Swat’s Sehar Agaan and Pur Bihar valleys are world-renowned for tourism. Nature has decorated this vast region with innumerable colors of beauty and beauty. The atmosphere here is fragrant and the scenery is enchanting. Snow-capped peaks, numerous waterfalls, full of plants, natural clear water springs, talismanic lakes, noisy river Swat and the fragrant valley of Gul and Lala, every color is so heartwarming and refreshing that everyone who comes here One gets lost in its beauty and grace.
This region, one of the most beautiful regions in the world, is located at a distance of 254 km to the northeast from the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, while its distance from the provincial capital Peshawar is 170 km. According to the 1998 census and house census, the total population of Swat district is twelve lakh fifty seven thousand six hundred two (1257602) and its total area is spread over 5337 square kilometers. It is bordered by Chitral district to the north, Buner district to the south, Shangla district to the east, Dera district and Malakand Agency area to the west and the beautiful area of the former state of Amb (Darband) to the southeast.
Swat can be divided into three geographical regions:
(1) Upper Swat (2) Lower Swat (3) Kohistan Swat
Nature has made Swat valley very beautiful and charming. High and green mountains, trees laden with fruits, raging streams of clear and transparent water and gushing rivers, countless fountains and roaring waterfalls present the scene of heaven.
During the winter season, it snows a lot. The surrounding mountains are covered with snow. A white blanket of snow covers everything. In summer, when the snow melts, the entire valley is washed away. The weather becomes pleasant, the trees get new life and the green is green everywhere. Colorful flowers fill the mind with ease and the heart with comfort. Thousands, lakhs of local and foreign tourists come to visit and enjoy the breathtaking scenery here.
The people here
Just as the Swat valley is rich in natural beauty, its inhabitants are also very beautiful both outwardly and inwardly. Most of the people here are Yusufzai Pashtuns, but Kohistanis are also settled in large numbers. The Kohistani people have mixed with the Pashtuns here in a relationship of brotherhood and brotherhood and the Pashtun culture has prevailed over them to such an extent that they too feel proud to call themselves Pashtuns. The Pashto language is mostly spoken here. . However, Kohistani, Gujri, Gauri and Qashqai languages are also spoken in the hilly areas. Punjabi and Hindko speakers also live in Swat, but their numbers are very small. Almost everyone here can speak and understand Urdu.
Nature has blessed the residents of Swat Valley with many virtues. The natives here are naturally good-natured, friendly and hospitable. If a stranger wants to know a place or route from them, they leave it at the destination. They consider it their duty to honor and respect the guests. Respect for women is very important.
The general dress here is shalwar and kameez. Women also wear the same dress. The women of the hilly areas wear traditional hand-embroidered clothes with great passion and also use traditional silver and gold ornaments of Swat which reflect the ancient culture and social values of Swat.
The historical background of Swat
Swat valley, which is a beautiful place of beauty and romance, is also of great historical importance. In ancient times, it has been a victim of many invaders due to its beauty and freshness. But the people living here have preferred death to the life of slavery in every age and have never accepted to live under the nakedness of anyone. This populous land has given birth to many worthy and history-making personalities. Who have made themselves alive in the pages of history due to their extraordinary achievements.
Swat has been mentioned by different names in ancient books. Among them, Swasthas, Swada, Isakini and Udyana etc. are worth mentioning. Udyana is a Sanskrit word meaning garden or garden. Due to the immense beauty of the Swat valley and its beautiful scenery and charm, its name Udayana looks more beautiful and appropriate because Swat has been likened to the garden and Gulistan on this name and its name is Bamusamy. The Greek historians, who came here with Alexander the Great, according to their tradition, mentioned this area in relation to its river. The answer is the Swat River and it was called Swastu in ancient times. It is believed that the word Savita
Derived from (Sweta) which means white. It can be believed that because of the clear white water streams and rivers of this area, it might have been called “Swastu” or “Sweta” which later changed to Swad, like the Mughal emperor Babur. appears from the writing of , and then became Swat.
