Page 25 - In The Loop 01 May - 14 Aug, 2018

ABOUT PAKISTAN

SWAT – Switzerland of the East

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 top tourist
destinations in the northern valleys of Pakistan.

glacial lakes, among them Mahodand Lake and Kundol Lake are
very popular due to ease of accessibility. Kundol is a charming Lake
located in the north of Utror region. It lies in the foothills of Hindu
Kush mountains and is accessible via mesmeric valley of Ladu
through a 4-6 hours’ trek. The elevation ranges from 991 meters
(3,300 feet) above sea level at Saidu Sharif to the highest mountain
Flaksair which is 6,257 meters (20,528 feet) high.

People travelling up-country can take Motorway (M-1) to reach
Mardan interchange from Islamabad after covering a distance of
131 Kms. From Mardan onwards, they can travel via Takh-e-Bai,
Dargai, Malakand Pass, Batkhella, Chakdara and reach Mingora &
Saidu Sharif after covering a distance of another 112 Kms. Saidu
Sharif is the capital of Swat and its twin city Mingora is the largest
and oldest market town.This route is open for all kinds of traffic
throughout the year.

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Swat was described as “Udyana” (the garden) in ancient Hindu
epics. Alexander the Great crossed Swat River with part of his army
in 327BC. From second century BC to the ninth century AD, Swat
was the cradle of Buddhism where at one time more than 1400
monasteries flourished. The ringing of the bells at these places of
worship used to create an extraordinary enigmatic impression all
around the valley.
Swat is the historical land where Muslim conquerors, Mahmood of
Ghazni and Mughal Kings Babar and Akbar fought their battles,
preparatory to the conquest of the Sub-Continent. The history of
The Valley of Swat sprawls over 10,350 sq. Kms. Madyan, Baharin, modern Swat commenced with the emergence of Akhund Sahib of
Miandam, Kalam and Malam Jabba are its main tourist spots. Swat as a charismatic religious leader and a reformer. The state of
Malam Jabba is home to the only Ski Resort in Pakistan. Two Swat was founded in 1917 by Miangul Abdul Wadood and was
trekking trails are located near the resort. The first starts about 18 officially recognized by the British Indian Government in 1926. Swat
km from the resort and passes through the Ghorband Valley and is part of Malakand Division which is a Provincially Administrated
Shangla Top. The other trail passes through the Sabonev Valley and Tribal Area (PATA) of the Khyber Pukhtunkhawa province of
is about 17 km from the resort. Kalam has a good number of alpine Pakistan.

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