This map plots the settings and references in The Far Pavilions
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British India, 1860
Most of the action in The Far Pavilions takes place in 19th century India. The majority of places mentioned in the story are real geographical locations, with a few exceptions such as the State of Gulkote where Ash spends part of his childhood and the State of Bhithor which he visits later in the book.
Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan - Credit:
Nataraja
Ash escorts two Indian princesses and their entourage to their wedding in Rajputana, the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan. Located south of the Punjab, Rajasthan is the largest state in India.
The Jhelum River - Credit:
Askarii
The Punjab is the cross-border region currently made up of the Indian state of Punjab and the Pakistani province of Punjab. In the 19th century, Pakistan did not exist as a separate state – it was established in 1947 after the British rule of India came to an end.
The name 'Punjab' means 'five waters', referring to the Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas and Sutlej rivers.
Corner of the Murree Road, Rawalpindi - Credit:
Brian Harrington Spier
In The Far Pavilions, we visit various parts of the Punjab, including the city of Rawalpindi where Ash and his friend Wally are stationed. In 1851, Rawalpindi became a permanent garrison of the British army and in the 1880s a railway line into Rawalpindi was opened. The climate is cool and wet in winter and extremely hot in summer, often with monsoons and storms. The famous Murree Road and Grand Trunk Road both pass through Rawalpindi.
View of Kabul - Credit:
nicksarebi
Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan. It is an ancient city, thought to have been established between 2000 and 1500 BC. The city is located in the Hindu Kush mountains, along the Kabul River.
In 1878, during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, a British mission was installed in Kabul, led by Sir Pierre Louis Napoleon Cavagnari. On September 3, 1879, Cavagnari and the other members of the mission were massacred at the Bala Hissar fortress.
Bala Hissar, Kabul - Credit:
Armin Wenger
Mountains in NWFP - Credit:
Steve Evans
The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is today one of Pakistan's four provinces. Most of the population are Pashtuns (referred to as Pathans in The Far Pavilions), with Pashto being the main language used in the province. The area has a beautiful and varied landscape, with a contrasting mixture of mountainous and hilly regions, forests and green plains.
The Khyber Pass links the province to Afghanistan in the north-west.
Old city gate of Peshawar - Credit:
Willard84
Peshawar, the capital city of the NWFP, is located on the edge of the Khyber Pass. As part of the historic Silk Road, Peshawar became a centre of trade between South and Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East, and was able to draw on the culture and learning of all of these different civilisations.
Peshawar is frequently mentioned in The Far Pavilions, along with other NWFP cities such as Mardan, where the British regiment, the Corps of Guides, established their frontier cantonment.
Mardan highlighted in yellow - Credit:
Pahari Sahib
Mardan is a city in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP). This is where a lot of the action in The Far Pavilions takes place. The city is the capital of Mardan District.
Malabar - Credit:
Sanjay Tiwari
Malabar Hill is a residential area in the Indian city of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay). This part of Mumbai was formerly owned by the Keyi family, who were forced to donate it to the East India Company. It later became an exclusive, upmarket area. The houses here are among the most expensive in the world.
Shimla in the 1850s - Credit:
D. Roberts
Simla (now Shimla), is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is a beautiful hill station located in the Himalayas and was declared the 'summer capital' of the British in 1864. Its name derives from the goddess Shyamla, who is believed to be an avatar of Kali.
Today Shimla is a popular tourist destination.