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Written by: Amna Naseem
Posted on: March 27, 2020 | 
| 中文
Mahodand Lake in Swat Valley (photo credits to the writer)
Swat valley, also known as the ‘Switzerland of the East’, has an indescribable beauty that covers snow-capped mountains, lush green forests, alpine meadows, apricot, peaches and apple farms, heritage sites, historical Buddhist and Hindu ruins and so much more. At an altitude of 975.36 meters to 2900 meters, Swat valley is also home to the mountain peak ‘Falak Sar/Sher’, the highest peak of the HinduKush range. The temperature is moderate during the summers at 30 degrees, but it can drop to -2 degrees in winter.
Walnuts in a Dried Food Shop
Located in the Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa (KPK), Swat is divided into 2 parts: the lower and upper valley. Lower valley consists of 2 major cities which are also commercially important, Mingora and Saidu Sharif, the latter is also the capital of Swat district. Coming down from Kumrat Valley to Swat we crossed the city of Mingora, which is on its way to become a bustling town in the hills, different from what I had originally imagined. The main city was shining with bright lights and the roads were jammed with people. Most of the famous food and clothing brands found in other cities had reaced Mingora.
The next day was especially exciting for me, going past vast peach and apple farms alongside the road, on our way to another mesmerizing and spectacular tourist spot, about 99km away from Mingora. Situated in the upper reaches of Swat, Kalam road is accompanied by the breathtakingly beautiful river that flows all the way alongside the road, and at one point, into the road! The massive river rushes all the way down from the mountains as a confluence of the Gabral River and Usho River.
Apple Orchard (photo credits to the writer)
It took us almost 4.5 hours to reach Kalam. The roads were under construction, which caused the delay, but the condition has since improved, and now one can reach the destination within two hours. We were welcomed by the cold breeze as the sky turned to all shades and hues of blue, and the last rays of sunlight were shining on the peaks of mountains around us. The main mall road, also known as Kalam Bazaar, has plenty of hotels and guest houses that offers views of lakes and mountains. There were several shops selling various types of souvenirs, show pieces, sandals, cultural clothes, Pakols (a traditional winter hat from KPK made of wool), all kinds of dry fruits, local food etc. The hotel we stayed in was a beautiful double story wooden cabin, with a garden filled with blooming roses of all colors. The view from the hotel was breathtaking, with mountains covered in clouds and the River Swat flowing in front of it.
The Road to Kalam
Kalam is seen as a gateway to scenic lakes and lush forests. Mahodand Lake is one such lake, which can be found outside Kalam. To reach there, one has to pass through the small village of Usho, that is about 8 kilometers away from Kalam. Usho valley is accessible by road on 4×4 jeeps only, because the roads there are quite bumpy. On the way to the Mahodand lake, we passed through the stunning forest of Usho, with dense and verdant pine trees all around us, growing higher than the eye can see, no less than 100 feet in height. The length and width of the trunks of these pine trees were astounding. One feels like a small creature, standing in awe in the middle of the road, surrounded by this forest.
Usho Forest
35 kilometers away from Swat, Mahodand Lakes is situated at 2865 meters above the sea level. The lake is surrounded by the HinduKush mountain range, with meadows, lush jungles and thousands of pine trees. In the summers, the lake is a famous boating, fishing and camping site for the tourists. The 15-20 minute boat ride us to the awe-inspiring view of the mountains and the beautiful lake at its foothills. Some people were also horse riding close by. Within an hour or so the sky turned dark, and the mountain peaks were hidden behind the clouds. The whole landscape looked even more ethereal as the weather changed. In the blink of an eye, it started to rain, and the temperature dropped significantly.
Our next and last stop for the day was Madyan valley, a popular hill station, about 55 kilometers away from Mingora. The place is famous for its huge trout farming market, and it is one of the highest trout producing districts in the country.’Trout park’ is also a well-known tourist destination, with a pond filled with hundreds of fish that tourists can take home. Besides that, Madyan not only has natural beauty but also is equipped with all kinds of facilities, hotels, internet services, cellular data and satellite TV.
The Swat River (photo credits to the writer)
Presently, Swat Valley is on its way to becoming a popular and accessible tourist spot in Pakistan. The best time to visit the valley is from March till October. And while the natural beauty is endless, Swat is home to a history and culture that is centuries old, some of which can be seen in the embroidered items and handmade ornaments that people sell as souveniers. Perhaps during the next trip, we can explore the history and diversity of the heritage sites in the Swat Valley.
Usho Waterfall
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