MALAM JABBA
Winter tourism got a high boom in Swat district after rains and snowfall in Malam Jabba and Kalam valleys, attracting a substantial number of tourists from across the country to enjoy snowball games and skiing.
Following torrential rains and snowfall in Malam Jabba, Kalam, Bahrain and other upper areas of Swat district on Wednesday, the tourists along with families from Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Punjab provinces thronged to these scenic valleys to enjoy pleasant change in the weather amid great fun and excitement.
Dressed in overcoats with umbrella in hand, lecturer Ehtisham Khan, a resident of Wapda Town Peshawar along with friends was seen enjoying snowfall at Malam Jabba by throwing snowballs on each other amid fun and laughter.
“Today my dream came true after seeing my first snowfall in my favorite tourists’ destination of Malam Jabba where the snow-covered valleys and mountain peaks attract visitors in droves these days,” said Ehtisham Khan with a big smile on his face.
Enjoying the delectable bites of trout fish with friends, the Peshawari’s born tourist said Malam Jabba’s lush green mountainous beauty and snowfall features take tourists to a new level of adventure, fun and excitement. “After Malam Jabba, Kalam is our next destination where snowfall comes relatively in higher speed than Malam Jabba due to its height besides enjoying serenity of Gabral and Mahudhand lakes.
The 150-kilometer-long freshwater of the River Swat originating from different glaciers and lakes including Mahodand and Gabral mountains offers unique opportunities for adventure sports enthusiasts to explore in a single day trip along with loved ones especially during summer.
Despite poor roads conditions due to last year’s devastative floods in Upper Swat, he said the view of snowfall in Malam Jabba was worth seeing as many tourists with families were seen enjoying skiing, snowballs and other games inspite of stumbling on snow covered mountain terrains.
The domestic tourists were arriving in substantial numbers from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jehlum, Mianwali, Sheikhupara, Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Karak, Kohat, DI Khan and others districts to Swat following MET office report about moderate to heavy snowfall in Kalam, Malam Jabba and others scenic areas of Northern KP during next three days.
“Swat is my favorite tourist destination. Its seven distinctive features are hard to find together in any tourist destination of Pakistan. The snowfall of high intensity has added beauty and charm to the Switzerland of Pakistan,” said Riazul Haq, a tourist from Nowshera while talking to APP.
He said Swat was going to become a hub of winter tourism due to its seven unique features including snowfall, Ghandhara civilization, water rafting, mountaineering, trout fish, eco-tourism and Swat motorway. Fazagut, Fatehpur, Barikot, and Chakdara were most suitable for water rafting in river Swat and if developed on modern lines could attract a large number of tourists during winter.
“I came from Pabbi to enjoy snowfall and trout fish together at Kalam and Malam Jabba with my family,” said Misal Khan, a retired civil servant while talking to APP.
Besides its famous Deodar trees and precious wildlife, he said Swat’s snow-clad tall mountain ranges of Falakser, Mankial and Elum peaks offer great challenges to mountaineers and trekkers while its unique orange orchards carried a comparative advantage for farmers.
“Buddhists, monks and archaeologists prefer to visit Swat due to its archaeological primitive treasures of Ghandhara civilizations besides ancient artifacts housed at Saidu Sharif Museum. “On the request of my son, I have arrived along with family for third time to watch Ghandara artifacts, trout fish and snowfall in Kalam and Malam Jabba in a sing day trip despite tourists were being charged heavily by hoteliers here,” he said.
He said one room in a quality hotel per day was being charged at Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 at Kalam while Rs8000 to Rs12000 in Malam Jabba, adding prices of hotels needed to be regulated to avoid Murree like snowfall tragedy in future.
According to Met Office, Kalam and Malam Jabba valleys had received three inch and two inch snowfall till 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday respectively. The Met Office predicted heavy to moderate rains with snowfall over the hills of Swat, Chitral, Dir, Malakand, Buner, Batagram, Manshera, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber and Kurram districts on Wednesday after the westerly wave griped the upper parts of the country including KP since Tuesday.
As result of which moderate to isolated heavy snowfall is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad from January 11-13. The heavy snowfall may disrupt and cause clouser of roads in Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Shangla during next three days besides possibility of land-sliding in Upper KP.
The spokesman of KP tourism department told APP that a mega project costing Rs238 million was prepared for organizing different winter sports and tourism events in Swat and others districts of KP.
Kalam’s winter gala and tour-de-cycle race would be organized in January-February in Swat besides first-ever sports rafting at River Swat and an international paragliding event at Saidu Sharif. Alike, a youth leadership conference and skiing event at Malam Jabba were also planned.
To reduce tourists’ load at Kalam, Malam Jabba and Bahrian, new tourists spots would be developed at Sola Tanar, Puchar and Jargo valleys while walking tracks to be developed in new tourists zones to promote ecotourism in Swat.
He said Rs4.8 billion were being spent on development and construction of new roads to link it with swat motorway while tourism police was made operational at Malakand and Hazara divisions to facilitate tourists there.
The construction of 15 jeepable tracks was also proposed in Malakand and Hazara divisions, he said, adding six new tourist facilitation centers were established and work on seven other started.
A mega project worth Rs365 million for identification of new tourist spots was planned and a road to Sheikh Badin tourist resort in DI Khan would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs3 billion while a tourist wing for merged areas was being established in order to promote winter tourism in KP.
Hayat Ali Shah, General Manager, KP Culture and Tourism Authority has urged tourists to adopt all precautionary measures while going to Malakand and Hazara divisions keeping in view the MET office forecast for heavy rains and snowfall to avoid untoward incidents.
