Swat Valley is a luxury tourist destination located in the mountains of the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. The Swat Valley is located on the swat river, in an area of 35 ° 12′N 72 ° 29′E, about 247 Km (153 Miles) from the capital Islamabad in Pakistan. tourism in swat valley pakistan
Tourism in Swat Valley Pakistan
Although the swat valley has a reputation for its amazing natural beauty, many tourist attractions in its 5,337 km2 (2,061 sq. Mi.) Areas have yet to be discovered. tourism in swat valley pakistan
Until 1969 Swat Valley remained an independent state called “Yusafzai State of Swat” before becoming part of Pakistan.
Swat shares borders with Chitral in the northwest, Dir in the west, Malakand in the south, Buner in the southeast. And Shangla in the east, Kohistan in the northeast, and Gilgit-Baltistan in the north.
History of Swat Valley
Although the Swat is geographically divided by mountains from the Peshawar plains. This valley has been a major center of global civilization. Throughout the history of the swat, the region connects China with Central Asia and Europe. Alexander the Great, Mahmood of Ghazni, and Mughal king Babar invaded India in the lower part of the Swat Valley.
History of Buddhism in Swat Valley
Well-known Chinese Buddhist pilgrims Fa-hsien (403 AD), Sung Yun (519 AD), Hsuan.-tsang (630 AD), came to the swat. Also, Wu-kung (752 AD) reached the village of Swat from the present-day Shangla region after crossing the Hindukush mountains.
They describe the swat valley as a fertile, rich land, with a wide variety of crops. Also, they talked about the cool climate, the beauty of its place, and the Buddhist monasteries when they visited Swat through the rugged mountains of Hindukush and down to the Indian subcontinent.
At Butkara Swat, near the present Mingora, under the Buddhist period, Italian archaeologists have found ancient tombs that reflect the longevity of this area. Thus, a scientific analysis of the skull, perhaps one of the oldest inhabitants of the valley, reveals the Torwali human nature similar to the current inhabitants of Swat Kohistan.
Asoka developed a series of rock-mass inscriptions and converted to Buddhism. During his reign and under his support, some great Buddhist art was produced. Asoka is said to have started a tradition of setting up Stupas to place relics on the Buddha and his disciples.
Archeology of Swat Valley
The archeology of Swat Vally contains amazing ancient remnants of the valley such as stupas, monasteries, viharas, castles, castles, petroglyphs, sculptures, rock carvings, painted shelters, and stele scattered in the swat valley . Archaeological excavations at several hundred archeological sites provide evidence of a cultural connection between Swat and East and West that spans 5000 years of history.
Switzerland of Asia
The British Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Swat in 1961 called Swat “Swiss of the East (Pakistan / Asia)” because of its similarity to the country and its similarity to local beauty and Switzerland. In addition, the Swat Valley has a pleasant climate and for that reason, locals and tourists call it the “paradise on earth”.
Beauty of Swat Valley - Mini Switzerland
Swat Valley is famous for its natural wonders that combine its amazing variety of wildlife with natural wildlife. Swat has many beautiful rural areas, lush forests, and impressive mountains. All of this provides an ideal environment for wildlife and tourist attraction.
Some of the most popular features of the swat are; its amazing lakes with fresh water, rivers, springs, waterfalls, and beautiful climate. All of this together makes it a safe haven for tourism in Pakistan.
Summer and winter tourist activities are also well-known features of the swat. Swat in summer is famous for hiking, hiking, camping, zipping, chair / cable car riding, regular vacations, and honeymoon trips.
In the winter swat sports activities make it very popular and enjoy a tourist destination in Pakistan. National and international tourists visit the Swat Valley in winter [2,804 meters (9,199 ft)] to enjoy skiing, skiing, sledding, ice hockey, bandy, snowboarding, speed skating, curling, etc.
Cities of Swat Valley
Saidu Sharif (Capital)
Saidu Sharif has served as the political capital and administrative capital of the Swat region since the founding of the State and maintained that position until the unification of the State. As the capital, Saidu Sharif runs swat central government offices, institutions of higher learning, health centers, etc.
The Saidu Sharif Stupa (archeology 1963 – 1982) is a monument to the existence of swat Buddhists. This is evidence of Buddhism in the swat valley between 25 BCE and the end of the first century. Another important tourist attraction at Saidu Sharif is the Swat Museum which displays thousands of artifacts of the pre-Buddhist period and prehistoric Buddhist artifacts.
