The region that became Pakistan was once the epicenter of Buddhism, teaching values of tolerance, meditation and reflection. Swat was a focal point for Buddhists to travel here and back on the Karakoram Highway to China, India and Nepal. It still carries one of the world’s oldest Buddhas etched in the hill tops. It was a testament to the tolerance of people in the region, where multiple armies passed through and where the largest statue of the Buddha in Bamiyan, Afghanistan was blown up by the Taliban government. The region was famed for the Gandhara civilization – which experts maintain is a Sanskrit word that means fresh scent of the land. Even today, the Northern areas of Pakistan are visited by overseas tourists, who not only enjoy its breathtaking beauty but also revel in the welcome given to people from different cultures and religions.
