The upper Swat valley in the mountain region of north Pakistan, not well known even to those with a special interest in the Orient, has one of the most remarkable cultures in the Islamic world, influenced by the cultures of central Asia, China and India. The harvests from the valley's fertile soil have made possible the development of various castes practising a variety of crafts, and the mountains have long provided the raw material most important to Swat culture: wood. In no other rural area in the Islamic world do the buildings have such rich furnishings or such lavishly carved architectural elements. This book celebrates the powerful architecture and flourishing contemporary and archival photographs, which complement an informative text on the history of the region. elements.