Swat (Pashto/Urdu: سوات) is a valley and a district in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. the capital is Saidu Sharif. With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty, and a popular destination for tourists. It was a princely state (see State of Swat) in the NWFP until it was dissolved in 1969. Pashto (پښتو; also known as Afghan, Pushto, Pashto, Pashtoe, Pashtu, and Pukhto) is the language spoken by the ethnic Afghan otherwise known as the Pashtun people who inhabit Afghanistan and the Western provinces of Pakistan. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ... The Districts of Pakistan form the third tier of government in Pakistan, ranking as subdivisions of the provinces of Pakistan. ... The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)-(also known as, Subha Sarhad)- is the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Pashtuns (Afghans) and various other groups. ... Saidu Sharif is located at Swat, NWFP, Pakistan. ... A princely state is any state under the reign of a prince and is thus a principality taken in the broad sense. ... The State of Swat was a princely state which existed in the north of the modern North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan until it was dissolved in 1969. ... North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is geographically the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ...

For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Currently, Pakistan is subdivided into four provinces, two territories, and also portions of Kashmir that are administered by the Pakistani government. ... North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is geographically the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... A telephone number is a sequence of decimal digits (0-9) that is used for identifying a destination telephone line in a telephone network. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Pakistan Standard Time (PST) is the time zone for Pakistan. ... UTC +5 is the timezone for : Pakistan Standard Time in Pakistan. ... A street in Ynysybwl, Wales, relatively stereotypical of a small town A town is usually an urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Union Council Union Council is a sub part of a district, usually it is a large village also including the nearby small villages. ...

History

Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years and was known in ancient times as Udyana. The first inhabitants were settled in well-planned towns. The independent monarchs of this region came under Achaemenid influence, before reverting back to local control in the 4th century BC. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought his way to Udegram and Barikot. In Greek accounts these towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. By 305 BC, the region became a part of the Mauryan Empire. Around the 2nd century BC, the area was occupied by Buddhists, the Indo-Greeks, and the Kushans who were attracted by the peace and serenity of the land. Swat is thought to be the probable birthplace of Vajrayana Buddhism. There are many archaeological sites in the district, and Buddhist relics are common, testimony to their skills as sculptors and architects. Udyāna (Sanskrit, meaning garden or orchard; Chinese pinyin: wu chang, also romanized as Woo-chang) was a Buddhist region in northern India, delimited in part by the Indus river and to the south by a region known as Soo-ho-to. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Barikot is a city of Pakistan, in the Swat region (ancient Udyana). ... Statues of Buddha such as this, the Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong, remind followers to practice right living. ... Maximum extent of Indo-Greek territory circa 175 BCE. The Indo-Greeks (or sometimes Greco-Indians) designate a series of Greek kings, who invaded and controlled parts of northwest and northern India from 180 BCE to around 10 BCE. They are the continuation of the Greco-Bactrian dynasty of Greek... Boundary of the Kushan empire, c. ... A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ...

Buddhist Heritage of Swat

Location of Swat District (highlighted in yellow) within the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan

The Swat museum has the footprints of the Buddha, which were found in the Swat valley and can now be seen in the Swat museum. When the Buddha died, His relics (or ashes) were distributed to seven kings, who built stupas over them for veneration.. Image File history File links Swat_NWFP.svg‎ File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Swat_NWFP.svg‎ File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is geographically the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan. ... Media:Example. ... The Great Stupa at Sanchi. ...

The Harmarajika stupa (Taxila) and Butkarha (Swat) stupa at Jamal Garha were among the earliest stupas of Gandhara. These had been erected on the orders of king Ashoka and contained the real relics of the Buddha. Taxila is an important archaelogical site in Pakistan containing the ruins of the Gandhāran city and university of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu[1] and Buddhist[2] centre of learning from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. In 1980, Taxila was declared... Gandhāra (Sanskrit: गन्धार, Persian; Gandara, Waihind) (Urdu: گندھارا) is the name of an ancient Indian Mahajanapada, currently in northern Pakistan (the North-West Frontier Province and parts of northern Punjab and Kashmir) and eastern Afghanistan. ... Allegiance: Magadhan Empire Rank: Emperor Succeeded by: Dasaratha Maurya Reign: 273 BC-232 BC Place of birth: Pataliputra, India Battles/Wars Kalinga War Emperor Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक(:); IAST transliteration: , pronunciation: ) (304 BC–232 BC) (Imperial Title:Devanampiya Piyadassi ie He who is the beloved of the Gods who, in...

