The place has a government degree college and District headquarters hospital.

It is famous for its cold weather in summer and snow fall in winter.

On 13 November 2007 militants of the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi ("Movement for the Enforcement of Sharia") from neighbouring Swat were reported to have captured Alpuri district headquarters.

[3] The militants vacated the town again on November 22/23, with government troops approaching.

The militants' offensive was so unexpected that residents in Shangla were reporting food shortages, as they had no time to stock up on supplies.