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Saidu Sharif

Saidu Sharif, the capital of the Swat District, is located not far from the bustling town of Mingora, a major trading center on the left bank of the Swat River. The area is rich in archaeological findings, with Saidu Sharif I being a significant Buddhist site characterized by a clearly defined distribution of sacred stupas and residential areas. Archaeological evidence suggests that the construction of the site can be divided into three distinct periods: Period I, spanning from 25 CE to the end of the century; Period II, covering the 2nd to 3rd centuries; and Period III, marking a decline around the 4th to 5th centuries CE. By the time Xuanzang visited in the 7th century, the site had already fallen into ruin, as he described in his travel account.

The main stupa stands on a high podium, supported by four columns at its corners, contributing to a unique typology of stupas in Gandhara.