The great red-brick fortress that has defined Peshawar's skyline for five centuries. Babur occupied and fortified the site in the early 16th century; the Mughals expanded it; the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh rebuilt much of what stands today in the early 19th century. The name means "High Fort" in Persian, and from the walls you can see the entire old city spread below.
The fort is now an active Pakistan Army base and is closed to the public — you cannot enter or climb the walls. But the exterior ramparts are impressive on their own, and the fort is visible from several points in the old city. The best view is from the road that runs along its southern face.