Itinerary

01

Drive from Islamabad to Peshawar. Visit the Peshawar Museum, which has a wonderful collection of Gandhara. The museum exhibits the famous Fasting Buddha statue, the casket for King Kanishka from Shah-ji-ki Dheri, and Jataka tales in stone carving etc.

02

Drive to Swat Valley. Gandhara Buddhist culture flourished in the Swat Valley between the 2nd and 9th centuries BC. Visit Odigram, which is thought to be Ora destroyed by Alexander the Great, the Ghalegy Buddha, the Shingaldar Stupa, which is over 30 meters high, and the Abasahib Cheena of Kushan dynasty.

03

Full day visit the Gandhara sites in the Swat Valley. Visit Said Sharif Stupa, Butkara 1 which has a large stupa with a 17m diameter base built by King Ashoka around the 2nd century BC, Butkara 3, Nimogram which is a magnificent Buddhist temple, Amluk Dara Stupa, and Swat Museum.

04

In the morning, visit Barikot Ghundai which was the ancient city of Swat, Gumbatuna stupa and drive to Mardan. After arrival, visit Shahbaz Gahri, Jamal Gahri temple complex, and Takht-i-Bahi which is a Unesco's World Heritage Site. Afterwards, drive to Islamabad.