Mingora Bazar (Business Center)
Mingora Bazar is a central swat business center near Saidu Sharif 2.6 km (1.6 miles). People around the village came to the town of Mingora bazaar (Market) to buy some business items.
The bustle of the Mingora market continues until late at night. In the center of the city the locals near the visitors enjoy shopping and food until late at night.
The Mingora Bazar is a great place for tourists to say or prepare and shop at the last minute while en route to the most dangerous areas of the swat. There are thousands of shops throughout the city of Mingora selling all day.
Mingora has a variety of hotels, restaurants, cafes, cafes, and western restaurants that offer both local and fast food.
Swat
Swat District is one of the seven districts of the Malakand Division. The region and its administration fall under the jurisdiction of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Government in the province of Pakistan.
The Swat District Administration governs its territory and serves as the capital of the Malakand Division in general. It therefore governs all seven districts of Malakand Province namely Buner County, Chitral District, Lower Dir District, Upper Dir District, Malakand District, Shangla County, and Swat District.
The Swat region has a total of seven subdivisions (aka Tehsils) namely Babuzai, Matta, Khwaza Khela, Barikot, Kabal, Charbagh, and Bahrain. Each Tehsil contains a specific number of Union councils. There are 65 Union Council in the District Swat which means 56 rural and 9 urban. Under the new local government program, District Swat owns 67 wards. This also divides 170 town councils and 44 local councils.
Places to Visit in Swat Valley
Swat is also famous for its beautiful mountains located in the foothills of the Hindukush mountain range, where you can hike, hike, hike, and even meditate. The height of the Swat River valley, at the southern edge of the region, is over 1,600 feet [600 m] and rises rapidly toward the north.
There are several mountain peaks ranging from 4500 to over 6000 m above sea level. The Swat region, consisting of the flowing Swat River, is also home to green valleys, glaciers, forests, meadows, and plains. The region has a wide range of geology.
Swat Valley Lakes
Swat is blessed with beautiful natural lakes. Its impressive lakes not only add to the beauty of the landscape but also attract tourists and locals alike with fishing, mountaineering, water sports, or just relaxing in nature. Swat lakes have a rich history, and the great fairy tales add to the magic of their landscapes.
A stunning view of the beauty of the Swat lakes and the fresh water that makes it an ideal setting. Swat Valley has many lakes and many large freshwater lakes. The valley is home to about 35 famous lakes, each with its own distinctive and shiny landscapes. These lakes are home to many species of plants and animals.
Swat languages
Swat Home Language is the best spoken Pasto language across the region. Other widely understood Swat languages are Urdu, English, and Persian. As an English-speaking visitor, you will always find an easy local person to contact you in English.
Swat Weather
The Swat climate is prone to temperatures and changes but is rarely very hot. Despite being a relatively small valley, one of the most amazing things about Swat climate is how it varies from region to region. You may experience ‘four seasons in one day’, but walk 20-30 minutes either way and the weather is usually completely different!
If it is springtime in Swat, you can expect moderate temperatures from about 7 ° C (45 ° F) to 13 ° C (55 ° F) during the months of March, April, and May.
The summer months in Swat namely June, July and August are usually the warmest months, with temperatures ranging from 15 ° C (59 ° F) to 17 ° C (63 ° F). In autumn (or Autumn), Swat is likely to experience temperatures ranging from about 8 ° C (46 ° F) to 14 ° C (57 ° F) from September to November.
December, January, and February are generally the coldest months in Swat, with temperatures fluctuating 5 ° C (41 ° F).
When Is The Best Time To Visit Swat
Given 365 days a year, from mid-March to the end of May the best time to visit Swat when the weather is inclement. From June until the end of August is usually the best time to visit the swat when the suburbs of Pakistan are subject to extreme heat waves and shelter in this cool refreshing valley is much needed. The best time to ski and other winter sports is from December to the end of February when especially the upper swat areas are under good snow cover and make for great skiing and winter sports.
In conclusion, March to November is the best time to visit the swat for family and children trips, school holidays, city holidays, photo breaks and weekends, etc. December to February is the best time to visit the swat valley for winter sports or winter holidays and sacrifices.
