Photo: Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of PakistanField guides / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Malakand / Gunyar Stupa, Malakand
Field guide · Heritage
Malakand
Malakand District · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Gunyar Stupa, Malakand
Gunyar is a village near Thana in Malakand District, Pakistan, also known as Gul-e-Anaar (Flower of Pomegranate).
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
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, April–May or autumn. The Gunyar stupa in Malakand has no visitor facilities, so see it in daylight with a local guide.
Getting there, At Gunyar village, Malakand district; no visitor facilities.
What to Do
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.

