Spillways and reservoir of Tarbela Dam on the Indus River

City guide

Haripur: Sikh TownDam Country

A Hindko-speaking market town in southern Hazara founded by the Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa in 1822, close to Tarbela Dam, Khanpur Lake and the Buddhist ruins of Bhamala.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Hazara Division)
Altitude about 520 m
Tarbela and Khanpur reservoirs
Best season: October–April

Explore Haripur View on map

Tarbela Dam, Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Haripur at a Glance

91,915Population (city)2023 Census

1.17 millionPopulation (Haripur District)2023 Census: 1,174,783

1822FoundedBy Hari Singh Nalwa

1976Tarbela Dam completedOn the Indus

About Haripur

Haripur lies on a hilly plain in the south of Hazara, about 65 km north of Islamabad and 35 km south of Abbottabad, at roughly 520 metres above sea level. It is the headquarters of Haripur District, which has three tehsils, Haripur, Khanpur and Ghazi, and stretches from the Margalla foothills to the Indus.

The 2023 Census counted 91,915 people in the city and 1,174,783 in the district. Hindko is the first language of the large majority, with Pashto spoken by a significant minority and Urdu everywhere. The district was separated from Abbottabad District in the early 1990s.

Unusually for a Pakistani town, Haripur has a precise birthday. It was founded in 1822 by Hari Singh Nalwa, the Sikh governor and general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who built the fort of Harkishangarh beside it; the town takes his name. After the British took over, it served as the headquarters of Hazara until 1853, when Major James Abbott moved the administration to the new town of Abbottabad.

Today Haripur is best known for what lies around it. Tarbela Dam, completed on the Indus in 1976 and one of the largest earth-and-rock-fill dams in the world, is in the district, as is Khanpur Dam on the Haro River, whose reservoir supplies drinking water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Buddhist site of Bhamala, near Khanpur, made headlines in 2017 with the discovery of a 48-foot reclining Buddha. Haripur is also an education hub, with the University of Haripur and the Pak-Austria Fachhochschule.

Haripur is small, but the water that lights and feeds much of Pakistan passes through its district.

Things to See in and Around Haripur

A Sikh fort, two great reservoirs and Gandharan ruins.

Harkishangarh FortBuilt in 1822–23 under Hari Singh Nalwa to secure Sikh control of Hazara, and later the first British district headquarters. Parts are used by the police and revenue offices; in 2019 the provincial government decided to turn it into a museum.Tarbela DamThe vast earth-and-rock-fill dam on the Indus, built from 1968 to 1976 as part of the Indus Basin Project, regulates the river for irrigation and power. It is a strategic site; view it only from public roads and do not photograph installations.Khanpur LakeThe reservoir of Khanpur Dam on the Haro River, about 50 km from Islamabad, is a favourite for boating, fishing and picnics, and supplies water to the twin cities.Bhamala StupaA Buddhist monastery with a rare cruciform stupa near Khanpur. Excavations here uncovered a 48-foot sleeping Buddha, which the provincial archaeology department dates to around the 3rd century CE.University townThe University of Haripur and the Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology have brought students and new life to the town.Taxila nearbyThe UNESCO-listed Gandharan cities and museum of Taxila lie just south of the district boundary.

Food and Markets

Karahi and tikkaRoadside restaurants on the routes to Abbottabad and Tarbela serve karahi, tikka and chapli kebab.

Orchards of KhanpurThe Khanpur area is known for its fruit orchards; in season, look for fresh fruit sold by the roadside.

Tea and pakorasTeahouses in the bazaar and by Khanpur Lake serve sweet milky tea and fritters, especially on winter afternoons.

City bazaarsHaripur's bazaars serve a wide farming hinterland with cloth, hardware, grain and household goods.

A Short History of Haripur

c. 3rd century CE
Bhamala
A Buddhist monastery with a cruciform stupa flourishes at Bhamala, on the fringe of the Taxila valley.
1822
Founding
Hari Singh Nalwa founds Haripur and begins the fort of Harkishangarh.
1846–1849
British takeover
After the Anglo-Sikh wars, Hazara passes to British control and Haripur becomes the district headquarters.
1851
Mountain battery
The 4th (Hazara) Mountain Battery is raised at Haripur.
1853
Headquarters move
James Abbott moves the district administration to the new town of Abbottabad.
1968–1976
Tarbela Dam
The great dam is built on the Indus in the district.
1983–1984
Khanpur Dam
Khanpur Dam on the Haro River is completed after some 15 years of construction.
Early 1990s
A new district
Haripur is separated from Abbottabad District to become a district in its own right.

Getting There and Around

By road

Hazara Expressway (E-35)

From Islamabad, take the motorway towards Peshawar and turn onto the Hazara Expressway, or drive via Taxila and Khanpur. The town is about 65 km from Islamabad.

By air

Via Islamabad

Islamabad International Airport is the nearest airport.

By rail

Havelian branch line

Haripur lies on the branch line from Taxila to Havelian, but road travel is more practical.

Around town

Wagons and rickshaws

Wagons link Haripur with Taxila, Khanpur, Tarbela and Abbottabad; rickshaws cover the town.

Plan Your Visit

Best time to visit

October to April

Winter and spring are pleasant for sightseeing and boating at Khanpur. Summers are hot and the monsoon brings heavy rain.

Where to stay

Day trip or Abbottabad

Haripur and Khanpur are easy day trips from Islamabad; Abbottabad has more hotels for an overnight stay.

Photography

Dams are sensitive

Do not photograph dam structures, power installations or security posts at Tarbela and Khanpur.

Advisories

Check before you go

Haripur is a calm, well-connected town; as anywhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, check current advisories and local authority guidance, and follow lake safety rules when boating.