Old Rawalpindi – A Historical Journey Through Vintage Streets and Memories

 

Old Rawalpindi 

             Author's  name

               Imtiaz Ali 

Introduction

Rawalpindi is more than just a modern garrison city; it is a place where every old street, every marketplace, and every historical building holds echoes of a different time. Old Rawalpindi reflects an era of simplicity, cultural depth, and colonial architecture. The city’s past—captured in rare black-and-white photographs—offers a glimpse into the daily life, transportation, markets, and social structures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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The Colonial Era – Birth of Modern Rawalpindi

During British rule in India, Rawalpindi became an important military and administrative center. Mall Road, constructed around 1890, symbolized colonial planning. Its wide, clean streets were lined with large trees, open spaces, and colonial structures. At that time, traffic was almost non-existent—most people traveled by foot or used tongas (horse-drawn carriages).

The Rawalpindi Railway Station, built in 1885, served as a crucial hub. Early images from the 1920s show steam locomotives, passengers boarding trains, and vendors selling tea and snacks. Outside the station, tonga stands were the main mode of onward transport, while cars were rare luxuries.

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Bazaars and Community Life

The heart of Old Rawalpindi lay in its bazaars. Raja Bazaar in the 1920s was full of shopkeepers arranging goods in wooden stalls and customers bargaining under the shade of tall trees. Lal Kurti Bazaar, established near the British military cantonment, reflected a blend of local culture and colonial influence.

Later, Fowara Chowk became an important landmark during the 1970s. Even in older photos, one can see narrow streets, clay roads, and intricately designed wooden doors—features that gave the old city its distinctive charm.

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Daily Life – Simplicity Over Speed

Black-and-white photographs from the 1930s to 1960s capture an era when life moved at a slower pace. People were seen:

Grinding wheat at small mills

Barbers shaving customers in open markets

Women washing clothes along clear streams

Craftsmen weaving fabrics by hand

Traffic policemen controlled intersections while holding umbrellas under the sun. Children played on unpaved streets, and bicycles outnumbered motorized vehicles.

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Cultural and Religious Heritage

One of the city’s most iconic landmarks is the Rawalpindi Jamia Mosque. Its foundation stone was laid in 1896, and construction was completed in 1902. With three beautiful domes, twelve minarets, and intricate Mughal-style designs, it remains a testament to the city’s architectural heritage.

Another historical element was Messy Gate, built in the 1940s. Today, it exists only in photographs, reminding us that urban development often erases physical traces of the past but not their memories.

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Natural Landmarks – NaLa lai

Vintage Rawalpindi photos from the 1960s show Nalalai as a clean water channel surrounded by greenery. It was part of daily life, serving as a natural landmark rather than the urban drainage system it has become today.

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Transition to Modern Times

The late 1950s and 1960s brought new changes:

The first cinemas opened, bringing entertainment to the city.

Bus services began connecting Rawalpindi to Murree in the 1940s.

Cars appeared but remained rare; Tagas and bicycles dominated until the 1970s.

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Why Preserving Old Rawalpindi Matters

Preserving the history of Rawalpindi means keeping alive the city’s cultural roots. The architecture, bazaars, and stories reflect a time when communities were closely knit, streets were quieter, and life was less rushed.

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Q1: What is the oldest part of Rawalpindi?

The Raja Bazaar area and Mall Road are among the oldest, dating back to the colonial era in the late 19th century.

Q2: When was Rawalpindi Railway Station built?

It was constructed in 1885 during British rule.

Q3: What are the famous landmarks of Old Rawalpindi?

Mall Road, Raja Bazaar, Jamia Mosque, and vintage colonial buildings are key landmarks.

Q4: What transportation was common in Old Rawalpindi?

Tangas, bicycles, and on-foot travel were the most common modes.

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Final Thoughts

Old Rawalpindi is more than history—it is a living memory of a world where life was slower yet richer in human connection. The photographs from 1880 to 1970 reveal a city that evolved from colonial quietude to post-independence vibrancy.

For those who love heritage, exploring the history of Rawalpindi offers a rare chance to walk through streets that once carried Tangas, echoed with the call of street vendors, and stood under the shadows of trees older than a century.