Right in the heart of Peshawar Cantonment stands the mighty and lovely Victorian Memorial Hall, a fine example of English and Mughal architecture, now known as the Peshawar Museum.
Once a ballroom for the Governor House and British elite in the city, the building currently houses the most unique and largest collection of Ghandhara art in the world. Built in the memory of Queen Victoria in 1906/7 with a total cost of Rs60000, the building is without any doubt a jewel in the crown of this historic city which bears witness to the rise and fall of many great civilizations and empires long lost in the alleyways of time.
More than a century after its construction, 124 years to be precise, the provincial government has decided to restore the building to its original form under its Revival of Peshawar Project. In the past the renovation and maintenance work greatly changed the original shape of the iconic building.
“With the help of World Bank a design is being finalized to preserve it in its original shape,” said Director Archeology Dr Abdul Sumad while talking to the Express Tribune, adding that the building itself is a landmark structure with historic significance not to mention the world class treasures inside it.
“With the passage of time the museum has been losing its significance as Ghandhara collection and the government has decided to turn it into a Ghandhara Museum once again,” he argued.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2021.
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