Swat Valley Holidays
The lush-green valley of Swat, with its rushing torrents, icy-cold lakes and fruit-laden orchards is a veritable Garden of Eden. Known by a number of different names, each from different cultures; ‘Udayana’ or ‘the ‘Garden’ as the ancient Hindu epics referred to it or as ‘the valley of the hanging chains’ described by the famous Chinese pilgrim-chroniclers, Huain Tsang and Fa-Hian in the fifth and sixth centuries. Lastly as the Swat valley or ‘the land of enthralling beauty’, where Alexander of Macedonia fought and won some of his major battles before crossing over to the plains of Pakistan.
The Swat Valley is rich in history and in religious routes, it was the cradle of Buddhism where 1,400 monasteries once flourished. It was also home to the famous Gandhara School of Sculpture, an expression of Graeco-Roman form in the local Buddhist tradition. As well as the historical land where the Muslim conquerors, Mahmud of Ghazni, Babur and Akbar fought their battles before their conquest of the sub-continent.
For more information on the Swat Valley or how to combine it with other regions on your holiday to Pakistan please contact Paul on 01285 651 010.
Alternative Suggestions
Karakorum Highway
Meandering through some of the world’s toughest terrain.
Peshawar
Considered to be Pakistan’s pure frontier town.
Lahore
The Country’s cultural and artistic centre.