[1] The town is a settlement of 35,000 people and is located at 34°02′54″N 72°21′56″E / 34.048472°N 72.365583°E / 34.048472; 72.365583 with an altitude of 308 metres[2] and lies west of Swabi and on the northern bank of the Indus River (locally known as Abasin).

Historians believe that a town called Śalātura existed in the vicinity, where the Sanskrit grammarian Panini probably lived.

The Chinese traveller Huan Tsang visited the city in the 7th century AD and reported that there was said to have been a statue for Panini in the town (but not present in his time).

One theory, supported by internal references that indicate Panini had contact with or was at least aware of Greek civilization, place his life after the year 327 BCE, when Macedonian Alexander the Great reached northwestern India.

However, historical evidence supports limited contact between the two civilizations as early as the sixth century BCE.