Gunyar Stupa, Malakand

Gunyar is a village near Thana in Malakand District, Pakistan, also known as Gul-e-Anaar (Flower of Pomegranate).

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The village's residents are mainly descendants of Madey-Khel Miagaan, and many have migrated to cities like Karachi, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and England. Historically, Gunyar was part of the Gandhara civilization, overrun by Alexander the Great in 327 BC, and later influenced by the Maurya Empire. The region also saw the arrival of Madhay Baba in 1519 with Babar's forces to support the Yousafzai tribe in its conquest of Swat. The Gunyar Youth Welfare Association, established in 1984, has been a key player in the region's development, undertaking various projects in social development, education, health, infrastructure, and the environment. Notable initiatives include building and upgrading schools, establishing a health unit, creating a women's handicraft center, and developing a community forest and irrigation system to boost farming productivity.

Why go

✦Gunyar, or Gul-e-Anaar, a village near Thana in Malakand
✦In the old lands of Gandhara
✦Linked with Madhay Baba, who came with Babur's forces in 1519

Current Condition

The Gunyar Stupa in Malakand is a poorly preserved but historically significant Gandhara-era Buddhist site, currently lacking formal protection under the KP Directorate of Archaeology & Museums. Exposed to erosion, vandalism, and neglect, its ancient masonry requires urgent stabilization and documentation to prevent further loss, while the absence of visitor facilities hinders its potential as a cultural tourism destination.

Planning tip

Best Time to Visit, April–May or autumn. The Gunyar stupa in Malakand is poorly preserved and without visitor facilities, according to the survey, so it is one to see in daylight with a local guide.

Getting there, At Gunyar village, Malakand district; no visitor facilities.

What to Do

◆Ask in the village for the way to the stupa

◆Bring what you need; there are no facilities

◆Combine with the Malakand Buddhist sites

Nearby

Straight-line distance from Gunyar Stupa, Malakand, within 5 km.

Nothing else genuinely close by (within 5 km of Gunyar Stupa, Malakand) is published yet.