Hidden Treasures of Swat

Hidden Treasures of Swat (ISBN ISBN 978-969-23042-0-7) is a non-fiction book written by Pakistani author Dildar Ali Khan.
The book was first published in the United States on December 29, 2014 by The Book Patch Publishers. Hidden Treasures of Swat is fully based on Swat Valley Archaeological Tourism. The book describes some archaeological sites in Swat Valley discovered by Italian Archaeological Mission and Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan.
Contents
* Archaeological Site: Barikot Ancient Bazira
* Archaeological Site: Amluk Dara Stupa and Monastery
* Archaeological Site: Raja Gira Fort
* Archaeological Site: Saidu Sharif Stupa
* Archaeological Site: Budkara/ Gulkada
* Archaeological Site: Swat Museum
Plot
The book is written for heaps reasons and multiple historical archaeological sites have been discussed in the book. Major goals of the book is to show the hidden aspects of the Swat Valley to the world and to provide appropriate and much more information about the valley and its heritage sites. The Swat Valley is a place well known for its rich cultural heritage in the world, in the book Hidden Treasures of Swat some of the crucial heritage sites of the valley are included, These sites are countable in the top archaeological sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan. Sites including Barikot Ancient Bazira, Amluk Dara Stupa and Monastery, Raja Gira Fort.(Odigram), Saidu Sharif Stupa, Budkara/ Gulkada and Saidu Sharif Museum are deeply described in the book, The current Conditions, Values, Impacts, Geographical Positions and many other related information are given in the book. The book is limited to the Swat Valley's archaeological sites, some of these sites are more than 3000 years old and having great histories behind them, Site Barikot Ancient Bazira was Captured by Alexander the Great in spring of 326 BCE. Barikot is the present day name of the ancient "Bazira", which was besieged by Alexander the Great. Other sites are related various Dynasties such as Grecian, Parthian, Kushan, Sassanid, and Mauryan. The book contains brief histories concern to these dynasties. Buddhism and Hindu Shahis have occupied many pages in the book owing to a deep relation between Swat Valley and Buddha. Buddha spent a long period of his life in the Swat Valley. Four major sites discussed in the book “Amluk Dara Stupa, Raja Gira Fort, Saidu Sharif Stupa and Budkara” reflects all the aspects and relation of Buddhism with Swat Valley.
Total six top heritage sites have been discussed in the book and all the sites are places in a proper sequence within the book to understand their exact geographical position and make easiest access by road and air. Fist site in the book “Barikot Ancient Bazira in situated in the West side of the valley, West side is the main entrance of the Swat Valley via main GT road and the last site “Swat Museum” comes in the eastern side of the Swat Valley. Total four sites comes between Barikot Ancient Bazira and Swat Museum in the content of the book. Almost all the archaeological sites in Swat Valley are discovered by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan, Italian Archaeological Mission started in 1955 and worked more than 60 years in Pakistan. Many expert and well-known archaeologists like Sir Aurel Stein and Professor Giuseppe Tucci contributed the most to discover the priceless heritage sites in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa even in the entire Pakistan. They discovered many Buddhist sacred sites and provided much more information about them, more than 50 major Buddhist sacred sites have been excavated and 100 rock reliefs have been documented in within Swat Valley till the day. Sites in the book “Hidden Treasures of Swat” Illuminates the great achievements of theItalian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan. First archaeological sites "Barikot Ancient Bazira" in the book was the biggest excavation in Swat Valley by the Italian Archaeological Mission.
Background
The valuable efforts of Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan which changed the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan's archaeology and other major contributions such as renewing the entire Swat Museum and discovering the ancient remains inspired Dildar Ali Khan. He visited all the sites discovered by the Italian Archaeological Mission and Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan in Swat Valley. He decided to preserve the evidence of the great work done by the Italian Archaeological Mission in the valley and he started writing the book in 2013 and completed in December, 2014.

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