Mahodand Lake – A tribute to the majestic ‘Switzerland of the East’

...............................
Mahodand Lake – A tribute to the majestic ‘Switzerland of the East’




Swat– famous for its abundance of unimaginable natural beauty. PHOTO: MURTAZA MAHMUD

Beauty is an attribute which characterises itself by persuading the desirous. Gigantic mountains, roaring rivers, and fascinating waterfalls invite you to come and get lost in endless magnificence. That is only when and how one can resolve the mystery within.

Albert Einstein once said,

“Look deep into the nature and then you will understand everything better.”

A piece of land which is known as Swat– and commonly referred to as the ‘Switzerland of the East’ – is famous for its abundance of unimaginable natural beauty. Wherever your footstep is, that moment and that vista will become memorable.

This year, I took a family trip to Mahodand Lake, which is about 40 kilometres from Kalam in the Usho Valley of the Swat District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). We stayed in Kalam which provided an ethereal view of the valley.


View of Kalam

Mahodand Lake is situated in the Hindu Kush range of mountains at an elevation of 9,400 feet (2,850 metres) and spreads over two kilometres by length approximately. It took us around three hours to cover a distance of 35 to 40 kilometres from Kalam to the lake.


Mahodand Lake

We started our journey early morning by road in a jeep, and after crossing the Kalam Forest, we had our first stopover in Usho. There are some lodges in the area which provide an excellent view of the valley. Not only are the gushing streams merely a sight for the tourists and its inhabitants, but it’s also a resource for producing electricity for the locals.


Usho Stop Over

On our way, we crossed many nomads with their herd traveling deep into the valley, and most of the times, we had to stop and wait for the road to clear up. This is a usual sight for the locals residing there; however, this would surprise most of us visiting from the metropolitan. After crossing Matiltan, we stopped at Mahi Banal, one of the most picturesque places on our way to Mahodand Lake.


Mahi Banal

After further travelling for about half an hour, we ended up at theMighty 22 falls, another popular tourist spot. The picture below cannot even justify the beauty this piece of land holds. During summers, these falls transform into an extraordinary wonder that will remain etched in your mind forever. Up until we reached Mahodand Lake, we came across local shopkeepers selling cold drinks and other eatables. We stayed here for 15 to20 minutes, took some pictures and then moved on to our next stop.


Mighty22 Falls

The overwhelming beauty was unfolding with every mile we crossed. But that is not all what this heaven on earth had to offer. We found ourselves in front of another majestic view that took our breath away when we stopped by the road to capture its spectacular scenery. It then occurred to me that even a momentary pause can deliver what you cannot find in a life time.


View of the valley


..................

........................................

After traveling for another half an hour approximately, we reached a place called Chashma-e-Shifa. It is believed that water flowing into this stream is a cure for anydisease. We stayed here for some time while soaking in the beauty of the surrounding area.



Chasma-e-Shifa

When visiting Swat Valley, one cannot omit to visit Mount Falak Sher, the highest mountain of the valley with a height of 19,416 feet (5,918 metres). It was quite an experience laying my eyes on this distinct gigantic snow-covered mountain which can be viewed from the lush green Usho Valley.

Since Mahodand Lake is not far from Mount Falak Sher, it took us about 15 to 20 minutes to reach our destination. But distance and time are not the factors which defined our feelings before reaching the lake. With a combination of excitement and happiness, we reached the lake, and amazed by the mesmerising view, we were left speechless. After the beauty of this wonder had finally sunk in,with cheerful sentiments, we proceeded towards Mahodand Lake tourist spot.




Mahodand Lake

Since majority of the lodges were providing Pakistani cuisine to the tourists, it was evident that the locals definitely loved serving poultry as the choice of meat. Along with the amazing view of the lake and the surrounding area, our meal was surely a pleasant experience. The only drawback was the much-needed provision of basic facilities which can contribute to enhancing tourism activities in the area.



Tourist corner

We spent quite some time discovering the lake and then decided to hire a boat to cross the lake to reach an island at a distance of 50 metres approximately. Deforestation was quite evident and needs attention of concerned authorities in order to improve and attract local tourism. Same is the case with unpaved road from Bahrain till Kalam, which increases travel time manifold.

As the sun set, we were bound tofly back to our nests, regardless of our strong urge to stay longer. With great resignation, we departed from the lake, leaving with memories of the experience we had.




If you are planning a trip with your family, Mahodand Lake should definitely be your next destination. It will be an experience worth your time and will increase your appreciation for the beauty this country holds tenfold.




..Mahi Banal
...................

Why do we need to associate our beautiful north with Switzerland or any other place? Just thinking...

ghazi52 said:

Click to expand...

man these woods

RazorMC said:

Why do we need to associate our beautiful north with Switzerland or any other place? Just thinking...

