Qissa Khwani bazaar was once famous for its Kehwa Khana, Musafir Khanay and stories.
General Evitable, the Italian mercenary who was appointed governor of Peshawar by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, built the bazaar in the present shape in the early nineteenth century.
The Bazaar is now lined with its traditional kehwa khanas, Tikka, Chapli Kabab and dry fruit shops along with modern show rooms of leather ware and bright coloured garments. You will also see shops of Falooda and Kheer, thats considered speciality of this bazaar now.
Once the stories of the Amirs of Bokhara and the Khans of Khiva and regional love of “Adam Khan and Dur Khanay” have been echoed in there which is now substituted by satellite receivers continuously breaking news ( thats not breaking at all now adays) and telling amazing tales of fiction from all over the world.
Among tourist, it is still best known Bazaar of the city. Afghan refugees who came to Peshawar as a result of Soviet occupation have added yet another dimension in the character of the city in general this bazaar in particular where they can be seen doing business from exchanging money to selling Kehwa.
Generally the bazaar and its archetecture has been destroyed but one can still see some remains of wooden carved arches and some old architecture. But nobody bothers to save that haritage. Maybe after a decade or two someone like me will write that there is no sign of old heritage as everything has been destroyed and replaced with moderen buildings.
Any how…
StaRay Shwama… I could type lots once upon a time but now I am hopeless And as I know its getting lond read so it will be hard to read as well…
***Extending from west to east in the heart of the city is the romantic ‘Street of Story-tellers’ - the Qissa Khawani Bazzar. In olden days, this was the site of camping ground for caravans and military adventures, where professional story-tellers recited ballads and tales of war and love to throngs of traders and soldiers. ***
Today the story-tellers are gone but the atmosphere lingers on. Bearded tribesmen bargain with city traders over endless cups of green tea. Fruit stalls look small colourful pyramids. People from everywhere throng the crowded street. Afghans, Iraqis, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Afridis, and Shinwaris move around with ease and grace in their colourful native robes and run shoulders with the Western tourists-lost in a world so different, so enchanting.
***Qissa Khwani (Story-tellers) Bazaar was described in the mid-l9th century by British Commissioner in Peshawar Sir Herbert Edwardes as "the Piccadilly of Central Asia ". ***
***Here perhaps visiting travelers or the relaxing townsmen were regaled with stories by professional story-tellers, in the evening, in the many tea-shops. Hence the name Qissa Khwani (story telling). The tea-shops still adorn the bazaar front with their large brass samovars and numerous hanging teapots and tea-cups, though the legendary story-tellers are nowhere to be seen. ***
Towering over the street are tall, narrow buildings with intricately carved balconies and window frames enclosing wooden shutters. Here you find many of Peshawar’s cheaper hotels and, in the evening, food stalls selling excellent kebabs and fry-ups. Meat is sold by weight and then cooked while you watch.
***Brass and copper shops are in the street to the left (northwest) at the end of Qissa Khwani. These sell a range of new and old wares. ***
The Peshawar Pottery is down a side street on the left, immediately after the brass shops. The wide range of ornamental and utilitarian pottery is glazed in strong earth colors. Tinsmiths work in the street leading to the pottery, using traditional methods to coat brass pots with tin to prevent the brass from poisoning food.
And as I know its getting lond read so it will be hard to read as well… 
