Bara Bandai

Bara Bandai (Pashto: بره بانډۍ ) is a Union Councils in Swat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It is known for its natural beauty and lying in an area crossed by Alexander The Great during his invasion. The people of village Bara Bandai belong to subsection Naikpikhel of Yusufzai the biggest and largest tribe of Pashtun or Pakhtun tribes. It is one of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) of Pakistan. The village contains a small series of mountains and a jungle, residential area starting from meadows of mountains to the fields, a village market, vast land for crops, number of springs and canals, and a part of the Swat river. Famous mountains of village are Usmani Sar, Kafar Ghat and Najia.

Name

The village was named by Yusufzai Pakhtuns after they evacuated the old Swatis from Swat, and means "upper meadow". The neighbouring village on the left to Bara Bandai is known as Kuza Bandai which means lower meadow. The names were basically given by their greenery, comparing the distances of both villages from Mingora the main city of Swat, and by comparing their distances from the upper mountainous areas of Swat such as Kalam and Bahrain. The ancient names of these villages are not known as they are just mentioned by locations in old times books and scripts.

Location

Bara Bandai is about 8 to 10 kilometres from Mingoara (the main city of Swat) and Saidu Sharif Capital of old swat state. it is on the left bank of river Swat . Nikpikhel area comprises Ningolai village which stretches in North to Godamanai bordering directory disstt.and Dadahara and shamozai in West, on the left bank of river. In the west of village there is another village of Koza Bandai and in the east there is Ningolai village which is last village of Nikpikhel area to the east. Bara Bandai is about 80 km from Kalam, the famous tourist spot of Pakistan. On the left side of village there is a series of mountains which are connected to some other villages and finally ends the region of Swat valley. Beyond them district of Dir starts. And on the right side lies the river Swat and after that village of Sangota, Manglawar and Fizagat.

Photos

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  Peach Trees, Bara Bandai

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  Peach Trees, Bara Bandai

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  Greenery, Bara Bandai

Population

Total population of village Bara Bandai is estimated to be around 6 to 9 thousands, which makes it one of the largest villages in the Swat valley. There are a number of sub-tribes (clans) of Yusufzais living in the village.some of the names of the tribes are Nasir Khel and Audal Khel.

When Swat was a princely state, the village was divided into two equal parts known as "Da Nasir khel Shala (twenty of Nasir khels)" and "Da Audhal khel Shala (twenty of Audhal khels)".

The village is divided into two parts(shalla(s)). The one of the two is Ali Khan Khel's and the other is Nasir Khel. On the side of Ali Khans Khel Shal, there are sub tribes of Ali Khan Khel, who are living on Ali Khan Khel side. And on the other Shal, the Nasir Khel, sub tribes of Nasir Khel are living on the Nasir Khel's side. Ali Khan Khels are ruled by Afzal(Audhal) Khel and Nasir Khels are ruled by Nasir Khel. Both are called Khans and Malaks respectively.

Major Subtribes of ali khan Khel

1.barKhan Khel.(bara bandai and dherai)

2.Awdal Khel.(bara,kuza bandai and dherai)

3.Sultan Khel.(bara bandai and dherai)

4.Saido khel(dherai)

5.Bucha khel(bara bandai)

Major Subtribes of Nasir Khel Malaks

1.Nasar khel.

2.Aju Khel.

Shado Khel.

3.Ta'was Khel.

4.Mandanr.

5.Kawjgan.

Law

Law in the village is enforced by law enforcement agencies of Pakistan specially the paramilitary and army after Taliban rise in the valley. In normal circumstances both the country laws and tribal laws are in use. A person may go to a court for a dispute or he may call a jirga. but most of the disputes are settled by jirga system in the village.

Visit To Bara Bandai Site

Click here to visit-The Beauty Of Bara Bandai Swat

Click here to FaceBook Site---The Beauty of Bara Bandai swat

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbandai/?ref=browser

References

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