Gandhāra is an ancient kingdom extending to the Swat valley, and potohar plateau regions of Pakistan as well as the Jalalabad district of northeastern Afghanistan.

During the Hellenistic period, its capital city is Pushkalavati, present-day Charsadda, but later the capital city is shifted to Peshawar by the Kushan emperor Kanishka the Great in about 127.

It is mentioned in the Zend Avesta as Vaēkərəta, the sixth most beautiful place on earth created by Ahura Mazda.

It is known in Sanskrit as Puruṣapura, literally meaning "city of men".

It is known as the "crown jewel" of Bactria and also holds sway over Takṣaśilā (modern Taxila).

The Kingdom of Gandhara lasts from the Vedic period (c. 1500-500 BCE).

As a center of Greco-Buddhism, Bactrian Zoroastrianism and animism, Gandhara attains its height from the first century to the fifth century under the Kushan Kings.

The Persian term Shahi is used by history writer Al-Biruni to refer to the ruling dynasty that took over from the Kabul Shahi and ruled the region during the period prior to Muslim conquests of the tenth and eleventh centuries.

After it is conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1001 AD, the name Gandhara disappears.

During the Muslim period the area will be administered from Lahore or from Kabul.

During Mughal times it will be an independent district that includes the Kabul province.