Buildings of the Swat (princely state)

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The former princely state of Swat (1926-1969) is known for its buildings, roads and architecture. These buildings show the quality and architectural design of that time.^{[timeframe?][1]} These buildings serve as benchmarks of architecture, style and stability. A brief description of some of these buildings and structures is given below:

Wadudia Hall[]

Wadudia Hall is located in Saidu Sharif opposite to Jahanzeb College. The hall was built by the last Wāli of Swat in the name of his father, Miangul Abdul Wadud, in 1969.^[2] Wadudia Hall was constructed to provide an appropriate conference hall for the communities of the entire region. It is still in use and is probably the most characteristic building of Swat region. The building's rectangular floor plan is composed of front and back blocks. The front block is divided into two levels, with the third level on the left side added at a later date. The hall is used for all major events in Swat. Pakistani prime ministers, presidents, governors, Army officers, and foreign ambassadors attend conferences and seminars at the hall from time to time.

White Palace[]

The White Palace is located 7000 feet above sea level in Marghazar, 13 kilometers from Saidu Sharif. The Palace was built in 1940 by the first Wāli of Swat, Miangul Abdul Wadud. The name was given to the palace as it is made of white marble.^[3] The palace now serves as a tourist resort and becomes a tourist attraction in the summer.^[4] Maj (r) Hasan Raza Awan has presented the White Palace in a unique style through his photography and is planning to hold an exhibition in Swat in the coming months.

Royal Palace Saidu Sharif[]

Royal Palace was built by the first Wāli of Swat in 1930 in Saidu Sharif in the midst of kohistangat hills^{[clarification needed]}. The palace is a showpiece of Mughal architecture. After the death of the Wāli of Swat, the palace was converted into a hotel, and was later converted into a school (Iqraa Academy Swat)^[5]

Palace of the last Wāli of Swat[]

The palace of the Last Wāli of Swat is located in the heart of Saidu Sharif. This building was the residence of the last Wāli of Swat and his sons. The building consists of the courtyard, houses, guest house, visitors book, and a lawn. It is a piece of the splendid architectural design of the Swati culture. Glimpses of European and Mughal architecture are also seen in the building.

Tomb of Akhund of Swat[]

The Tomb of Akhund of Swat is one of the characteristic buildings of the Swat State. Akhund of Swat's grandson Miangul Abdul Wadud constructed it. The shrine of Akhund of Swat is housed in the marble courtyard of a mosque in Saidu Sharif. Saidu is Sharif (holy) because of the shrine of the Akhund of Swat.^[6]

Saidu Baba Mosque[]

The Saidu Baba (Akhund of Swat) Mosque was constructed near the tomb of Akhund of Swat. The building has two big and two small minarets on each side with a large gumbat^{[clarification needed]} in between the minarets. The floor of the mosque is covered with white marble. The pillars and roof are decorated with wooden carving. The building is a classic example of Islamic architecture.

Mausoleum of Badshah Sahib[]

The tomb of Miangul Abdul Wadud (Badshah Sahib) was built by his son Miangul Jahan Zeb in 1975. It is located on Jail Road, Saidu Sharif.

The Central Hospital[]

The Central Hospital, located opposite to Allho Akbar mosque, was built by Miangul Abdul Wadud (Wāli of Swat) in 1927. The building consists of a dispensary, dressing room and two small wards for male and female patients. The building is in good condition and still in use.

Saidu Hospital[]

Saidu Hospital was founded in the capital of the state, Saidu Sharif, in 1954, mainly for female patients called Zanana Hospital.^{[clarification needed]} Later, the hospital was extended and a 15-bed children's hospital was added in 1958. This hospital has now become the 5th largest hospital in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.^[7]

Allah-o -Akbar Mosque[]

This mosque is located on the main Saidu Sharif road opposite to the Central Hospital, Saidu Sharif. The Allaho Akbar Mosque was constructed in Saidu Sharif in 1944, during the last years of Badshah Sahib's (Miangul Abdul Wadud's) rule. The mosque is an excellent example of Islamic religious architecture and is still in use. The facade is characterized by a veranda, marked with three powerful pillars topped with atlantes on the roof and a minaret on the left side.

Wadudia High School Saidu Sharif[]

Wadudia High School is the oldest school in Swat. It is the first institute for formal and modern education after 2,000 years of Gandahara. Government Wadudia High School is among Swat’s first architectural landmarks. The building initially served as the state’s fort and was later converted into a prison. In 1928, Miangul Abdul Wadud, the state’s first ruler, converted it into a school. In 1960, the last ruler of Swat State, Miangul Jahanzeb, renewed its building in accordance with modern architecture and renamed it after Miangul Abdul Wadud. Due to the 2005 earthquake in Swat, the school building was partially damaged.^[8] The old building was demolished in 2012 and a new building was erected instead in 2013 with the financial assistance of the U.A.E Government.

Swat Serena Hotel[]

Serena Hotel is located in the center of Saidu Sharif. The main edifice, constructed under the Wāli's reign as residence for a wazier^{[clarification needed]}, presents an elegant colonial style with refined ornaments in each of its elements, consisting of a verandah and a courtyard with an inlaid wooden arcade. It is situated on six acres of a lush park, where at a later date other blocks in a more modern style were built. Presently, the building is serving as a three star hotel. Hasan Raza Awan from Hafizabad has contributed significantly to reviving the ideas of the hotel's past glories through his photographic promotion of the area and its buildings.^{[importance?][9]}

Jahan Zeb College Saidu Sharif[]

Jahan Zeb College Saidu Sharif is one of the most prestigious institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, built by the last Wāli of Swat. The Jahan Zeb College was constructed between 1951 and 1954 on the main road that connects Mingora to Saidu Sharif in order to cater to the educational needs of the region. The plan of the building is in the shape of an E (for "education"). The two main floors were completed in 1951 while the third floor and a separate science block were added later. The building was damaged in the 2005 earthquake, but due to the insistence of the masses to preserve heritage, it was not demolished and is still in use.

Swat Museum[]

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The Swat Museum was built in 1959, halfway between Mingora and Saidu Sharif. The museum contains some of the finest collections of Gandhara art, including magnificent pieces of Buddhist art. 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, rearranged and labelled to illustrate the Buddha's life story. Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects illustrate daily life in Gandhara. The ethnographic section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewelry. During the 2005 earthquake and then the 2007 bomb explosions, the museum suffered irreparable damage and the monuments were transferred to the Islamabad Museum. With the cooperation of the Italian mission the building was reconstructed and reopened in 2013. Hasan Raza Awan (from Hafizabad) has promoted the museum through his photography and he carries enormous love for Swat and its people.

References[]

See also[]

• Swat District
• Swat (princely state)
• White Palace (Marghazar)