Kalam Valley, Swat Pakistan
There are a minimum of 10 top and best places to visit in Kalam valley of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan for tourists, that are very admiring and mind-blowing as nature has endowed Kalam valley of Swat with the most scenic and natural views.
It is about places to visit in Kalam valley only as there are several tourists attractions in Pakistan.
How to reach Kalam Valley Swat?
It is a town-like beautiful valley with plenty of visiting points and things to do. It takes about 100 km from Swat district to reach Kalam valley if you travel on N95 ( Pakistan National highway), or if you take Bagh Deri road to Qandeel valley it will reduce your distance to reach Kalam valley by about 10 km.
You can reach Kalam valley in 3 hours or 2 hours and 40 minutes if you choose any directions mentioned above respectively.
In all this amazing journey beautiful Swat river will be your travel partner, at your left some times right. It is the most scenic journey from Islamabad to Swat valley, it is just like covering a distance towards heaven on the earth.
Why is Kalam Swat is famous?
Kalam valley is known as the house of Swat River as the confluence of Usho and Gabral tributaries here in the feet of huge lush green mountains makes it a tourist hot spot.
It is one of the most visited places by tourists in Pakistan for its scenic tourist's destinations that are as follows:
- Kalam River Site
- Shahi Ground Kalam
- Oshu Forest Kalam
- Chhota Mahodand Lake Kalam
- Mahodand Lake Kalam
- Saifullah Lake Kalam
- Dhamaka Lake Kalam
- Matiltan Waterfall Kalam
- Blue Water Point
- Kalam View Point (Hiking Trek)
Kalam River Site
It is known as the main and must-visit place in Kalam in terms of tourism in Kalam valley as most of the hotels in Kalam valley are located at the bank of different tributaries and the Swat river so it becomes the first priority of tourists to enjoy by sitting on the banks of Swat river.
Things to do at Kalam river site
As I mentioned above about locations of hotels so most hotels facilitate tourists by giving arrangements of lunch, dinner, or a barbeque at the river site.
See also:
Admiring places in Swat Valley to visit
Swat Valley, Switzerland of Pakistan
Shahi Ground Kalam
It is one of the must-visit places in Kalam valley as per my recommendations because you can take a view of snow-capped Falak Sher mountain and a view of tall trees of Usho jungle from a height.
It is located just before the Usho jungle, at some distance by taking left, before entering in the jingle. It is a meadow-like ground known for Kabaddi matches held here in winter festivals.
Things to do at Shahi Ground Kalam
You can arrange an open-air barbeque picnic here with friends and family in the lush meadow surrounded by snow-capped mountains all around.
Osho forest Kalam
Osho forest is located just 2 km from Kalam Bazar, with a large number of tall Diyar trees standing quite in a manner. It gives an immense beautiful scenic view in winters when all these trees cover with heavy snow.
Things to at Osho Forest Kalam
You can spend a night camping here or hire a hut for the same at a nominal price, it would be the most adventurous and most beautiful night of your whole life.
Chhota Mahodand Lake
It is a small artificial lake made for tourists by giving division to Osho tributary. Chota Mahudand lake is located in the feet of mountains surrounded by walnut trees, you can visit this place after crossing the Osho jungle, by taking the right turn.
Things to do at Chota Mahodand Lake Kalam
This is a very beautiful place with a number of sitting huts made for tourists, you can dine here from plenty of delicious food items on their menus, and they offer boating facilities as well.
Mahodand Lake Kalam
It takes about three hours to reach Mahodand lake from the beautiful Kalam valley, best traveling source is a four-by-four jeep that costs about 6000 to 8000 PKR (35 to 50 dollars). It is a full day activity as you visit several tourists destinations from Kalam to Mahodand lake.
Things to do at Mahodand Lake Kalam
You can enjoy boating here in beautiful colorful boats in the greenish cold water of Mahodand lake that cost about 1000 to 1500 PKR (6 to 10 dollars).
You can eat fresh delicious food available at small shops or restaurants here, and you can spend a night as well in tents provided by locals.
