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am from a small city MINGORA located
in one of the most beautiful valley SWAT in
North Western Frontier Province in Pakistan.
Mingora is district headquarter and commercial
center of Swat. The Swat Museum,located between
Mingora and Saidu Sharif has a rich collection of
Gandhara art which is worth viewing. Various excavated
Buddhist sites are located near Saidu Sharif at
Gulkada, and further south |
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| towards Chakdara, Udegram
and Nemogram. Buddhist stupas and other remains are
spread over the southern part of the Valley.The
majority of the people of Swat are Muslim Pathans,
Kohistani and Gujars. Some have very distinct features and
claim to be descendants of Alexander the Great. Swat has
been inhabited for over two thousands years. The first
inhabitants were settled in well-planned towns. In 327 B.C,
Alexander the Great fought his way to Udegram and Barikot
and stormed their battlements. In Greek accounts, these
towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. Around the 2nd
century BC, the area was occupied by Buddhists, who were
attracted by the peace and serenity of the land. There are
many remains that testify to their skills as sculptors and
architects. 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 the land was taken
over by the Dilzak, who in turn were ousted by the Yusafzais
(a Pathan tribe).Click
her to know more about swatvalley. |
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