The archaeological remains of Buddhist and Hindu clearly show that the area was a great center of activities in the past. Perhaps belonged to the ancient Uddhyanna and was a Buddhist land during the 2nd century BC to the 7th century AD. Gira Raja ruled it when Sultan Mahmood of Ghazna invaded Malakand and defeated Raja Gira. When the area was once invaded by another Muslim ruler from Afghanistan, Mohammad Ghauri and occupied it that Islam rapidly spread in the region, and the Yousafzai occupied it.
The following areas in Malakand have many archaeological sites and monuments but due to lack of preservation and lust of the locals to excavate antique for business and cultivation.
Umar Dher site:
The site is situated some two km to the east of the village Dehri Alladand on main Thana, Alladand road. Showing the remains of Budddist and Hindu Shahi scattered.
Ghari site:
This site is also situated on the main Alladand-Thana road near the shrine of the great leader Malak Ahmad Khan. Close examination reveals that the site contains a huge quantity of ruins of the Hindu Shahi period and Budddist time.
Nwar Tangi site:
This is also situated in Alladand dehri and is replete with the ruins of Buddhist period. There existed a large number of old building of the Buddhist era, but the people had removed the debris for using stone.
Mago Shah site:
The site is on a kilometer distance from Dehri Alladand to the southeast. This site once replete with remains of the Buddhist period. The site was excavated lavishly and even the stone was also taken away
Zarkandi site:
This site is also the part of Dehri Alladand, an inscription on a rock showing resemblance with Nagri or Hindi. Water well dating back to the Buddhist period clearly shows Gandhara masonry. Some debris also shows ruins of Buddhist monastery.
Hibatgram stupa:
A stupa in Hibatgram, on the main road to Swat is also been criminally robbed of the relics and greatly damaged by the lusty people. If efforts were made to preserve the site it can be converted into a beautiful historical resorts as well.
Landakay site:
The site is situated near the present Landakay village. It is remains of the Hindu Shahi period. But again the villagers have been used the remains for construction.
Some other sites of the Historical significance are following, not some but about the villagers in construction have damaged all of these sites, and all of these sites need to be preserved.
Hathi dara:
Shahidan site:
Shahdand site:
Jalala site:
Palai shahkot site:
Kandari site:
Mulano tangi:
Pinjon banda:
Dargai banda:
Nalo dehri:
Kafir kot:
Jalala site:
Luya juni etc.
Chief towns of Malakand
Being a key rout to Swat, Dir, Buner, Shangla and Chitral district, the Malakand pass has remained for years the target of foreign invasion. The ancient rout between Central Asia and India passes through it. It represents Pukhtoon grandeur. This is the main inhabited of pukhtoons (Ranizai and yousouf zai). The chief town of Raniazi was Dehri Alladand, where is the tomb of a holy man, Main Allahdad alias Chishtee baba, a dervish, held in great reverence by the Pukhtoons of these parts. Thana, Batkhela, Malakand, Dargai and Skhakot are the importante towns of Malakand. Malakand is 2705 feet above the sea level.Thana:
The city has a great historical significance; it was always the headquarters of the khan khels (king class) of Yousafzais. Takht-e-Shah Mansoor is located in the Mora Pass. It was here that Babar, the Mughal king, married Bibi Mubarika, daughter of Malik Shah Mansoor in order to establish a blood relation with Yousafzais before he went on the conquest of India.
The British established the first middle and later the metric school at Thana. Thana village is spread over an area of about 3 to 4 kilometers.
Alladand Dehri:
The village is have U (English alphabet) shape, made by high and green mountains. On the forth side is a road touching Alladand to Thana and Batkhela, but the road is not the limits of the village. The village limits with river Swat on a GT road (Jalwanan) from Batkhela to Thana and Swat.
One can find lots of big springs in the mountains, pine trees and herbs used in medicine and the ways made in the tops of the mountains by army of Gahzni.
The village was of a great significance and was playing the roles of headquarter of Malakand agency. Now having great historical significance in the village, like the tomb of Malak Ahmad khan, (head of the Yousafzais), Mian Allahdad Khan (Chesti baba), Shaheedan (tomb of 800 martyred including Sar Tor Faqir), Shaheeda abai (The lady was fighting against British till her martyred), Hathi dara (Budddist remings), Shahdand (Buddhist and Hindu remaining), Zarkandi, Mulano Tangi etc.
The village has a way and was known in that time by Musafaro Lara (passenger way), a key rout to Palai and Shahkot, through which Gahzni Passed when he went to Afghanistan.
Batkhela:
Batkhela is the main trade and commerce center of Malakand. The Batkhela bazaar the longest one the country. An essential commodity is also supplied to Dir, Chitral and Swat district and Bajaur agency.
After implementation of the devolution plan a district Secretariat has been established at Batkhela where office of the District Nazim, District Naib Nazim, District coordination officer, information, Finance and planning and development departments are located.
The Batkhela city has all the necessary establishments like headquarter hospital, veterinary hospital, F.G School and college, GPO etc.
Malakand;
Malakand is also name of a village lies at the top of Malakand pass. Before the local government system, Malakand was the headquarter of Malakand agency. It is situated 824 meters above the sea level.
The village has always been the scene of closely contested battles in the history and could be called ‘panipat of Swat valley’. There are many feature of historical significance, including the old British fort, British cemetery, old Buddhist road, and British piquet’s on the top of various tactical heights, headquarter of Malakand leves, Malakand jail as well as the grave of the locals who fell while fighting the invaders. The martyred of the battle and the passenger never miss to have the cursory glance at the forest of pine trees, reserve of the village and the tomb Speen Shaheed (white martyred).
Dargai:
Dargai village is importante in the sense that it always served as a springboard for any military adventures across the Malakand pass. It has a railway terminal with a historic British times fort. The village is also famous for the production of the best quality tomato and timber business. The historical Jabban powerhouse is also located in the village.
A considerable number of Pak Army personnel are stationed at Dargai with a big training area out side the fort.
Sakhakot:
Sakhakot is also one of the major business center in Malakand particularly the foreign goods, arms and automobiles. It separates Malakand from the settled Mardan territory. The area is famous for the tobacco crop.
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