Letters From Jinnah to The Wali Of Swat

Generous Donations from the people, state and the King of Swat State Miangul Abdulwadood Bacha Sahib to the people of Pakistan.
Photos donated by Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb Grandson of the King of Swat State Miangul Abdulwadood Bacha Sahib.

Boats Transport in River Swat

From Landaakey to Khwazakhela River Swat can be a smooth source of Transportation through boats

Video

Life at summer resorts of Swat Valley in Winter

Life of the local people at Summer resorts like Kalam, Malamjabba, Taal Dardyaal (Kabal), Laalku (Matta), Behrain etc is extremely  hard in Winter.

People are in need of even basic facilities of life. 

Do we have time to think how they can be helped?

   

The Story of A Photo

By Alamgir Khan

13th Dec 1949, the first day of Miangul Abdul Haq Jahanzeb as Wali of Swat State.

On 12th Dec 1949 the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaqat Ali Khan tied the ceremonial Paggri on his head.

 A rare example in the history of kings and princes  of  a father leaving the throne to his son, when actually he could very well have ruled for at least another ten years.

In the picture Miangul Abdul Wadud Bacha Sahib, Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan, and Miangul Abdul Haq  Jahanzeb are speaking on the occasion.

Today we the people of Swat need to exhibit the same spirit of selflessness to regain our lost paradise.

Elum Trekking

Starting point of the trek to Elum
Don't miss photos of this trek to be uploaded daily
Enjoy the beauty of this historic and traditional route to Elum with swatnama....

Elum on Fire

By: Alamgir Khan

Elum is one of the highest mountain peaks of Swat. It is situated at the administrative boundary of Swat and Bunir. Due to its height, beauty and fame many interesting stories have often been told by the people of the area about it since long.

Once a man asked his friend, “Pirbaba is greater or Elum?” The man thought, “If I say Elum is greater,   Pirbaba is also not an ordinary entity, and if I say Pirbaba is greater Elum also has its greatness. At last he replied, “May God puzzle you as much as you have puzzled me”.

Another story is like this, “A man went to Buner and told the People there that he could lift Elum on his shoulders if he was fed on butter, chickens, cream, meat etc for three months. The People agreed.  At the appointed time the man was taken to the bottom of the hill to lift it. The man said confidently, “Put it on my shoulders”.

Elum is not only famous for the height of the peak; it is also one of the most beautiful valleys of Swat. People from far and wide come here to enjoy the tranquility of nature. It is located on a walking distance of four to five hours from Marghazar, another scenic vale of the region, serving as base camp for Elum top which is locally known as ‘Jogyano Sar’. It is said that Ramchandar Ji, a Hindu, meditated here. Every year in October a large number of Hindu pilgrims visit the place of his worship.

The whole trek has amazing and picturesque variety of natural beauty. At night sitting beside the stone and clay mosque half way up the trek towards the Peak in complete darkness and you see the full moon emerging slowly and majestically from behind ‘Halak Sar’, another peak opposite Elum, is a spectacle which can’t be described in words.

Besides nature another feature of Elum is its local inhabitants. You experience a rare glimpse of human simplicity, sincerity, and unique hospitality. They not only provide a place for the night but also butter, cream, ‘Mastha’ and ‘shomley’. They treat you like a guest. Their treatment refreshes your faith in humanity.

The part of the trek near the hut of Banjaar, a local entertainer, gives a breath taking view of Elum valley from a height of thousands of feet. It looks like a bowl made up of hills and green fields with scattered huts of the residents. It is just like a fairy dream land.

Climbing up the hill in the midst of forest trees with whistling sound of the leaves produced by the breeze is so refreshing and life giving. It is an experience of its own kind.

Reaching the top a vast green meadow spread like a carpet with the ringing bells hanging on to the necks of Buffaloes and cows grazing the grass welcomes you. The first look at all this stuns and then comforts and soothes you after a tiring and exhausting climb of more than five hours. It fills you with a new spirit of exploring the world of nature. It is a place where the most sinful of men can find himself closer to the Creator of all beauty. One wants to become a permanent part of all this. It compels you to come here again and again. And that is why we went there in August 2003 for the fifth time. But it proved to be our last visit.

There were no signs of the forest. It was virtually shaved off. Elum was left naked. How it shocked and tortured us is something which can’t be told. ‘A fire broke out here and lasted for two weeks’, was all that we could hear from a local man.

mile stone of swat state era