Beejo di Kabr is a historical Tomb located inside Durrani Graveyard near Wazir Bagh, just outside the walled city.
The mausoleum reportedly marks the grave of Bibi Jan, the beloved of King Taimur Shah Durrani who ruled the Durrani Empire from 1772 till his death in 1793.
In Peshawar, there are several historical graveyards, each earmarked for an influential family. The burial ground on
Wazir Bagh Road was where the Durranis were laid to rest with the remains of their glory and relics of honour. The
grounds used to boast of monuments, parks and mosques but now most of it has been lost to time and lack of
Preservation.
Bibi Jan lived near Wazir Bagh more than two hundred years ago…she was much loved by King Taimur Shah
Durrani,” writes Ahmad Nawaz Khan in his booklet Peshawar, the unwritten history.
Road, belongs to Bibi Jan. According to legend, Bibi Jan and King Taimur were in love, something the queen strongly
despised. It is said, out of hatred, the queen referred to Bibi Jan as Beejo, hence the reference Beejo di Kabr.
“It was out of hatred; Bibi Jan was poisoned by Taimur’s queen,” writes . After Bibi Jan’s demise, King
Taimur buried her in his ancestral burial grounds, added the writer.
Nawaz Khan maintains King Taimur was the one who had the mausoleum constructed over her grave out of love but
cannot explain why it was never completed. “The reason it was not decorated or even plastered by the king could be either the death of the king or something which will never be known,” he writes.
Locals move about freely in the family graveyard and Bibi’s burial site. Upon asking, they narrate the love story of Bibi and the king much like a favorite bedtime tale – easy to read and taking on each person’s tenor.
Technically, the archaeology department is responsible for the preservation of this historical site. But on the surface it
Jan’s mausoleum was in a better state in the days unmarked by militancy and graced by foreign tourists. However, he
argues this could be achieved again, Beejo di Kabr could be turned into a tourist attraction if efforts are made to preserve and renovate the site.
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