The Saidu Sharif Stupa is a 3rd-century Buddhist monument that sits on a low spur above the modern town. Excavated by the Italian Archaeological Mission, it consists of a main stupa, a monastery complex, and a series of rock-cut shrines. The Italian team produced detailed publications on the site and its Gandhara reliefs.
The remains are less spectacular than nearby Butkara, but the setting is beautiful — terraced fields and orchards stretching away below — and the climb up gives a feel for how the monks lived. Combine with a visit to the Swat Museum and the Butkara Stupa for a half-day of Gandhara Buddhism.