The Gandhara school is probably credited with the first representation of the Buddha in human form, the portrayal of Buddha in his human shape, rather than shown as a symbol. Gandhāra (Sanskrit: गन्धार, Persian; Gandara, Waihind) (Urdu: گندھارا) is the name of an ancient Indian Mahajanapada, currently in northern Pakistan (the North-West Frontier Province and parts of northern Punjab and Kashmir) and eastern Afghanistan. ... Media:Example. ...

As Buddhist art developed and spread outside India, the styles developed here were imitated. For example, in China the Gandhara style was imitated in images made of bronze, with a gradual change in the features of these images. Swat, the land of romance and beauty, is celebrated throughout the world as the holy land of Buddhist learning and piety. Swat acquired fame as a place of Buddhist pilgrimage. Buddhist tradition holds that the Buddha himself came to Swat during his last reincarnation as the Guatama Buddha and preached to the people here.

It is said that the Swat was filled with fourteen hundred imposing and beautiful stupas and monasteries, which housed as many as 6,000 gold images of the Buddhist pantheon for worship and education. There are now more than 400 Buddhist sites covering and area of 160 km in Swat valley only. Among the important Buddhist excavation in Swat an important one is Butkarha-I, containing the original relics of the Buddha. Source: Indo Pak Hist till 1951

Advent of Islam

In the beginning of the 11th century AD, Mahmud of Ghazni advanced through Dir and invaded Swat, defeating Gira, the local ruler, near Udegram. Later, when the King of Kabul Mirza Ulagh Beg attempted to assassinate the dominant chiefs of the Yousafzais they took refuge under the umbrella of the Swati Kings of Swat and Bajour. The whole area was being dominated by the Swati/Jahangiri Sultans of Swat for centuries. According to H. G. Raverty, the Jahangiri Kings of Swat had ruled from Jalalabad to Jehlum. After more than two decades of guerilla war, they were dispossessed by the Yousafzais. The majority of the aboriginal inhabitants of Swat migrated to the Hazara region to the east, where Swatis predominate with their surname Swati, reflecting their link to the region. Mahmud and Ayaz The Sultan is to the right, shaking the hand of the sheykh, with Ayaz standing behind him. ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ... The Yousafzai or Yusufzai (also Esapzey) (Urdu: یوسف زئی ) are an Afghan tribe. ... Bajaur or Bajor (Urdu: باجوڑ ) is a tribal agency in FATA areas of Pakistan. ... For information on the language spoken in Swaziland, see Swati language. ... Jahangiris are one of the leading Pathan clans of the Swati tribes of the Sarhad of Pakistan, mainly residing in the Hazara division of the districts of Batagram and Mansehra. ... Henry George Raverty (1825-1906) was a British Indian Army officer and linguist. ... For the city in Kyrgyzstan, see Jalal-Abad. ... Jehlum (Urdu: جہلم ) river flows from its source in Himalayan mountains in Kashmir to Indus river in Punjab, Pakistan. ... The Yousafzai or Yusufzai (also Esapzey) (Urdu: یوسف زئی ) are an Afghan tribe. ... For information on the language spoken in Swaziland, see Swati language. ...

State of Swat

see State of Swat The State of Swat was a princely state which existed in the north of the modern North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan until it was dissolved in 1969. ...

Post 1970 merger

Demographics

The main language of the area is Pashto. The people of Swat are mainly Pashtuns, Kohistanis and Gujars. Some have very distinctive features and claim to be descendants of the army of Alexander the Great. Languages Pashto (plus second languages from countries of residence) Religions Islam (predominantly Sunni) An entry was temporarily removed here. ... Kohistan is a Persian word meaning mountainous region or highland (Koh = mountain; -istan = suffix -land). ... Migrants in one of the several migratory waves that brought Indo-Europeans into South-Asia. ...

The people of the Kalam region in northern Swat are known as Kohistanis and speak the Torwali and Kalami languages. There are also some Khowar speakers in the Kalam region. This is because before Kalam came under the rule of Swat it was a region tributary to both Yasin and Chitral and after Yasin itself was assimilated into Chitral the Kalamis paid a tribute of mountain ponies to the Mehtar of Chitral every year. Kalam Valley is located in Sarhad, Pakistan. ... Kohistan is a Persian word meaning mountainous region or highland (Koh = mountain; -istan = suffix -land). ... Khowar is classified as a Dardic Language. ... Kalam Valley is located in Sarhad, Pakistan. ... The State of Chitral, or Chitrāl, was a former princely state of Pakistan and British India which ceased to exist in 1969. ...

