Bala Hisar is one of the most historic places in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The word Bala Hisar is from Dari Persian, meaning, "Elevated" or "High Fort." The name was given by the Pashtun King Timur Shah Durrani (1773 - 1793), who used the fort as the winter capital of the Afghan Durrani Empire, with the summer capital being in Kabul. The Sikh empire who conquered Peshawar in the early 19th century named it Samir Garh in 1834 but the name did not become popular.
The imposing Bala Hisar Fort and its bleak ramparts still appear to monitor movement along the Grand Trunk Road. Babur first built a fort here in 1526 after capturing Peshawar. It was a royal residence for the Afghan Durrani dynasty before being captured, trashed, and in 1834, rebuilt in mud by the Sikhs (replaced by brick by the British). It is now the headquarters of the Frontier Corps. Access inside is limited, but there is a small museum and great views over the city from the ramparts.
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