Getting There
The small town of Marghazar is situated about 13 kilometres away from Saidu Sharif
By Air: The nearest airport that can be used for air travel to Marghazar is Saidu Sharif Airport
By Car: If you are traveling to Swat, then you can take the route of Mardan Interchange from Islamabad. After traveling for about one and a half hours, you can take the route of Malakand Pass then Batkhela and Chakdara that would finally lead you to Mingora in Swat Valley. In total, you need to travel a distance of around 247 km from Islamabad to Mingora and it will take you around 5 hours to get to your destination by car.
By Bus: The Swat Expressway was built by the provincial government for the convenience of tourists and the public. You can easily travel on the Swat Expressway by motorway from Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Islamabad. There are air-conditioned coach services as well that can take you to Swat. Many bus companies offer direct routes to Swat Valley from cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Mardan, and Peshawar.
What to Expect
Tourist Visitors relish the pleasant weather in summer. They go in huge numbers to enjoy the cold water springs, peaches, apricots, ripe persimmons, and lush green high-rise mountains peaks. However, in the winter season, the valley attracts visitors for its unending white snow sheet.
The White Palace is now converted into a hotel and has become a visitor attraction in summer. There are a number of beautiful shops offering multiple items to visitors. The onsite eating place offers an extensive selection of both traditional and non-traditional food. Whenever you go to swat, it is a highly recommended place to visit. Moreover, you will also enjoy zigzag roads turning into a lush green valley.
History
The Swat was built in 1940 by the first king of Swat, Miangul Abdul Wadud (Badshah Sahib) in the small town of Marghazar situated about 13 kilometers away from Saidu Sharif. The name was given to the palace as it was built of white marble. The palace now serves as a hotel. The White Palace at Marghazar was the summer residence of the Wali of Swat, Miangul Jehanzeb.
The White Palace Swat is located at 7,000 feet above sea level on Marghazar Hill. It was later converted into a tourist resort. There are several things that keep over and over, to visit the Marghazar Valley in Swat: Mount Elum, the lush green gorgeous landscape, serene environment, its historical sacredness, and above all, the White Palace of the state era in its lap. Located about 13 kilometers southward from Saidu Sharif, the magnificent royal building of the White Palace sits amidst the lush greenery of the narrow valley of Marghazar, in wait to throw a magical spell over tourists as soon they take their first step into its spacious lawn.
White Palace is located along the sacred stream running down from Mount Elum, where Ram Chandra Jee Maharajah had once spent three years of Banr Bass (jungle life), leaving it sacred for Hindus. Seeing the gorgeous landscape, there is little surprise that The white marbles for this structure were brought from the marble quarry in Jaipur in India, the same quarry from which the Taj Mahal’s marble came.
Facilities Available
- It is safe for families.
- Local guides are available
- People of Marghazar village Swat are very hospitable
- PTDC Hotel, Serena, Shelton’s Rezidor , White Palace Rest House
- Marghazar village can be easily accessible thought local transport and can book a car on rent.
- Tourism Department helps the Tourist/ Visitors through providing broachers in both Urdu and English languages. The local Police and the local Guides can speak multi languages (i.e local languages, Urdu, English and some of them can speak Chinese also).
- There is a bus stand in Marghazar village for public transportation.
- Filling stations are available in Marghazar village which includes Petrol and Diesel.
- Taxis are available in Marghazar village on daily rent basis.
- Shops are available in Marghazar village
