Saidu Sharif - Headquarters of Swat Valley
Headquarters of Swat Valley, Saidu Sharif houses the Swat Museum which contains one of the finest collections of Gandhara art in the world.
Saidu Sharif is the capital city of Swat District in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.
Saidu Sharif houses the Swat Museum, Jahanzeb College, Saidu Hospital and Central Hospital. Saidu Sharif is one of the most beautiful towns in NWFP.
The ex-ruler of Swat lives in Saidu Sharif. All the main Government offices along with the postgraduate college and the airport are located in Saidu Sharif.
Places to Visit
Udiyanu (Swat): In this picturesque valley, located near the headquarters city of Saidu Sharif, excavations at Udigram and Mingora depict the life and teachings of Buddha. The Udigram finds have also some traces of earlier periods around the time of Alexander’s invasion. At Saidu Sharif, there is a small museum mostly displaying relics of Gandhara art.
Marghuzar: At a height of 1,281 meters about 13 kilometers south of Saidu Sharif in Swat, Marghuzar is a beauty spot featured prominently by the White Palace of the Swat rulers.. On the 2,745 meters high plateau behind lies the temple of Ram Takht believed by Hindus to be the throne of Ramachandra. According to the legend, Buddha also sat on one of the rocks in the temple and the second Buddha was born here. 
Madyan: Situated at a height of 1,328 meters, 56 kilometers north-east of Saidu Sharif on the Kalam Road on the bank of river Swat, Madyan offers a superb view of the countryside and has excellent hiking and camping sites. About 10 kilometres north of Madyan is Bahrain which offers a wonderful view of natural waterfalls and a lovely view of snow-clad mountains. About 60 kilometers north of Bahrain and at an altitude of 2,074 kilometers is Kalam where Ushu and Utrat rivers meet to form the Swat river. Kalam is surrounded by snowcovered peaks, dense forests, wild flowers and green meadows, while the surroundings abound in wildlife including mountain goats, fowls, pheasants and partridges. Not far from Kalam are the valleys of Utrot and Gabral which offer breath-taking natural beauty.
Malam Jabba: A few kilometers from Saidu Sharif, Malam Jabba is the place where the first skiing resort of the country is being developed with the help of the Australian Government.
Saidu Sharif Airport
Saidu Sharif Airport (IATA: SDT, ICAO: OPSS) is an airport in Pakistan. It is situated near the Swat River and between villages of Dherai and Kanju in the North-West Frontier Province. The airport was built in the era of the late Wali Swat (the last ruler of the State of Swat) and two flights take place daily: one from this airport to Peshawar International Airport and the other to Islamabad International Airport. Many visitors that come to the valley of Swat and to the Malam Jabba ski resort in summers fly to Swat through this airport.
As of June 2007, this airport is not functioning for public flights. 
How to get there?
Swat is linked by road and by air with Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Peshawar. There is regular bus and van service between Rawalpindi and Mingora. A seasonal tourist coach service for Saidu Sharif and Kalam is run by PTDC from 1st June to 30th August every year. For bookings and further information, please contact PTDC offices at Rawalpindi or Saidu Sharif.
Where to stay?
There are moderately priced hotels, motels and rest houses in Swat at Saidu Sharif, Mingora, Marghzar, Madyan, Bahrain, Kalam and Ushu. PTDC also has its Motels at Saidu Sharif, Miandam, Malam Jabba and Kalam. For local assistance, please contact: Tourist Information Centre, PTDC Motel, Saidu Sharif. Tel: (0946) 9240159 Fax: (0936) 9249156
What to buy?
Local handicrafts include embroidered linen, hand-woven rugs and shawals, silverware, tribal jewellery and carved wood work.