Saifullah Lake Kalam
Saifullah lake is located ahead of Mahodand lake at a distance of about 1 km and you can reach her on foot as well, it is also known as Kondol Shahi lake. You can also see a waterfall named the same at some height.
It is the most scenic view of lush green ground with lakes and waterfalls at the feet of glacial peaks in one place.
Things to do at Saifullah Lake Kalam
You can stay for a night here as well in tents with boating in colorful boats. One of the most interesting facts here is if you order food for yourself in restaurants they give you a free boating service in Saifullah or Kondol Shahi lake.
Dhamaka Lake Kalam
Dhamaka lake is about 15 km from that takes an hour to reach via Kalam-Utror road, you have to take a right turn before the Oshu jungle of Kalam valley. It is a small natural lake, with a wooden way that leads you into the lake that is made by locals for tourists to enjoy in the cold water of Dhamaka lake.
It is the most scenic lake, this lake is not very deep that's why it is very famous for tourists as they can sit here by dipping their feet into it.
I would suggest you visit this place at the end of your Kalam's trip as you can move forward to other destinations of Swat like Utror valley, Gabral, and the very famous Shahi Bagh of Swat.
Things to at Dhamaka Lake Kalam
You can enjoy fried and barbequed trout fish at a nominal price by dipping your feet into its cold water sitting on chairs available here.
Matiltan Waterfall Kalam
It is the largest natural waterfall in Kalam valley located at 13 km distance from Kalam valley towards Mahodand lake takes about an hour to reach. Its source is a glacier named Matiltan glacier. A very famous village named the same is located here surrounded by shady walnut trees.
Things to do at Matiltan waterfalls Kalam
You can cliff climb here to reach and explore the Matiltan waterfall, but it is the toughest cliff climbing as the waterfall is so high. I would suggest don't dare to try it but if you are a professional cliff climber.
Blue Water Point Kalam
Blue Water is not a kind of lake or waterfall in Kalam it is a picnic spot or landscape that attracts tourists for its bluish water. Although it is located at the feet of lush mountains, but its natural bluish water makes it very prominent and unique amongst all tourist sites in Kalam.
It is located at a distance of about 11 km from Kalam while traveling to Utrar, but go straight instead of taking the right turn on Utror road so you will reach Blue Water Point. You may face low connectivity of cellular networks and bad condition of roads here but it will not bother you because of its scenic views.
You can feel the water flowing speed is quite fast here as compared to other places of Kalam.
Things to do at Blue Water Point Kalam
It is not very famous amongst tourists and road conditions are not so good till to date that's why there is a lack of facilities for tourists, But development work in progress here so tourists would get more facilities here.
Kalam View Point ( Hiking trek)
It is known as Kalam's hiking trek in Kalam valley that leads you to the top of peak situated nearing Kalam valley that you can see Kalam valley's amazing scenic view from a height. It is about 4 to 5 km to trek that you can cover in 2 and half hours, or you can hire a jeep as well.
Things to do Kalam View Point
You can enjoy there a memorable picnic of a bonfire (barbeque) with an immense beautiful view of the whole Kalam valley from the top. Kalam viewpoint also offers a view of all the top snow-capped peaks there in Kalam.
What Should I watch in Swat?
The presence of a large number of tourist destinations makes Kalam valley a must-visit place for all times.
By exploring Kalam valley of Swat district you can visit all kinds of tourism sites at one place in a healthy atmosphere like a jungle with tall trees, high peaks, noisy rivers, hiking treks, waterfalls, lakes, lush meadows, hospitable people, good accommodation facilities with delicious food, picnic points, camping sites with beautiful huts, and much more.
What is the best time to visit Kalam?
Kalam valley remains open in all seasons of the year, but if you want to explore all-natural scenic viewpoints you should visit it in summers as it remains cool in summer as well as compared to other places in Pakistan.
But don't forget to visit Kalam valley in winter as most tourists from all over the world visit here due to various famous winter festivals.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, Kalam valley is one of the best valleys to visit for its immense beautiful tourist places in the Swat district with good facilities provided by the government and locals.
Local people are very polite and hospitable and they offer house-like facilities to tourists coming here. Other than this a large number of visiting places with things to do here makes Kalam valley must visit place in Swat, Pakistan.