From the 6th century (BC) when the region was a part of the great empire of the Iranian emperors, to the present day, Swat has seen major revolutions. When people of Aryan descent entered the subcontinent in 2500 BC, they passed through this valley.
After conquering Iran in 326 (BC), Alexander the Great invaded India through Kabul, then he entered the Swat Valley through the Conar region of Kabul and crossed the Swat River near the village of Bandi in Swat. and advanced to Mangalore (Swat). Alexander the Great along with his army settled in a large plain outside Mangalore. Here, after a fierce battle, a truce was concluded and Alexander the Great, agreeing to his arbitrary terms, advanced further into Swat and crossed the Indus into the Punjab. During the time of Alexander, the king of Swat was Arnas, who was defeated by Alexander. It is mentioned in history that during his conquests, Alexander the Great faced the toughest resistance only in Swat, in which he was also wounded. At that time, the people here were followers of Buddhism.
In 100 AD, Buddhism was on the rise in Swat. At that time Swat was an important part of the Gandhara kingdom and was ruled by Raja Kanishka. The foundation of which was the throne of Peshawar.
In 403 AD, the famous Chinese traveler and Buddhist pilgrim Fahian came to Swat. In 519 AD, another famous Chinese traveler Sing Yun entered Swat through Faristan. In 630 CE, a third famous traveler from China, the Buddhist scholar and pilgrim Hien Tsang, came to Swat via Kabul. The last famous Chinese traveler was the Viking who came to Swat in 752 AD. These Chinese tourists have written in detail about the religious, economic, cultural and cultural conditions of Swat at that time in their respective travelogs, which show that Buddhism had a long history in Swat at that time and the people here were quite developed and They were happy.
In the eleventh century AD, Mahmud Ghaznavi’s forces entered Swat through Bajaur, who defeated the ruler of that time named Raja Gera and illuminated the land of Swat with the eternal torch of Islam.
In 1485, Ranul Ul Beg, the Chagatai Turkish ruler of Kabul, killed the leading figures of the Yusufzai tribe by deception. Sheikh Milli and Malik Ahmad fortunately escaped the massacre and entered Peshawar along with their children, the Khache tribe, and after a long battle, the Yusufzai tribe captured Peshawar, Mardan and Swat.
In 1515, the king of Swat, Sultan Owais, was dethroned and the old residents of Swat were forced to move to Mansehra, Hazara.
In 1516, when the Mughal emperor Babur was going from Afghanistan to attack India, he first attacked Swat, but he had to die here. Finally, he married the daughter of Shah Mansoor, the chief of Yusufzai tribe, and made peace with the residents of Yusufzai tribe here and included them in his army and later conquered India.
In 1530, Shaikh Mali introduced the method of Vish (distribution of lands) and regular distribution of lands was implemented in Yusufzai tribe. After the death of Babur, his son Humayun tried to conquer Swat by sword but was not successful. could In the same way, this period of history goes to Akbar Badshah, who attacked Swat in 1586 but was defeated and forced to retreat.
In 1825, Syed Ahmad Shaheed settled in these areas (Panjtar) and under his leadership, many mujahids joined the jihad against the Sikhs.
Until 1850, there was no political organization in Swat, therefore, for the integrity of this region, Hazrat Akhund Abdul Ghafoor (Seydu Baba) in consultation with the rulers and chiefs of that time, gave Syed Akbar Shah, one of the descendants of Pir Baba, the first Shariah of Swat in 1850. Elected as the Amir of the government, but after his death on 11 May 1857, Swat again fell victim to political chaos and public peace.
In 1863, a fierce battle took place with the British at Ambela. But the inhabitants of this place put up a strong resistance due to which the British failed to conquer Swat.
In 1876-77, Akhun Sahib (Saidu Baba) died. A long struggle for the kingdom of Swat began between the descendants of Akhun Sahib and Syed Akbar, which became more complicated due to the involvement of Dir and Bajaur in the political struggle.
In 1881, Mian Gul Abdul Wadud (who later became the founder of Swat and became known as Badshah Sahib) was born to Akhun Sahib’s younger son Mian Gul Abdul Khaliq.
