remained under the control of the Sikhs till 1849. They were defeated by the British in the Second Sikh War. Major Lawrence was appointed first Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar. From that time Peshawar (which included Mardan) became an administrative district under the Punjab Government. In 1903 Frontier Province was constituted and in 1937, Peshawar district was bifurcated into Peshawar and Mardan districts.
In the beginning, the name Mardan was given to a small area and gradually it spread through a vast area of the surroundings. The name means the land of brave men. (Historically the name is derived from old Sanskrit "Amar Daan". According to the history one monk of Lord Buddha donated his eyes (at the point of Pakeer Banr) to avoid materialistic gimmicks of the world and thus concentrate on his purification. Lord Buddha liked his scarifies and blessed him with his good deeds. It is also stated that he belonged to the present "Mardan" area and with the passage of time the name evolved from Amar Daan into Mardan). There is also a small village within Mardan which is called Mardan too.
The area constituting Mardan district was part of Peshawar valley. In 1937, Mardan was set up as an independent district after the name of its headquarters town. It was further divided into Swabi and Charssada districts in 1980s. However from police Administration point of view it's Regional Command Office is situated in Mardan, having jurisdiction over Nowshehra, Charssada and Swabi. The Regional commander is of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police who command the District police Officers of the above stated districts.
Mardan district may broadly be divided into two parts, north eastern hilly area and south western plain. The entire northern side of the district is bounded by the hills. The highest points in these hills are Pajja or Sakra, 2056 meters high and Garo or Pato, 1816 meters high. The south western half of the district is mostly composed of fertile plain with low hills strewn across it. It is generally accepted that this plain once formed the bed of a lake which was gradually filled up by the load of the river flowing into from the surrounding hills. From the foot hills the plain runs down at first with a steep slope which carried the rain water to the lower levels and ultimately to the Kabul river.
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