MINGORA: Tourists have thronged Kalam valley after the recent snowfall. Almost half of the local residents have already moved out of the valley due to the inclement weather.

With high mountains, tall waterfalls, rivers with crystal clear water, thick forests and magical lakes as major tourist attractions, the region attract crowds of people from across the country all through the year.

There has been a blanket of snow all over the valley

since the year’s first snowfall occurred in the middle of January. Most of the visitors are from Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Peshawar.

“We’d planned to visit Murree after the recent snowfall but changed the plans after learning about the hill station pulling large crowds, and came here.

“This valley is second to paradise, especially after snowfall, which has turned everything white,” said

Fayaz Ahmad of Faisalabad, who visited Kalam with family. Some tourists made snowballs and threw them at each other to their enjoyment.

“Our dream to see snow fall and play with it fulfilled after we came here. We went to the forest, which gave a white majestic look due to snowfall. We’d fun there and took pictures,” said Shahid Ahmad of Peshawar. Some youths tried to go to the Mahodand lake but failed as their jeep stuck in the heavy snow spread on the road.

“Despite warning of local people, we tried to go to the scenic Mahodand lake but our jeep didn’t move beyond Matiltan village after being stuck in heavy snow,” said Khalid Iqbal.

The tourist said he believed Swat Valley, especially Kalam, was the most beautiful place on the earth. Many tourists said they had come to Kalam for one day but extended the stay for three to four days due to snowfall.

“We came here for one night but once we saw the unlimited white sheet of snow, we decided to spend three nights here to visit every part of the valley. The snow-covered meadows, rivers, mountains and forests are not the opportunities to be missed,” said Shagufta Iqbal of Lahore, who visited Kalam with family.

Published in Dawn January 24th, 2017