Swat River

The Swat River is located in Swat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is a perennial river with its source in the high glaciated valleys of the Hindu Kush. From there, it flows into the Kalam Valley before becoming the backbone of the vast Swat Valley.

The river’s source lies in the Hindu Kush mountains, where it is fed by glacial waters throughout the year. It begins at the confluence of the Usho and Gabral rivers at Kalam. It flows through the narrow gorges of the Kalam Valley until the city of Madyan. From there, the river courses gently for 160 km through the plain areas of the lower Swat Valley until Chakdara. It finally terminates in the Kabul River, near Charsadda.

The river plays an important role in the economy of the valley. Its waters are used for irrigation, recharging water wells and springs, and hydropower generation.

The word “Swat” is a Sanskrit name that may mean “clear blue water” or “white”, also used to describe the clear water of the Swat River.