Local Area
Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years. The first inhabitants were settled in well planned towns. In 327 BC, Alexander the great fought his way to Udigram and Barikot. In Greek accounts these Towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. Around the 2nd century BC the area was occupied by the Buddhists. In the beginning of 11th century AD, Mahmood of Ghazni invaded Swat and defeated the local ruler, Raja Gira. In 1926 the British acknowledged Swat as a separate State and Miangul Abdul Wadud as the Wali( ruler ). In 1969 Swat was fully absorbed into Pakistan as Swat District.

Swat is one of the most beautiful valleys lying in the monsoon belt and is more fertile than the valleys further north. In lower Swat the valley is wide and the fields on either side of the River are full of wheat. In upper Swat the narrow River tumbles through pine forests hemmed in by snow-capped mountains.

Culture
The people of Swat are Muslim Pathans, Kohistanis and Gujars. Some have very distinct features and claim to be the descendants of Alexander the great. The Swati women wear colorful embroidered shalwar-kamiz and large sized shawls, whereas the men wear shalwar-kamiz with embroidered cap or turbans. The local languages are Pashto and Kohistani, though Urdu and English are also understood and spoken. Majority of the people are educated.

Currency
The monetary unit is the Pakistan Rupee and worth of 57 Rupees is equivalent to one U.S. Dollar. U.S. dollars and U.K. pounds can be converted into the local currency and all the major credit cards are accepted.

Hospitals/Doctor
Two Hospitals are located in the close proximity of the hotel and our In-house Doctor is on 24 hour call with all the backup medical facilities.