Visit Swat Valley

INRODUCTION OF SWAT

The beautiful valley of Swat, popularly known as the Switzerland of the East is holiday-makers delight and a hallmark of magnificent scenic beauty and rich historical past. With its roaring rivers, waterfalls, meandering streams, glacier fed lakes, pine forests, alpine meadows, snow covered peaks of Mankial and Flaksair, fruit laden orchards, lush green fields, flower filled mountain slopes and above all the friendly Swati people who are famous for their traditional hospitality, Swat is without doubt one of the most beautiful tourist destination in the northern valleys of Pakistan.

HISTORY OF SWAT

Swat was described as “Udyana” (the garden) in ancient Hindu epics. Alexander the Great crossed Swat River with part of his army in 327BC. He fought and won some of his major battles at Barikot and Udegram and stormed their battlements, before crossing over the plains of the five rivers. In Greek accounts these towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. After the death of Alexander the Great the Greeks quickly lost effective control of their far flung colonies and soon the northern part of the sub-continent situated west of the Indus which includes Swat was annexed by Chandra Gupta.

MAIN ROUTES

People travelling from down country on their own vehicles can take Motorway (M-1) and reach Mardan interchange from Islamabad in about one and half hours after covering a distance of 131 km. From Mardan onward they can travel via Takh-e-Bai, Dargai, Malakand Pass, Batkhella,Chakdara and finally reach Mingora/Saidu Sharif after covering a distance of 112 km in two and half more hours. The total distance from Islamabad to Mingora/Saidu Sharif is 247Km and it takes around 5 hours with one stop for lunch and refreshments. This route is open for all kinds of traffic throughout the year.