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Swat River, Kalam
Svastu (Swat) River, Kalam

Kalam – A Magnificent Place in Swat Valley

Kalam Valley

Kalam is a sub-valley of Swat that tourists perceive to be “heaven on Earth”. It is located 99 kilometres (62 miles) from Mingora. This is the Northern part of the upper Swat valley. The Suvastu (Swat) river runs alongside it. It is in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan.

This lush and peaceful valley is surrounded by steep hills and dense forests. The mesmerising beauty of it draws significant tourists attention. Its lakes, meadows and waterfalls make it a must-see destination. It is the birthplace of the Suvastu river and at the confluence of two important tributaries of Svastu, the Gabral and the Ushu rivers.

The elevation of Kalam is approximately 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) above sea level. It is a nice spot because with lush plateau of the Swat River. This plateau is a good for farming. A metal road stops near Kalam. From there a shingled road extends to the valleys of Ushu and Utror. The snowy peaks including Falak Sair Mountain (5,918 metres/19,416 feet) and an unnamed mountain 6,096 metres (20,000 feet) are visible from the Matiltan valley.

Swat River, Kalam
Swat River/Credits: Suliman SN

Ushu Valley

Ushu Valley contains some of the most picturesque portions of the Swat Valley. It is located to the north-east of Kalam valley. Ushu valley is 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) from Kalam and 123 kilometres (76 miles) from Saidu Sharif. The elevation of Ushu is 2,300 metres (7,546 feet) above sea level. Because the metal road terminates in Kalam, the valley is accessible only by a jeep.

Matiltan

Matiltan

Matiltan is around 11 Kilometres from Kalam. It is near to Ushu Valley and quite well-known for its massive glaciers, dense forests and sky-high mountain peaks. Falak Sair, the tallest peak in the Swat Valley, may also be viewed from here.

Gabral

Gabral is another lovely hill station, located 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Kalam. It is well-known for its brown trout, deep lush-green forests, melodious springs, the snow-capped hills and lovely lakes.

Lakes in Kalam

Kalam features multiple alpine glacial lakes. The most notable of which are Mahodand and Kandol lake due to their visual beauty and easy access. Izmis lake is close to Kandol lake. This is also a beautiful lake with mesmerising scenery. Tourists can reach there by trekking.

Mahodand

Mahodand (Lake of Fish) is the largest and most intriguing lake in Swat. It is located in the Ushu valley, approximately 40 kilometres from Kalam. The lake is accessible by a four-wheel vehicle. It’s an excellent spot for fishing, boating and camping. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks, lush green meadows and dense forests.

Kandol Lake

Kandol lake is another captivating lake, located 19 kilometres from Kalam in the northwestern part of Utror. It is in the foothills of the Hindu-Kush mountain range. This lake is accessible via Ladu valley. It’s a four to six hour journey.

Author: Fehmeeda Farid Khan

About Fehmeeda Farid Khan

A freelancer, blogger, content writer, translator, tour consultant, proofreader, environmentalist, social mobilizer, poetess and novelist. As a physically challenged person, she extends advocacy on disability related issues. She's masters in Economics and Linguistics along with B.Ed.

10 comments

  1. I really admire work of fehmeeda Khan, an excellent writer. We worked for a project Pakistan Travel Guide . Thanks Regards,

    Saqib Qureshi

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