Click to expand...

Hum sudharnay wali quom nahi. Jab tak hum apni kisi bhi cheez ko west say compare na kar lain we dont get peace. Will switzerland ever say, so and so city is Swat of Switzerland.


@Sage ever heard of these places :p

When i went there in 1994, the road to the lake was soooooooo dangerous, is it still like that today?

Shamain said:

Hum sudharnay wali quom nahi. Jab tak hum apni kisi bhi cheez ko west say compare na kar lain we dont get peace. Will switzerland ever say, so and so city is Swat of Switzerland.


@Sage ever heard of these places :p

Click to expand...

I have been to Swat and Switz both ...Switz is more beautiful than Swat and how it is maintained by the local administration and people. Only that Swtiz was a bit expensive ...

Baloch Pakistani said:

When i went there in 1994, the road to the lake was soooooooo dangerous, is it still like that today?

Click to expand...

yeah some minor improvement has done by FWO

As usual great share of amazing landscapes by you

Sage said:

I have been to Swat and Switz both ...Switz is more beautiful than Swat and how it is maintained by the local administration and people. Only that Swtiz was a bit expensive ...

Click to expand...

That i know,they are developd nations whilst pak isnt but that still doesnt mean i will use their names to describe my region's beauty and worship them. Bass yehi baat thee.

[Bregs] said:

As usual great share of amazing landscapes by you

Click to expand...

Was thinking of tagging u

karakoram said:

yeah some minor improvement has done by FWO

Click to expand...

Atleast gov ko itna kaam tau kar dena chaheay,roads hee theek bana day

Shamain said:

That i know,they are developd nations whilst pak isnt but that still doesnt mean i will use their names to describe my region's beauty and worship them. Bass yehi baat thee.

Click to expand...

Yes ...Swat has its own beauty ...
Husn tarteeb say nahi waqif
Phol kheltay nahi qataron mein !

The exquisite Mahodand Lake in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reminds visitors of paradise

FAZAL KHALIQ
Soon after its access track was opened for transportation, the Mahodand Lake is being swarmed by tourists.


Perched amidst the glacial alpine hills of the upper gorge of Kalam valley, the emerald green Mahodand Lake is being swarmed by tourists and nature enthusiasts from across the country soon after its access track was opened for transportation this season.



The emerald green Mahodand Lake in Kalam valley.─Photo by author


Known for its freezing water and abundance of trout fish, the lake is located in the Ushu Matiltan valley around 40 kilometres above Kalam.

Apart from a paradise-like vista of the 2-km long lake which snakes around the valley, tourists can feast their eyes on hundreds of big and small waterfalls, lush sceneries, meadows, clumps of pine and cedar trees, and snow-capped peaks in the distance.



A view of the pristine Mahodand Lake.─Photo by author


“This is paradise for adventure seekers and nature lovers. I love the colour and noise of its water; especially the brooks gushing out of the small vales around the lake,” says Jibran Khan, a tourist from Multan who visited the lake with his family.

The beauty of the lush greenery around the lake is further embellished by pink and yellow flowers.



A view from alongside the lake.─Photo by author


“I was walking around the lake to enjoy the serenity and the wild beauty of the plants when I stumbled across a spot where birds were chirping among small pink flowers. It was magical. Every Pakistani must come and enjoy the unharmed beauty here,” says Mrs Ibrar, a tourist from Peshawar.



Wild horses looking for a grazing area.─Photo by author


There is no hotel or proper building near the lakeside, but local residents of the valley have installed tents to serve tourists. Visitors can also enjoy boat and horse rides at the lake.



A view of the tent city from across the lake.─Photo by author




Another view of the tent city.─Photo by author




Tourists enjoy the serenity of the lake in a boat.─Photo by author


You have to put in a lot of effort to reach this beautiful space: tourists have to make their way to the lake in a 2-hour trek in a powerful 4x4 jeep.



Another dazzling view of the lake.─Photo by author


“Many other tourists want to visit here but they cannot," says Noor Nawab, a local restaurant owner who has been in business for the last fifteen years.



Tourists enjoy the serenity of the lake in a boat ride.─Photo by author


"Normal vehicles or cars cannot survive the bumpy and rough road. Only those who have 4x4 vehicles or can hire one can reach here. If the government constructs a proper road so that cars and normal vehicles reach here easily, it will really boost the tourism industry,” he says, adding that with the increase of tourists many other locals will also get job opportunities.



A view of the lake from the upper side.─Photo by author


On a ten-minute walk above Mahodand Lake, there is another beautiful, but smaller lake known as the Saifullah Lake.



View of Saifullah Lake just above Mahodand Lake.─Photo by author

Would be nice to have such a view in this country

closer to heaven pics