Getting There
Kalam is located 343 km from Islamabad. The Swat Motorway from Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar can be used to reach Kalam which is an easy and comfortable route.
BY Air: The nearest airport to Kalam is the Saidu Sharif Airport
By Road: The easiest way to get to Kalam by road is to take the N95 route from Mingora in Swat. The N95 road along the bank of Swat River will take you Kalam passing through Manglor, Charbagh, Khwazakhela, Madyan, Bahrain to your destination Kalam Valley.
By Train: If you want to go to Kalam by train from any part of the country, there is no train available to go to Kalam. So you can get off at Peshawar station or Nowshera station and go to Kalam by car, bus.
What to Expect
The green and the serene valley is lying along with the lofty hills and thick forests. The mesmerizing beauty of it catches the attention of the tourists. Its magnificent lakes, lively meadows, and meandering waterfalls make it a worth-wandering place. It is the birthplace of the Suvastu River and it is on the conflux of its two major tributary rivers; the Gabral River and the Ushu River.
Another best thing to do in Kalam is to go to the Kalam festival or Kalam mela which is also known as the Swat summer festival. Kalam summer festival is a grand display of cultural and recreational events held yearly in July or August. During the holiday season in summer, the grand Kalam festival gathering attracts locals and tourists from Pakistan and abroad to celebrate and enjoy holidays in the cold weather. Kalam Summer Festival is a week-long activity that comprises paragliding, local handicraft display, jeep rally, cycling, canoeing, cultural shows, local music, dances, and food stalls are also them.
Mahodand Lake is an artistic gift of nature and a wonderful place one must visit.
History
Kalam is the most attractive and charming tourist point situated in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. With the nearby mountains and rivers surrounding it, Kalam holds much worth seeing places to visit. The snow melting in the mountains shapes the beautiful rivers of the valley.
Kalam is a valley located at a distance of 99 kilometers (62 mi) from Mingora in the northern upper reaches of Swat valley along the bank of Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The area has become a popular tourist attraction, known for its mountains, forests, and lakes. It is the birthplace of the Swat River, which forms with the confluence of two major tributaries of Gabral river and Ushu river.
Kalam valley is a sub-valley of Swat, at an elevation of about 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level. It provides an area for a small but fertile plateau above the river for farming.
Facilities Available
- Many hotels and motels are located on the road side with beautiful views of the mountains.
- Bazaars with local food and handicrafts are the main attraction of the area.
- Landline and mobile connectivity makes it comfortable for the tourists to communicate.
- Local tourist’s guides are also available for tourist facilitation.
- Local and private transport is easily available 24/7.
- Jewelry, especially, handmade bracelets with real stones are a popular Peshawari souvenir
- Nuts are cheaper in this part of the country. You will find Kaghazi Badaam, Chilghoza (Pine Nuts) in abundance here
- Kalash embroidered dress is what the local Kalash women wear. It is intricately designed and embroidered with an elaborate headgear
