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 Udegram and Barikot and stormed their battlements. In Greek accounts
these towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. Around the 2nd century BC,
the area was occupied by Buddhists, who were attracted by the peace and serenity
of the land. There are many remains that testify to their skills as sculptors
and architects. In the beginning of the 8th century AD, the Gabari Swati
Pashtun tribe advanced through Laghmanat, Nangarhar, Dir and by the early 13th
