Saidu Sharif

Since the ancient Buddhist era, the name of Saidu Sharif was "Baligram". Akhund Abdul Ghaffur, commonly known as Saidu Baba, settled here in 1835. From then onward, the town was called "Saidu Sharif". However, there is still a calm region in the southwest of Saidu Sharif which is called 'Baligram'.The settlement is actually named after Malik Saidü,a well known tribal chieftain of the yousafzai tribe,who was a descendant of Äkö,the fourth son of yousaf,founder of the yousafzai;whereas Saidü Baba was never known as Saidü Baba, in his times.He is only called so in recent times,because of the location of his tomb;also he is the forefather of Wali-e-swat,and was actually the first wali-e-swat himself,a post given to him by the ever quarrelling tribal maliks, for the sake of unity and peace,in the tribe.He married from the nekbikhel section of the yousafzai;the position of Wali-e-swat continued and was allowed to continue in his family by complete consent of all tribal maliks as they revered him greatly for his knowledge of Islam,and his just decisions in their tribal affairs.It must be mentioned here that he actually belonged to a village in the Hund region of Mardan,and through his wanderings came to be in swat where he caught the attention of tribal elders who referred to him for adjudication in various matters requiring wisdom.

A view of the 18,600-foot tall Mankial Peak from Saidu Sharif

Saidu Sharif has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) under the Köppen climate classification. The average annual temperature in Saidu Sharif is 19.3 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 894 mm. November is the driest month with 22 mm of precipitation, while August, the wettest month, has an average precipitation of 134 mm.

June is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 29.2 °C. The coldest month January has an average temperature of 7.5 °C.

Aqba Saidu sharif

The Swat museum is on the east side of the G.T road, halfway between Mingora and Saidu Sharif. Japanese aid has given a facelift to its seven galleries which now contain an excellent collection of Gandhara sculptures taken from some of the Buddhist sites in Swat. The galleries have been rearranged and labeled to illustrate the Buddha's life story.

Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects are present from ancient Gandhara. The ethnographic section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood, and tribal[3] jewelry. It is also under renovation with funds from the Pakistani-Italian debt swap agreement.

KIH Hospital, Saidu Sharif

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The pioneer alma mater of education & learning Govt: Wadudia High School is located in Saidu Sharif which has blessed thousands of students with the light of knowledge. Similarly, the largest college (P.G Jahanzeb college) of the district was built here in 1952 and offers MSc (to males and females), BSc and Fsc degrees (male only).[4] Saidu medical college was built here in 1998; which ranks third in the government medical colleges in the province.[5] On 7 July 2010, the first university of the district was established in this area. [6]

Since the rule of the Mian family in Saidu Sharif, Swat has set the excellent ground for education and infrastructure improving its image as a well preserve touristic site.

In the last few years, Swat has seen great changes in all aspects of its society including an increase in education, modern health care centers and a new university, along with private sector colleges.

The reason that capital investment, aid, and charity, isn't predominant in Saidu Sharif is that the government views other cities as a more worthwhile investment due to the myriad of problems in this district.

Wadudia Hall, Saidu sharif

One of the most important Buddhist relics in Swat is near the museum. The stupa, which dates from the 2nd century BC, was possibly built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to house some of the ashes of the Buddha. In subsequent centuries, it was enlarged five times by encasing the existing structure in a new shell.

Italian excavators working in 1955, exposed the successive layers of the stupa, each layer illustrating a stage in the evolution of building techniques.[7]

Saidu Sharif is an administrative unit, known as Union council or Ward in Tehsil Babuzai, of Swat District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013.[8] District Swat has 67 Wards, of which total amount of Village Councils is 170, and Neighbourhood Councils is 44.

Saidu Sharif is Territorial Ward, which is further divided into three Neighbourhood Councils:

1. Saidu Sharif i (Neighbourhood Council)
2. Saidu Sharif ii (Neighbourhood Council)
3. Saidu Sharif iii (Neighbourhood Council)

• Swat District
• Babuzai
• Hidden Treasures of Swat, Book on Saidu Sharif Heritage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saidu Sharif.

http://www.saidusharif.com

https://archive.is/20130915044603/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Swat