In 1887, the eldest son of Mian Gul Abdul Hanan Akhun failed to form a state and died.
In 1895 and 1897, the British launched two separate attacks on Swat through Malakand, but the brave people of Swat forced them to retreat. The people of Dir, Bajaur, Buner and the present Malakand Agency were also involved in these battles.
In 1903-07, Mian Gul Abdul Razzaq and Mian Gul Abdul Wahid, the sons of Akhund Sahib’s eldest son, were killed by their cousin Mian Gul Abdul Wadud and Mian Gul Abdul Wadud was declared the sole heir to all the spiritual and material inheritance of Akhund Sahib. found Thus the struggle for political power ended.
Taking advantage of the ongoing chaos in Swat, a man named Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah established his government in the northern regions across the Swat River in 1914. Later, Mian Gul Abdul Wadud (Badshah Sahib), who was also the grandson of Syed Baba, snatched the reins of government from Abdul Jabbar Shah and established his regular government in 1917. From 1917 to 1926, the internal formation and construction of the Swat state and its powers. Efforts were made to stabilize the Roads, telephones and forts etc. were built. Externally, through various wars, the borders of this newly born state were expanded and redefined. Swat was formally recognized by the British government in 1924 and Mian Gul Abdul Wadud ruled as Ran-i-Swat. In 1947, the annexation of the state of Swat to Pakistan was announced.
On December 12, 1949, Mian Gul Abdul Wadud handed over the reins of government to his son Prince Muhammad Abdul Haq Jahan Zeb (Question of Swat). Who tried their best to make Swat a modern and developed state and played an unforgettable and living role in the development of Swat.
On July 28, 1969, the State of Swat was merged into Pakistan as a district and the appointment of Deputy Commissioner and other administrative officers was formally implemented.
Swat River
All the beauty, prosperity and freshness of the Swat valley depends on the Swat river. Thanks to the Swat river, all the valleys of Swat are a manifestation of natural beauty and every corner of it looks lush and green. Almost all the visible valleys of Swat are situated on the banks of the Swat River itself. These include Atrur, Gabral, Osho, Mittal Tan, Glacier, Kalam, Bahrain, Madin, Bagh Dherai, Khawaza Khila, Shein, Charbagh and Mangura.
The Swat River runs a hundred miles from the Kalam Valley to the Malakand power station. Meanwhile, it irrigates the vast area and makes it lush and fertile.
The Swat River is as old as the landscape of Swat. Thousands of years ago, Swat was even more beautiful and attractive. At that time, Swat was completely protected from the encroachment of modern machinery and not only its atmosphere was attractive and beautiful because of the colorful flowers and dense forests, but the entire valley. The rivers, streams, waterfalls and rivers in Swat were free from all kinds of pollution. Due to the exceptionally pure and transparent white water of the Swat River, the historians who came with Alexander the Great mentioned this area in relation to its river. It is believed that this word is derived from Savita which means “white”.
The famous Chinese traveler Hiu Tsang also mentioned the white water here and Al Biruni in the eleventh century AD also mentions the transparent water of Swat and even in the present time saw the clear water of Swat shining like silver. When you go, you feel a strange joy. Along with it, there is a settlement called “Spene Oba” (white water) near the river Swat. Therefore, it can be said with certainty that the clear and transparent white water of this area is the cause of the rivers and the river. It may have been called ‘Svastava’ or ‘Sveta’. Which later became “Sawad” and then “Swat”.
The famous Chinese traveler Sung Yun came to Swat from Kafaristan (Chitral) in 502 AD. In some historical books, its names are also found as “River Suti” or “Vastu” and “Solatas” which belong to the ancient times of four thousand years. It is said that the area was also known as ‘Suti’ or ‘Swasti’ after the name of this river which later changed to ‘Savad’ or ‘Swat’. River Swat was also given the name “Guri” in Sanskrit and the mention of “Susatos Darya” (River Swat) by ancient authors is also present in the sacred Rigveda and mentioned in MahaBharata as well. Besides, the Greek traveler Erin has also mentioned it in his writings.
