Map of the Princely state of Bhopal

 

A 19th century map of Kandahar city, made in 1880

 A 19th century map of Kandahar city, made in 1880 by James Wyld (a geographer).

Recommended Books

Correcting Bharadwaj (aka True Indology) on the "temple gate" of Kandahar city

The famous Indian tweep Bharadwaj (aka True Indology) has shared a British map of Kandahar city dated to 1880, in which one of the four gates of the city is named "temple gate". He assumes that it is temple of Shiva and states that it is "a testament to the durability and continuity of Hindu civilization".  1

"How did the traces of temple continue to exist until 1880? It is possible that there was still some Hindu presence in Kandahar city which rebuilt the temple. But for the temple to exist in the same place or remain in public memory until 1880 is indeed amazing. This is the biggest testament to the durability and continuity of Hindu civilization that they were able to conserve the memory of a temple for almost a thousand years in a Sharia dominant place like Kandahar". 1

However, this is a hasty conclusion by True Indology. The word temple in that map is not reference to a Hindu mandir. Some British used to loosely use the term temple and also used it for mausoleums and mosques of Muslims. For example, artist James Rattray (1818-1854) refers to the mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Abdali as a temple. "Temple of 'Ahmed Shauh', King of Afghanistan". 2

The proper name of that gate of Kandahar city was "Idgah" gate. Idgah means the mosque or site where Eid prayers are offered. You can see a mosque marked in the map he has shared, in adjacence to the so called "temple gate".

The four principal gates of the Kandahar city in 1880 were 'Kabul', 'Shikarpur, 'Herat' and 'Idgah'. The two minor gates were 'Top Khana' and 'Bar-Durrani.

Photo of the Idgah gate of Kandahar, taken in 1880.

Map of Khyber district

 

1959's guide map of Peshawar city

 

1959's guide map of Peshawar city. Issued by tourist section of Public relations department, West Pakistan, Lahore.

Ancestral village of Bahlul Lodi in Pakhtunkhwa

According to Ain-i-Akbari, Malik Bahram, the grandfather of Sultan Bahlul Lodi, belonged to the region/town of Bilot (marked in the map). Abul Fazal, (the author of Ain-i-Akbari) had most likely acquired this info from Tarikh-i-Ibrahim Shahi, the official history of Lodis, which is no longer extant.  

Bilot is located in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is nowadays referred to as Bilot Sharif on account of tomb of Shah Isa Biloti (a medieval saint) there. Ruins of southern Kafirkot are located in the vicinity of Bilot.

Sultan Bahlul Lodi (بهلول لودي ) belonged to the Shahu Khel branch of the Prangi (پړانګي) tribe of Pashtuns. The progenitor of the tribe was named Prang (پړانګ) which means tiger in Pashto. Majority of the Prangis migrated to India in 15th century but Bilot is still populated by Bluch (بلڅ) which is a sub-tribe of Prangi.

The connection of Shahu Khel Lodis with Bilot is also attested by Makhzan-i-Afghani (written in circa 1612 AD).

Kafirkot ruins near Bilot

 A view of Paniala region of D.I.Khan. Source

Kurram valley

Kurram valley, N.W.F.P, 1943. From a painting by James Fletcher Watson.

A beautiful map of Kurram agency during the British times. Photo courtesy: Elie Gohar Durrani

At the gate of Ahmedzai (a Turi village in Kurram district), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Shalozan, Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Tower in the village of Sadda, Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Watermill at Sadda, Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

The Chinar trees at Shalozan (Kurram district), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Looking down the Kuram Valley near Ahmedzai, 1895 (c). Frederick Saint John Gore.

"Turi nobles and holy men", Kurram, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

"Marukhel village and the Safed Koh ['Spin Ghar]", Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Early morning at the villages of Shoblan (Kurram district, KP), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Border village of Kanda, Kirman (Kurram district), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Decoy ducks in Kurram, Spin Ghar range in the distance, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.

Early morning at the villages of Shoblan (Kurram district, KP), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore.