MY TRIP TO SWAT VALLEY.

-
Swat is a beautiful valley with some captivating views, located in Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I remember in childhood, we used to visit swat via mardan, takht bhai via old routes in back 90's. Now it was such an amazing trip to watch so many fine roads, motorways that are  hassle free and so convenient while on way to swat. Swat Motorways M16 has undoubtedly made the tour more beautiful.

Historical background:

It used to be state in back 1849, established by Muslim saint Saidu Baba. In British Raj it was recognized as a princely state between 1918 to 1947.

 However today I am going to travel swat and it's capital city "Saidu Sharif" including stay at Serena hotel, "Marghazar white Palace" & a stay at  Rock city resort fizaghat, Swat shopping mall and  "Malam Jabba" . In recent times it becomes more famous for it's winters sports festivals. Especially in snow fall season " Malam Jabba" is considered the best ski resort. You can find some adventure sports here also like ziplining and Giant swing.

Access:  Swat motorway is the easiest and most convenient way to arrive swat directly. The only problem is by passing through Mingora city that is bit congested in rush hours. Our plan was to visit saidu Sharif first, so we moved ahead towards Dir, Bajaur and took a bit longer yet scenic route    (covered BAB-E-DIR, UNIVERSITY OF MALAKAND) and then entered some where near Swat museum at Saidu Sharif.

You can watch my Swat Valley Vlog 1 at my YouTube channel click here 

First of all I will start with beautiful Swat motorways pictures. I have been more concentrating on the roads as this making the journey beautiful than destination. Otherwise I remember it used to be a tough drive in past to arrive swat that's why I do enjoy the journey on new roads. 




MARGHAZAR WHITE PALACE: 

Marghazar is a small town and a hill station located around 20 minute drive and 11 km from main Saidu Sharif. It's a scenic drive towards the white Palace, built in 1940 by the first king of swat. Now it's used as a historical place and museum but it also serves as a hotel stay for night. Room are available there. The lawn is beautiful with rose flowers. There are souvenir shops inside and outside near parking. overall a nice place at least for one time visit. 




Serena Hotel, Saidu sharif. 

No doubt a serene and suvastu accommodation, with beautiful traditionally decorated rooms and green lawn and restaurant. However I personally didn't like as it's located in main saidu Sharif and it doesn't give the natural vibes due to traffic noise despite of it's beautiful gardens. It's an old building from British time so if some one like that vibes then must go.





Rock city Resort Fizaghat: 

One of the best hotel to stay in Swat. I personally don't prefer the tall building with multiple stories. I have phobia with such tall building enclosed ones. I will always prefer a hotel with open spacious gardens with maximum two stories and an access to open area with a view. So after a long search on google I finally find one such beautiful property. Located on main Mingora Kalam road this hotel has nice rooms with a view of river swat and it is located on small hill. Next you can easily get from here towards Malam Jabba, Shangla Pass and kalam etc. Mall of Swat is also located just 5 minutes drive from here.  For watching full video click my YouTube channel's video  My tour to swat valley part 2








Swat Shopping Mall:


Swat shopping Mall is one of the spacious mall in Pakistan that is built on a small hill, located on main Mingora Kalam road near famous town fizaghat. Overall it is a scenic building with some nice shops including dresses, ice-cream parlours, pizza hut, Bella Ciao restaurant and a nice open dining area with nice views of river swat and fizaghat park. A must visit place when you are in swat. 





Malam Jabba: 


A home to the longest ski resort in Pakistan with a 5 star accommodation at the hilltop. It's an all in one holiday resort where you can get chairlift, zipline, Giant swing in all seasons. While in winters you can avail all winter sports and skiing options as well. There are multiple hotels but depends on your choice and budget you can opt any. There is an army mess and you can get there if you have any reference. Majority of people who can afford to stay at pc comes here to the pc. The giant swing is located at the back of Pc and the chairlift located in front of pc. while the zipline is operated from the roof of pc. There is also Gloria jean coffee near the chairlift. Overall a nice place.

















 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fancy and traditional Pashtoon Afghani frocks !!!

