A Complete Travel Guide to Swat Valley Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is famous for its natural beauty. The capital of Swat is Saidu Sharif, but the main town is Mingora. The Swat Valley was once an important center for […]

Tourist Attractions Near Swat Valley

Popular places to visit in Swat Valley are Mingora and Saidu Sharif, Marghzzar, Malam Jabba, Swat Museum, Madian, Bahrain, Kalam (Osho, Atur), Gabral, Peri Lake, Bashigram Lake, and Spin Khwar.

Bahrain Swat

Bahrain is a lovely village on the side of the Swat River that is a popular tourist destination. The picturesque village of Bahrain, also known as Bahrain Valley, is located 59 kilometers (36 miles) north of Mingora on the N95 highway. Although Bahrain is a wonderful place to visit, many travelers stop at this town for short or lengthy stays in the higher Swat, such as Kalam, Gabral, and beyond.

Shops, restaurants, cafes, motels, and other facilities abound throughout the town. Tourists frequently find it a relaxing spot to visit or stay in Bahrain for a few days to enjoy the beautiful scenery and pleasant weather.

Kalam Valley in Swat Valley

Kalam, also known as Kalam Valley, is a Swat sub-valley located at approximately 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) above sea level. Mingora city is 96 kilometers (59 miles) away from Kalam, accessible by the N95 northbound highway. Kalam is a popular tourist destination in Swat, with various attractions and activities to keep visitors occupied and entertained.

The magnificent downtown of Kalam Valley is located on the banks of the Swat River and serves as a marketplace for the exchange or sale of products and services. As a tourist, you will profit from Kalam’s downtown because it has ample services such as stores, restaurants, cafes, and motels.

A quick reminder that during the high season in Swat, when tourism is at its best in Swat, especially during the summer months of June, July, and August, Kalam becomes congested, and all hotels are fully booked.

Many visitors come to Kalam to spend time with friends and family in a camp or a private tent. The riverbank of the Swat River in Kalam transforms into a tent and camping place for tourists throughout the summer. It may appear crowded, but you will have the opportunity to meet residents and other travelers and eat local cuisine with them. As night sets, the camping site in Kalam transforms into a scene of bonfires, BBQ, music, and dancing.

Kandol Lake

Kundol Lake, also known as Kundol Dand, is a body of water in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, north of the Utror Valley.

Kundol Lake is supplied by Mount Hindu Kush’s melting glaciers and springs. It is the source of utror Khwar, the Swat River’s primary right tributary. The mountains around this little valley are covered in dense cedar and pine trees, and Kundol Lake is only accessible during the summer.

Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba is a hill station in the Karakoram Range, 40 km from Saidu Sharif in the Swat Valley. Malam Jabba is the largest ski resort in Pakistan. Malam Jabba Ski Resort is located at about 800 meters with 2804 meters (9200 feet) above sea level. The resort is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including roller/ice skating rinks, chairlifts, skiing platforms, and snow clearing equipment.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit Malam Jabba over the summer to enjoy and take an elevated fun ride on the chairlift/cable car to see sights that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

In the summer, tourists flock to Malam Jabba to escape the city’s heat and spend time with family and friends. Many visitors come to take in the natural splendor of the area, including massive mountains, enormous thick glaciers, deep forests, beautiful vistas, and nice weather.

Swat Museum

Halfway between Mingora and Saidu Sharif, the Swat Museum is on the east side. Swat has an excellent collection of Gandhara statues, reorganized and labeled to illustrate the story of Wednesday’s life. Terracotta sculptures and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons, and various metal objects exemplify everyday life in Gandhara.

Marghazar White Palace

Marghazar is a small village in Swat. The renowned Marghazar White Palace, part of the Swat State’s heritage, is located in Marghazar. Marghazar, with its famed Marghazar White Palace, is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Saidu Sharif. Wali of Swat (the Swat State’s King) built the Marghazar White Palace in 1941.

The King imported marble from Agra, bronze from Belgium, and Turkish artisans to design and build the palace. The King and the royal family utilized this white marble castle as their summer residence. This lovely location also served as a royal guesthouse during the Swat State era, housing famous leaders and monarchs worldwide.

Mahudand Lake

The lake is located 40kms from Kalam, in the Ushu Valley, which is a part of the infamous Hindu-Kush mountain Range. The lake is 9,400 ft above sea level and spread over 2kms in length. To get to this magical lake, you have to leave early in the morning, because it takes around 3-4 hours to get to the lake. On your way there, you will get patches of metal road, but most of the path is just rocks and gravel. I wouldn’t suggest taking your own car because it will get abused from underneath. Hire a Jeep from the local market or ask the receptionist of your rest house in Kalam to arrange one for you.

Even though the path is not perfect, it has so many views to offer, that you can’t even imagine. You pass through a forest, then drive along a river and eventually drive alongside high-rise mountains, all within a span of 3-4 hours.

If you are lucky enough, and the clouds don’t block your view, from the lake you can spot the highest mountain of the valley with the height of 19,416ft, called Falak Ser.

Enjoy some swaty delicious cuisine

Swat food, also known as Afghan cuisine, is a Pashtun cuisine. Despite its striking resemblance to Afghan, Persian, and Turkish cuisines, traditional Swat food has its own distinct flavor, perfume, and texture.

Swat cuisine is somewhat spicy but high in herbs, and it is primarily composed of meat dishes like lamb, cattle, chicken, and freshwater fish, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits cultivated in the Swat Valley.

Here are some of the best and most well-known examples of Swat cuisine, which are not only popular among locals but also among visitors to the Swat Valley:

• Chapli Kebab (Swat Chapli Kabab)
• Swat Trout Fish
• Lamb karahi
• Mutton Ribs
• Warjalay aka Chukanr (Green Rice)
• Dum Pukht
• Lamb Chops
• Lamb with Spinach
• Kabuli Pulao