A unique village of Swat

MINGORA: Surrounded by high mountains, the scenic Sapal Bandai village possesses a unique feature as it has been home to a single tribe, Akhund Miagan, for the last three centuries.

It has a lone mosque, which not only reflects an ancient lifestyle of the area but is also considered a symbol of unity for the people living there.

Sapal Bandai is sited about eight kilometres from Saidu Sharif, the headquarters of Swat district. Its height from the sea level is about 3,600 feet. The village and valley is surrounded by lush green mountains. Tourists can reach the valley in half an hour from Mingora city.

Shaukat Sharar, a local researcher who hails from Sapal Bandai, told this scribe that the great warrior Mahmood Ghaznavi lived in the valley for some time. He said the valley had archaeological importance as history shows that centuries ago the followers of Buddhism used to live there.

“A religious and spiritual figure, Akhund Darweza Baba, who was highly admired in this area, is known as the grandfather of the tribe currently living in this historic village,” Sharar said. He added that the 7,500 members of the Syed Mian tribe lived in the village. He said it was the only tribe residing there.

“The population of Sapal Bandai these days comprises of three sub-tribes of Akhund including Bartal Miagan, Koza Khuna Miagan and Butter Migan,” a local elder Amir Mashal told The News.

“As the village has a single big tribe, all the residents offer prayers in one mosque that was built three centuries ago. The mosque is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of unity for the villagers,” he pointed out.

The mosque in the centre of Sapal Bandai is more than just a place of worship. It is part of collective history as locals believe it was constructed 315 years ago. The mosque comprises of two portions. One is the old part, which was built almost 300 years ago. The second portion was constructed recently. It has served as a community centre for meetings and religious activities for generations and has become a permanent feature in local memory.Haqqani, a 65 years old villager, said that the ancient wood carving used in the mosque was of high quality and it cannot be found these days. He explained that the artistic work of the craftsmen from the past has been attracting visitors to the mosque atop a mountain since long.

The villager said the ancient mosque had seen expanded from time to time, but the villagers have always kept its original form. He added that Cedar wood has been used in the structure of the mosque making it attractive for visitors.

Sapal Bandai is also home to fruits and vegetables, including peaches, apples, plum, apricot, walnuts, wheat, maize, potatoes, onions, radish and turnip.

According to locals, most of the population depends on their fertile land as a means of livelihood. Many families focus on educating their children.

“The locals are giving due importance to education that is why the literacy rate is more than 80 percent in Sapal Bandai,” said Amjad Ali, a local schoolteacher. He said special attention is given to female education.

He pointed out that the village has one state-run high school, a middle school and two primary schools and two private schools. “These schools are contributing to the development of the area by providing educated and skilled workforce to the society,” he added.