SWAT is known as the Switzerland of Pakistan. The river Swat is a clear water river Ushu from the rage of the mountains to the spread of the valley of Swat. It is one of the greenest valleys of northern Pakistan and is well connected to the rest of Pakistan. There are regular flights from Islamabad to Swat and back. You can also choose to get here from Peshawar (160 miles) or Islamabad. (250 KM) The valley of Swat is located in the middle of the foot of the Hindukush mountain range. The main town of Mingora and Saidu Sharif valley.
Swat is a place for relaxation Lover, Hiker and archaeologist. There are many comfortable hotels where one can stay a while to relax. Kalam in Upper Swat, there are some very pleasant walks as the weather is very pleasant, one can easily walk over the hills for hours and enjoy the unspoiled nature. The Swat is the garden of Ashoka and became a prosperous country in the Buddhist times (2nd BC to AD 5) There are at least over 100 archaeological sites in the valley less than 10% of excavated. You can explore some of these sites in a half-day tour of Swat.
Swat is a place for relaxation Lover, Hiker and archaeologist. There are many comfortable hotels where one can stay a while to relax. Kalam in Upper Swat, there are some very pleasant walks as the weather is very pleasant, one can easily walk over the hills for hours and enjoy the unspoiled nature. The Swat is the garden of Ashoka and became a prosperous country in the Buddhist times (2nd BC to AD 5) There are at least over 100 archaeological sites in the valley less than 10% of excavated. You can explore some of these sites in a half-day tour of Swat.
Hotels In Swat
There are many hotels in different towns of the valley.
PTDC Motel (Saidu) ,
Hotel White Palace (Marghazar)
PTDC Motel Miandam
Grace Hotel (Madyan)
PTDC Motel (Kalam)
Transfers to & From Swat Valley
Islamabad or Peshawar to Swat
250 KMs 5- 6 Hours. Drive in the morning from Islamabad stop at the confluence of Kabul & Indus rivers later continue to Swat via Charsadha, stop at different village bazaars and pass the Malakand pass. One can have Lunch at a local restaurant on the way. After Malakand pass you enter the valley of Swat. View the Churchill's picket and Shingardar Stupa on the way. Takht e Bhai most well preserved Buddhist monastery is on the way before Malakand pass time permitting can visit this archeological site too. (This will make the trip about 7- 8 Hours )
Swat – Besham
110 KMs 3 Hours. Leave Saidu Sharief via the upper Swat road at Khwaza khela we will take a right turn to the Shangla pass (7000 Ft) Road is lush green with numerous kinds of flora and pine trees. Have a local Pakistan tea at the pass and continue to Besham . Besham is the first main town as you come from Swat on the Karakorum Highway.
Tours
Half day Saidu Sharief
Visit the Swat museum, Butkara archeological site ( Where there are 215 Votive stupas and one main Stupa from 2nd century BC - 5th Century AD ) Also have a detailed walk in Mingora bazaar and shop some of the best shawls and handicrafts of the region.
Half Day Archeological Sites
Visit Butkara1 Butkara 2 , Udegaram , and Shingardar Stupa all sites of the Kushans Period. Later a detailed lecture in Swat museum on the chronology of Swat.
Full Day upper Swat valley.
Drive upto Kalam visit the bazaars of Madyan & Bahrain. At Kalam have a short walk in the hills. Late Afternoon return to Saidu.
Full day walk Kalam to Ushu
A dream of a hiker. Great scenic walk through the green mountains to the glacier of Ushu have picnic on the way return to Kalam coach or walk back.
Full day Malam Jaba & Miandam
Visit these magnificent points above 7000 ft. Have a stroll in the villages and enjoy the green scenery.Evening visit Marghazar White palace Hotel .
History of Swat Written by Jamal Panhwar
Alexander was in hurry when he came to Swat he was unable to Local people in Swat valley even today say that if he had time to relax at the bank of Swat River and feel the cool breeze coming from the snow capped Ushu mountain and to listen to the echo of the flutes coming from the mountain of the vally he would never had left this heaven on earth and today his grave would have been here.