-
Image
Pashtoons and Afghans have a very rich traditional culture. Its colorful dresses and frocks are very much popular. They looks very fabulous and pleasant. Usually pure Afghani dresses are difficult to find in Pakistan now. There was a time when Afghanistan people migrated to Pakistan during 1980,s. It was a time when Peshawar was heavily crowded with these immigrants. Immigrations always leads to acculturation where two different cultures mix together. Such type of situation make the locals to adopt the new culture some patterns according to its needs. Mostly people do adopt the fashion trends especially in dresses. You may get some more stuff  here. Pashtoon Afghani frocks Traditional Pashtoon dress of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Afghanistan are usually loose fitted. Belts are used to tighten up accoring to one adjustment. Both formal and casual frocks are available in Pashtoon Afghani dresses. fancy frocks are worn on...
Read more

Fancy Afghani and Kuchi style frocks

-
Image
UPDATED POST LINK 👉 Ethnic Fantasy wear Pashtuns and Afghans have a very rich traditional culture. Their colorful dresses and frocks are very much popular. They looks very fabulous and gorgeous. Usually pure Afghani dresses are difficult to find because they have left with fewer outlets in Peshawar where you can purchase good quality fabric of these colorful dresses both ready to wear and also on order. There was a time when Afghanistan people migrated to Pakistan during 1980,s. It was a time, when Peshawar and the adjacent areas of the north west in Pakistan were inhabited with these immigrants. Immigrations always leads to acculturation where two different cultures mix together. In such situation the locals people adopt some of the the new culture's patterns according to its needs and interest. Mostly people do adopt the fashion trends especially in dresses, though Pashtuns of northwest of Pakistan and Afghanistan already share same values and traditions. S...
Read more

My visit to Khewra Salt Mines ' A wonder of the World'

-
Image
Khewra Salt mine in Pakistan is the world's second greatest source of edible salt. " Wieliczka Salt mines" in Poland are suppose to be the world's first greatest salt mines. For Salt Souvenirs  Click here Khewra Salt Mine is one the most important salt range in the world. Here it is supposed to be twenty million and twenty lakh of tons of salt present .Khewra salt mine range started near Jhelum River and finish into Indus River in kala bagh. In north of the salt mines is situated Pothowar Region in Pakistan. Though these are the barren mountains yet with the abundance of minerals. Salt is the basic while Gipsum and coal is also available here.  An overview of Khewra Salt mine  Offices of British offeciers during British regime I always wanted to visit Khewra mine and finally the day has arrived when i was there with my family. Some things and some places are worth waiting for. It was a bright sunny day of March, when t...
Read more

Shrine of Abdul Qadir Gillani's grand sons in Kallar Kahar

-
Image
I have always been listening about one of the famous shrine in kallar kahar. Mostly in tv documentary programes i have noticed that Kallar Kahar is famous for three spots. One of them is kallar kahar salt lake, second one is Bagh e Safa or Muhgual Garden and the third one is a famous shrine of Abdul Qadir Gillani's two grand sons. Lof of people do visit here to this shrine. I personally found the area very beautiful, calm and serene. Though there was no rush at the time when i visited the area and i was very happy to get to know this and i really enjoyed the location and the beautiful shrine with its panaromic background that i have captured from its terraces. Shrine of Abdul Qadir Gillani's Grand Sons in Kallar Kahar A serene Shrine at Kallar Kahar The Shrine is located on the top of the hill thus giving a beautiful view, with a broad blue sky with white clouds that all was looking amazing. Historical Back ground of the Shrine We can get the histor...
Read more

Rawal Dam.....with a lake in and a Park around, in capital Islamabad " A beautiful combination of water and gardens"

-
Image
Rawal Dam was constructed in 1962. It is situated in the National Capital Islamabad, Pakistan. Basically it is an artificial reservior of water and is a great source of water supply to Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the twin cities of Pakistan. This reservior of water is called Rawal Lake and is spread over an area of 8.8km sqaure. It is suppose to be that "Korang River" along with some small streams coming down from the Margala Hills collect together to form this lake. This lake not only provide water to the twin cities but it also help in irrigation. On both sides of the Rawal Lake two parks have been constructed. One is the newly construction, situated on Murree road and is called as "Lake View Park". As i have earlier mentioned about that new park in my blog. Just click the link for more informations. http://kiranpalwasha.blogspot.com/2010/06/visit-to-rawal-lake-view-park-islamabad.html Lake view Park is new thats why it is receiving more visitors in comparis...
Read more

