Swat River

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For Swat Valley, see Swat (Pakistan).

Swat River (Urdu: دریائے سوات) flows from the Hindukush Mountains through the Kalam Valley into the Kabul River in the Peshawar valley, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan.

The Swat River irrigates large areas of Swat District and contributes to the fishing industry of the region. Ayub Bridge is one of the attractions for visitors. The scenery attracts many tourists from all over Pakistan during the summer.

There are two main hydro-electric power projects on canals from the Swat River which generate electricity for local usage.

The Swat River joins the Kabul River near Charsadda, in the Peshawar valley.

The Swat River is mentioned in Rig Veda 8.19.37 as the Suvastu river. It is said that Alexander the Great crossed the Swat River with part of his army and before turning south to subdue the locals at what are now Barikoot and Odegram. Also, the banks of this river, which was earliest known as Shrivastu, later Suvastu and currently the present name, is the place of origin of the Shrivastava sub-clan of the Indo-Aryan Kayastha clan.^{[citation needed]}