300 years later Kanishka did feel the romance of this valley and left the busy city of Peshawar carrying his capital on horses horses and came to Swat Valley he made Swat the capital of his Gandhara kingdom and remained here. This made Swat a place for Buddhism where Buddhism flourished and reached at its height. The numerous atricles found from different archeological sites are the proof of a prosprous and joyful erra of this vally.
In the 6th century AD white Huns came and destroyed every site of the Buddhism and wounded and killed the loving people of the valley, After the attack of White Huns Hyun Sang came for pilgrmage of this valley and sadly wrote that most of 1400 monastries of Swat are either burned or abondand and have been ruined, Most of the monks have left or are dead, those who remain do talk about the Buddhism but they themselves don't know the meaning of the teachings of Buddha.
Huan Sang wrote this report from the valley and took all the written material on 40 horses to China, although Huan Sang wrote this 1500 years ago, but it seems he is talking about what is happening in this beautiful heaven on earth.
Even after the brutal invasion of Huns Whitening Swat was a pilgrimage for Buddhist was ruled and inhabited by Buddhists to Mehmood Sultan of Swat and Ghani invaded last Buddhist Raja Geera was overthrown.
At the end of the 15th century, this valley was invaded by the Afghan Yousuzais, although the inhabitants of this valley pushed to the Indus valley is a new region and the nation created by the name of Hazara still the name of the region and name of the residents of confluance of the River Indus and Kabul. The newcomer Yousufzais were not as bad as White Huns, they developed Militry flanges, and their king, Sheikh Sardar Milli even wrote poetry that was known in the conquest of Swat.
Bayazid Ansari wrote hist Biography and wrote books like Khairul Bayan, which was a book about the distribution of land laws and rules of division. Akhund Zada Daweza wrote "Tazkerah" and "Makhzan" all these are marked as the basis of Pushto literature. These two books are considered the masterpieces of Persian and Pushto literature of that day. Darweza Akhund Baba kept many religious discussions with Bayazid Ansari.
In 1050 AD great poet Khushal Khan Khattak and Push Came To Swat. During His stay in Swat, he wrote in fresh Swat Nama. It was a great contribution to literature Push in Swat. Swat Nama contains the Geographical, cultural, political and historical aspecten of the Swat Of Those Days.
After Mughals in the middle of the 19th century two local rulers Akbar Shah and Mubarak Sha overruled Both Swat They tried to rule According To the religion and culture but as the firing on Their English rule come to an end. From 1863 to 1915 this region was overruled by the neighbor state of Dir Than one day the tribes people of Kabal in Swat jirga and a hero They chose Mian Abdul Zada Gulshan wudood as the Wali of Swat. Mian Gul Wudood was crowned in 1916 and he was popularly called as Bacha Sahib or Swat.
Bacha Saheb was a progressive ruler British accepted His kingdom as semiautonomous Kingdom, he was Entitled for a salute of 15 guns He made Push the official language Replacing Persian for the first time land Were alloted to the people approve thing inheritance Which generated a new era of Khans (Landlords) who got along well with the king but wanted to keep the poors and farmers Developed under.
Bacha Gul Mian Saheb Also got a constitution made up of religious and cultural teaching and named it "Fatavi Wudidia"
After Mughals in the middle of the 19th century two local rulers Akbar Shah and Mubarak Sha overruled Both Swat They tried to rule According To the religion and culture but as the firing on Their English rule come to an end. From 1863 to 1915 this region was overruled by the neighbor state of Dir Than one day the tribes people of Kabal in Swat jirga and a hero They chose Mian Abdul Zada Gulshan wudood as the Wali of Swat. Mian Gul Wudood was crowned in 1916 and he was popularly called as Bacha Sahib or Swat.
Bacha Saheb was a progressive ruler British accepted His kingdom as semiautonomous Kingdom, he was Entitled for a salute of 15 guns He made Push the official language Replacing Persian for the first time land Were alloted to the people approve thing inheritance Which generated a new era of Khans (Landlords) who got along well with the king but wanted to keep the poors and farmers Developed under.
Bacha Gul Mian Saheb Also got a constitution made up of religious and cultural teaching and named it "Fatavi Wudidia"
