for holiday-makers intent on relaxation. It has a rich historical past, too.
The lush-green valley of Swat, with its rushing torrents, icy-cold
lakes, fruit-laden orchards and flower-decked slopes is ideal
for holiday-makers intent on relaxation. It has a rich historical past, too.
This is the ³Udayana² (the Garden) of the ancient
Hindu epics; ³the land of enthralling beauty² where Alexander of Macedon
fought and won some of this major battles before crossing over to the plains
of Pakistan. This is ³the valley of the hanging
chains² described by the famous Chinese pilgrim-chroniclers, Huain Tsang
and Fa-Hian in the fifth and sixth centuries.
Swat was once the cradle of Buddhism of all its schools - Little Vehicle, Great
Vehicle and the Esoteric sects where once
1,400 monasteries flourished.
It was the home of the famous Gandhara School of Sculpture which was an expression
of Graeco-Roman form in the local
Buddhist tradition.
Swat was also the historical land where the Muslim conquerors, Mahmud of Ghazni,
Babur and Akbar fought their battles
preparatory to the conquest of the sub-continent.
The ruins of great Buddhist stupas, monasteries and statues are found all over Swat.
The valley of Swat sprawls over 10,360 sq. km at an elevation of 975.36 metres.
The normal temperature is maximum
21.11°C (701°F) and minimum 7.22°C (45°F). The tourist season
is year-round.
Headquarters of Swat, Saidu Sharif houses the Swat Museum which contains one
of the finest collections of Gandhara art in
the world.
Mingora 3.21 km (two miles) from Saidu Sharif has yielded magnificent pieces
of Buddhist sculpture and the ruins of great
stupas.
Other beauty spots worth visiting are Marghzar, 12.87 km (eight miles) from
Saidu Sharif, famous for its ³Sufed Mahal², the
white marble palace of the former Wali (ruler) of Swat; Kabal, 16 km (10 miles)
from Saidu Sharif with its excellent golf
course, Madyan, 55 km (34 miles) from Saidu Sharif, Bahrain, and Kalam.
Malam Jabba, at 2,652 metres (8,700 ft.) above sea level and 39 km (24 miles)
north-east of Saidu Sharif is being developed
as a ski-cum-summer resort.
The hatchery at Madyan stocks the Swat River with trout. The angling season opens from April.
Swat is famous for its embroidered table cloth, ladies shawls, table mats. gold-threaded purse and caps, woodwork and honey.
Swat is linked by road and air with Islamabad/Rawalpindi and by road with
Peshawar. Cars from Rawalpindi and Peshawar
charge Rs. 5 per mile plus Rs. 100 for overnight halt. PTDC runs air-conditioned
coach service twice a week between Saidu
Sharif and Rawalpindi and Saidu Sharif and Peshawar. The fare is Rs. 110.
There are moderately priced hotels, motels and rest-houses.
For assistance, contact:
Tourist Information centre, Saidu Sharif, Tel: 4120