Miandam

Miandam, swat valley

Miandam is a charming hill station located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in the foothills of Hindu Kush mountains.[1] It is located at a distance of 55 km away from Mingora the capital of Swat Valley, and 56 kilometers (35 mi) from Saidu Sharif.[2] The main road continues north up the swat valley and reaches the village of Fatehpur, where the road branches off towards east and runs through gorgeous hillside villages and reaches the popular hill resort of Miandam. Miandam is a very picturesque tourist spot at an elevation of 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) above sea level.

Miandam is enriched in medicinal plants, owing to which the town is the site of a World Wide Fund for Nature project promoting sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, and now about 1,000 people are dependent on the medicinal plant trade for their entire income.[3] The primary economy of the region is based on tourism and agriculture. While agriculture is mostly centered on corn and potatoes,[1] As of 1988, its population was 3,000;[1] but it is now estimated to be 20,000, including neighboring hamlets.[1][3]

Description

Miandam, swat valley

The metalled road passes through small hillside villages, surrounded by the terraced fields, fruit orchards and lush green mountain slopes. Paths follow the stream, past houses with behives set into the walls. There are number of comfortable hotels and guest houses which provide accommodation facility to the tourists. Various grave posts have been excavated in the region, which are carved wooden grave posts with floral designs, like those used by Buddhists 1,000 years ago.

Miandam, swat valley

See also

References