Tourist attractions

PTDC Motel at Malam Jabba Ski Resort

There is a ski resort in Swat at Malam Jabba as well. Malam Jabba is about 40km north east of Saidu Sharif. It is a popular ski resort in Pakistan. The ski slope is also the longest in Pakistan at about 800m. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 238 KB) Summary PTDC Motel at Malam Jabba Ski Resort, Swat, NWFP, Pakistan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 238 KB) Summary PTDC Motel at Malam Jabba Ski Resort, Swat, NWFP, Pakistan. ... Malam Jabba Ski Resort, Swat, NWFP, Pakistan Malam Jabba is located nearly 40km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Sarhad, Pakistan. ... Malam Jabba Ski Resort, Swat, NWFP, Pakistan Malam Jabba is located nearly 40km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Sarhad, Pakistan. ... Malam Jabba Ski Resort, Swat, NWFP, Pakistan Malam Jabba is located nearly 40km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Sarhad, Pakistan. ... Saidu Sharif is located at Swat, NWFP, Pakistan. ...

Administrative Set up

The region has gone through considerable changes over the last few years. Since the dissolution of the princely state.

• Matta
• Swat

Matta may refer to: A city in Swat, NWFP Pakistan. ... This article is about Special Weapons and Tactics. ...

Local Politics

In August 2001, a new local government system was introduced by the military-led government of Pervez Musharraf. The new system consists of a District Nazim (or mayor) and a deputy Naib Nazim, and the district in turn was subdivided into two tehsils. The first is Swat Tehsil with 52 union councils and the other is Matta Tehsil with 13 union councils. Each tehsil has its own Nazim and Naib Nazim. General Pervez Musharraf (Urdu: ) (born August 11, 1943) is President of Pakistan and the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army who came to power in wake of a coup detat. ... Nazim (Urdu: ناظم ) is the Coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. ... The equivalent terms tehsil, tahsil, tahasil, taluka, taluk, and taluq refer to a unit of government in some countries of the Indian subcontinent. ...

The District Nazim is Jamal Nasir Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League and his Naib Nazim is Malik Sadiq Ahmed. Swat Tehsil's Nazim is Fazal Rehman Nono from the Pakistan People's Party , while its Naib Nazim is Shah Dawran from the Awami National Party. In Matta Tehsil, the Nazim is Abdul Jabbar Khan and Zakir Khan both of the Awami National Party. Abdul Jabbar Khan was wounded during an attack on ANP leaders by a gunman on the 21st of September 2007. The attacker killed two people and wounded three members of the ANP including federal minister and central leader of Awami National Party, Mohammad Afzal Khan^[1] Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the Great Leader of the Muslim League The All India Muslim League was a political party in British India and was the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state from British India on the Indian subcontinent. ... The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a mainstream political party in Pakistan. ... The Awami National Party (ANP, Awami meaning People)) is a nationalist political party (leftist) in Pakistan. ...

Provincial & National Politics

The region elects two Male M.N.A,s and one female M.N.A and seven male M.P.A,s as well as two female M.P.A,s. In the 2002 National and Provincial elections, the Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of religious political parties won all the seats amidst a wave of anti Americanism that spread after the United States invasion of Afghanistan.

Hotels and Resorts

• Rockcity Resort Fizaghat Swat [1]

Also see

• Akhund of Swat
• Assakenois and Aspasios (ancient people of north-east Afghanistan)
• Padmasambhava

The Akhund of Swat Abdul Ghafur (1794-1874) was a Muslim saint who exercised great influence and authority over Muslims over large parts of central Asia. ... The Ashvakas are very ancient people of north-east Afghanistan. ... The Ashvakas are very ancient people of north-east Afghanistan. ... Guru Rinpoche - Padmasambhava statue - near Kullu, India Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. ...

External links

• http://www.eps-swat.org
• Valley Swat Site ( History, Society, Economy, Tourism, Photo Gallery, Art and Architecture, Literature etc )
• Swat Valley site
• Premium Free Photography Collection of Pakistan
• Website of Quarterly Pushtu Journal Meena From Swat
• RoyalArk website on general and dynastic history
• Details on the ruling family of Swat
• Francis Hannaway's Website on Swat

• swat

Administrative Divisions of North-West Frontier Province
Capital	Peshawar
Districts	Abbottabad | Bannu | Batagram | Buner | Charsadda | Chitral | Dera Ismail Khan | Hangu | Haripur | Karak | Kohat | Kohistan | Lakki Marwat | Lower Dir | Malakand | Mansehra | Mardan | Nowshera | Peshawar | Shangla District | Swabi | Swat | Tank | Upper Dir