Confluence of River Indus and River Kabul:

-
Image
The place where river Indus and river Kabul mingle together to give a beautiful view, is situated on the border of Punjab and NWFP renaming Khyber Pukhtunkwa. This is the spot, where Attock (Punjab) ends and Khair abad Kund (NWFP renaming Khyber Pukhtunkwa) begins. Khair abad Kund is a small town, where the Peshawar Development Authority has established a beautiful park.  Attock fort can be seen from the bridge over the Kabul and Indus rivers. River Kabul and river Indus have two distinct colors of water. Water of river Kabul is muddy while river Indus looks very clear and serene.  One can get a beautiful view of the meeting place, where both the rivers are united together to become mainstream, from the khair Abad Bridge which is usually called Attock Bridge too. .  One can get a view of the grand Attock fort situated near the Attock Khairabad Bridge. Its exterior wall is extended towards the end of the hill. The picture have lot of greenery so t...
Read more

Pakistan Monument Museum, A must visit place in Islamabad

-
Image
Pakistan Monument Museum in Islamabad is a must visit place, that is situated in front of Pakistan Monument. Here one can get the whole info. related to Pakistan since the independence. Though Photography is forbidden inside the museum thats why i cant display more pictures except the following one. Its a beautiful museum and i really liked its theme that revolving mainly around the historical struggle for freedom, the inspiring leadership of Quaid-e-Azam and the Vision of national poet Illama Iqbal. It is based on a very patriotic theme that have inspired me very much. Every feature of the museum here looks perfect. Its such a moving site where you can see and get every thing related just to Pakistan. The museum is composed of various sections including the picture gallery, the historical struggling era in the Indo-Pak Sub continent, a theater room, the statues of Quaid-e- Azam and Fatima Ali Jinnah, their office and sitting areas, about the culture, tradition, tourism, nati...
Read more

Famous Chapli Kabab of North west in Pakistan

-
Image
Chapli Kabab of north west frontier province of Pakistan is very famous. Though lot of shops all around in the province but some places are more famous like Peshawar, mardan, charsadda and Takht bhai. Today iam gonna share with you Takht Bhai Chapli Kabab, with its very traditional recipe and  original taste. One can definitely try that in home too with little alteration. I am sharing the home made chapli kabab recipe below.  Chapli kabab are being fried in a big pan locally in Takht bhai bazar. KPK. Ready to serve. Ready to eat  Recipe of traditional Chapli Kabab Ingredients:   Minced meat, Tomato Slices, Chopped Onion, Green Chillies, Eggs, Ginger, Garlic, Marrow -bone, Wheat and Maize Flour, Walnut. Spices: Coriander seed, Red Chillies Chopped, Cummin-seed, Salt, Pomegrante, Black Pepper, Carraway Seed, Cinnamon Fat for frying Chapli Kabab Method:   Just mix all above ingredients and spices in minced meat according to taste. Ma...
Read more

Travel to Lahore " The Shalimar Garden"

-
Image
 Shalimar garden is also called as "Mughul Garden" or the "Emperor Garden", situated in the Lahore, Pakistan. It is very famous garden from Mughual era,very well maintained, though not very well, yet it is in acceptable condition. For art and history lovers it might be a great place where one can idealizes all the Emperors, prince and princesses stories from mughul empires. Iam sure many of us have get through by some of these historical stories linked to Shah Jahan and his son Aurangzeb alimgir. This beautiful garden has been originally constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan. In old historical stories we get the traces of this garden being very famous for Elephant competition. Emperor Shah jahan used to enjoy the competition among royal Elephants in this garden. Mughul Emperors were fond of Elephants ride. It is built in 16 th century but still its reflect the glory of the past. A huge wall is surrounded by the Garden. Royal gardens were always in close...
Read more