The lush-green valley of Swat, with its rushing torrents, icy-cold lakes, fruit-laden orchards and flower-decked slopes is ideal for holiday-makers intent on relaxation. It has a rich historical past, too.

This is the ³Udayana² (the Garden) of the ancient Hindu epics; ³the land of enthralling beauty² where Alexander of Macedon fought and won some of this major battles before crossing over to the plains of Pakistan. This is ³the valley of the hanging chains² described by the famous Chinese pilgrim-chroniclers, Huain Tsang and Fa-Hian in the fifth and sixth centuries.

Swat was once the cradle of Buddhism of all its schools - Little Vehicle, Great Vehicle and the Esoteric sects where once 1,400 monasteries flourished.

It was the home of the famous Gandhara School of Sculpture which was an expression of Graeco-Roman form in the local Buddhist tradition.

Swat was also the historical land where the Muslim conquerors, Mahmud of Ghazni, Babur and Akbar fought their battles preparatory to the conquest of the sub-continent.

The ruins of great Buddhist stupas, monasteries and statues are found all over Swat.

The valley of Swat sprawls over 10,360 sq. km at an elevation of 975.36 metres. The normal temperature is maximum 21.11°C (701°F) and minimum 7.22°C (45°F). The tourist season is year-round.

Headquarters of Swat, Saidu Sharif houses the Swat Museum which contains one of the finest collections of Gandhara art in the world.

Mingora 3.21 km (two miles) from Saidu Sharif has yielded magnificent pieces of Buddhist sculpture and the ruins of great stupas.

Malam Jabba, at 2,652 metres (8,700 ft.) above sea level and 39 km (24 miles) north-east of Saidu Sharif is being developed as a ski-cum-summer resort.

The hatchery at Madyan stocks the Swat River with trout. The angling season opens from April.

Swat is famous for its embroidered table cloth, ladies shawls, table mats. gold-threaded purse and caps, woodwork and honey.

Swat is linked by road and air with Islamabad/Rawalpindi and by road with Peshawar. Cars from Rawalpindi and Peshawar charge Rs. 5 per mile plus Rs. 100 for overnight halt. PTDC runs air-conditioned coach service twice a week between Saidu Sharif and Rawalpindi and Saidu Sharif and Peshawar. The fare is Rs. 110.

There are moderately priced hotels, motels and rest-houses.

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