Photo: Zainul Abideen · CC BY-SA 4.0Field guides / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Mahmud Ghaznavi Mosque, Udegram
Field guide · Heritage
Mahmud Ghaznavi Mosque, Udegram
The Ghaznavid mosque at Udegram, founded in 1048–49 and the oldest mosque in northern Pakistan.
The Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi Mosque at Udegram in Swat is the oldest mosque in northern Pakistan. An Arabic inscription found in 1984 records its foundation in 1048–49 by Amir Nustagin, a Ghaznavid general. Italian archaeologists excavated it between 1985 and 1999, uncovering a hypostyle prayer hall on a terrace with older Gandharan masonry, below the castle of Raja Gira.
Why go
- ✦Founded 1048–49 by a Ghaznavid general
- ✦Oldest mosque in northern Pakistan
- ✦Excavated by the Italian Archaeological Mission
How to Reach
At Udegram on the Mingora road in Swat, by road; a short climb from the road.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, March to November.
Getting there, At Udegram on the Mingora road in Swat, by road; a short climb from the road.
Allow, One to two hours.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Mahmud Ghaznavi Mosque, Udegram, within 5 km.
