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 "Udayana" (the Garden) of the ancient Hindu epics.

Swat was once the cradle of Buddhism 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.

Places to Visit

Saidu Sharif : Headquarters of Swat, Saidu Sharif houses the Swat Museum which contains one of the finest collections of Gandhara art in the world.

Mingora : Mingora 3.21 km (two miles) from Saidu Sharif has yielded magnificent pieces of Buddhist sculpture and the ruins of great stupas. Other sites worth visiting are: Marghzar, 12.87 km (eight miles) from Saidu Sharif, famous for its "Sufed Mahal", 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.

The area has numerous stupa’s. A few of the major ones are at Nimogram and Shankardar and the sacred Mount Illum.

Angling : The hatchery at Madyan stocks the Swat River with trout. The angling season opens from April.

What to buy : Swat is famous for its embroidered table cloth, ladies shawls, table mats, gold-threaded purse and caps, woodwork and honey.

Malam Jabba : Adventure At Its Peak - 8,700 feet above sea level, Malam Jabba Ski Resort stands on top of the Hindukush mountain range, north east of Saidu Sharif. Surrounded by the mighty Karakorams and stunning Black mountains, Malam Jabba is more than just a Ski Resort. It is a holiday resort that caters to all interests and is also home to the remains of ancient civilizations. Amidst its natural beauty and imprints of the Gandhara civilization, it offers modern tourist facilities.