TOP FIVE BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN SWAT VALLEY PAKISTAN, ON YOUR NEXT JOURNEY

Swat Valley is a well-known high-altitude tourist destination in northern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The valley is situated on both sides of the Swat River, about 247 kilometers (153 miles) away from Islamabad (the capital city of Pakistan). Before becoming a part of Pakistan in 1969, Swat was a prosperous and self-governing state called "the Yousafzai State of Swat." Saidu Sharif is the capital town of Swat, but the other well-established town in the valley is called Mingora Bazar. During a visit in the 1960s, Queen Elizabeth II dubbed it "the Switzerland of the East," owing to its terrain similarities and aesthetic splendor with Switzerland.

Swat was one of the main centers of ancient Buddhism during the oldest civilization of Gandhara and was a regional hub of Gandharan Buddhism until the 10th century. Later on, the neighborhood shifted to a predominantly Muslim population. The valley appears to be Ashoka's garden, as it was a flourishing land throughout the Buddhist era (2nd BC to 5 AD). The Butkara’s Stupa is one of the historical Buddhist remains located near Mingora in Swat Valley. It is thought to have been constructed by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. However, it is commonly dated to the second century BCE. In the valley, there are over 100 archaeological sites, but only about 10% have been excavated so far. Swat is one of Pakistan’s most fascinating places to visit. It is famous for its pleasant weather, freshwater lakes, springs, rivers and innumerable ravishing waterfalls as well. The valley is also known for its natural wonders, which include stunningly diversified countryside, towering high-peak mountains, lush green forests and natural wildlife. All of this provides an ideal natural habitat for wildlife, as well as draws the attention of both local and foreign tourists. Ethnic Pashtuns, Kohistanis, and Gujjars make up the majority of the valley's population. Pashto, Gojri, Torwali and Kohistani are the native languages of the valley. The majority of residents in the area are multilingual and can easily speak Pashto, Urdu, and English as well as their native tongues. There is less ethnic discrimination throughout the area, and all residents of Swat refer to themselves as Pashtoons, regardless of their community. Swat is bordered on the east and south by Kohistan, Shangla and Buner, on the west by Chitral and Dir, and on the north by Gilgit-Baltistan.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. Marghazar

In 1940s, the Wali (king) of Swat; Miangul Abdul Wadud, came to build an official residence for summer to conduct meetings in the pleasant weather of the Marghazar hills. About 7136 feet above sea level, this beautiful marble White Palace (Urdu, Sufed Mahal) is nearly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Saidu Sharif Swat. In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II visited Marghazar to meet with Wali Swat and stayed there for three days. But, after merging into Pakistan the palace was turned into a hotel and a picnic spot for national and international visitors. The 200-year-old colossal Chinar tree serves as a sunshade for visitors. Later on, the government built primary and middle schools for boys and girls. To date, the palace is a renowned hotel across the country and attracts a large number of tourists every year. The palace is now open to the general public as a tourist resort.

2. Swat Museum

Swat is one of the oldest valleys in the world, and it has been home to many civilizations. In the official museum, the government has preserved 2000 years of history. Swat Museum is located midway between Mingora and Saidu Sharif on the east side of the road. The Buddha's life story has been reimagined in the museum's seven galleries with Japanese aid. It contains a beautiful collection of Gandhara artworks that have been reorganized and classified to depict the Buddha's life story. Gandhara's daily life is presented through coins, precious stones, weapons, terracotta figurines and utensils, beads and other metal objects. The ethnographic art includes some of the best specimens of native embroidery, tribal jewelry and carvings as well.

3. Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba is a popular hill station, about 40 kilometers from Mingora Bazar in Swat Valley, located in the Karakoram mountain range. It is nearly 314 kilometers from the capital city (Islamabad) of Pakistan. The country’s largest Ski resort is found in Malam Jabba. Currently, The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation operates the Malam Jabba Ski Resort, which contains an 800-meter ski slope with the highest point of 2804 meters (9200 feet) above sea level. The Pakistani government collaborated with its Austrian counterpart to create this Ski Resort. Modern facilities including telephones, snow-clearing tools, chair lifts, ice-skating rinks/roller, and skiing platforms were made available at the resort.

4. Madyan

The valley is virtually squeezed between the mountains, which is practically cozy by the time you get into this beautiful town at 1320 m, around 60 kilometers from Saidu Sharif. Transportation is reasonably accessible, and a variety of well-equipped hotels offer comfortable lodging and delectable meals. One can see why Swat is so famous among the tourists from here. In Madyan's Bazaars, there are plenty of traditional embroidered shawls. It is a large town with several hotels of various price levels and some decent tourist shops as well. Along the main street, antique coins, tribal jewelry, carved wood, traditional handicrafts and various ancient and modern shawls are available for sale. Madyan is the ultimate Swati village, with fascinating three- and five-day hikes up to tribal communities. On the north side of Madyan, Swat Kohistan is a dangerous place to walk without armed protection. The handmade wooden pillars with delicate scrolled capitals and relief patterns in floral motifs decorate the mud-plastered west wall inside the central mosque of Madyan. Both reflect Swati's fondness for ornamentation.

5. Kalam

The valley opens up, creating space for a small but beautiful plateau across the river. It's around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from Bahrain and sits at a height of about 2,000 meters (6,800 feet) from sea level. The Swat River is formed when the Ushu and Utrot rivers meet in Kalam. The metalled road comes to an end here, and a gravel path goes to the valleys of Ushu and Utrot. From Matiltan, one can see the snow-covered Mount Falaksir, which stands at 5918 meters (19,415 feet) above sea level. Kalam is one of the most picturesque regions of the Swat Valley. A cluster of roughly 150 hotels, a place of meadows, lakes, waterfalls, hiking trails, and glaciers, with all of the modern age's facilities. Covered with dense green mountains, forests, and plants, a vast and ancient cultural heritage to observe, and most importantly, nice and welcoming people. Strawberries can be found in abundance throughout Kalam's forests. Morel mushroom collecting is a popular pastime among both locals and visitors during the spring season. Moreover, more than 50 medicinal herbs are harvested during May, June, July, and August in nearby Utror and Gabral valleys. Among them, only 14 are available for purchase in both domestic and international markets. According to the Pakistan Forest Institute, 75 herbal remedies are regularly exported, with more than 200 being distributed at the local markets. Native people obtain 85 percent of such crude medicines from the forest, despite having no experience in sustainable harvesting, post-harvest care, or storage of therapeutic plants.

In short, Swat is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Pakistan. It would be a wonderful journey for anyone wishing to relax and enjoy themselves. All of these tourist destinations are closer to one another, and they are all part of the Swat District. During your stay in Swat Valley, you can visit them all in a week or more. We'll meet up at the top of the mountains.

So, best of luck on your next adventure.