 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; fought and won some of this major battles before crossing
over to the plains of Pakistan. This is "the valley of the
hanging chains" described by the famous Chinese
pilgrim-chroniclers, Huain Tsang and Fa-Hian in the fifth and sixth
centuries. Swat was once the cradle of Buddhismof 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.
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 beauty spots
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. 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.
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.
How to get there
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. Where
to stay There are moderately priced hotels, motels and rest-houses.
Malam Jabba - Adventure At Its
Peak
 8'700 feet above
sea level, Malam Jabba Ski Resort stands on top of a mountain of the
Hindukush range, north east of Saidu Sharif. Surrounded by 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 Gandhara civilization,
lie  the wonders
of modern tourist facilities such as: 52 room motel, 2 skiing
platforms, Roller/Ice Skating rinks, Restaurant offering both local
and international cuisine, Telephone facility, Snow clearing
equipment etc.
The food, lodging and skiing facilities are all
managed by foreign trained staff and offered at competitive prices.
Easy To Reach
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