SWAT: The adventure seekers and nature lovers, who want to enjoy serenity, history and mystery, should visit Sri Kalam Lake, located deep inside the rugged mountains in Matiltan, say locals.

Perched about 12,000 feet above sea level and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the multi-shaped lake is one of the hundreds glacial lakes offering stunning views to the visitors.

“The unique feature of Sri Kalam Lake, which makes it different from others, is its changing shapes from different directions. From the northeast and southwest sides, the lake looks like a human heart. From its north-side it presents a rectangle shape while from south it looks like a double oval shaped water body,” said Faisal Saeed, a trekker who visited the lake.

Sri Kalam area has a mythological history as, according to the residents of Matiltan, when the army of Mahmud Ghaznavi defeated the last Hindu Shahi ruler of Swat Raja Gira, he along with his people fled from Odigram to Sri Kalam area. “After one year, a heavy snowfall lashed the area killing majority of the people. Those, who survived, migrated to Matiltan valley,” said Rahimullah, a resident of Matiltan who serves as a trekking guide with his father and brother.

Locals say last Hindu ruler of Swat had taken refuge in the area after he was defeated by Mahmud Ghaznavi

Although all the glacial lakes in Swat are scenic, yet the trek to Sri Kalam Lake has its own unique and dazzling beauty. “I enjoy walk to the lake as there are dozens of small and big waterfalls, blue water lakes, birch tree groves, wide grasslands adorned with colourful wild flowers and singing rivers,” said Baber Ali, a nature lover from Mingora.

Ikram Khan, another trekker and nature lover, termed the lake a travellers’ dream and said that the entire trek to the lake offered stunning views. “From the first step to the last one, the trek has multiple luxuries for the visitors,” he said, adding it was a different area in Swat valley.

The visitors to the lake said that it was a six-to-seven-hour trek from Kandil Shai Lake above Mahodand Lake but it was better to spend a night at the base in tent camping to enjoy the serenity of night.

“The visitors or trekkers must start their trek from Kandilshai Lake, which is also known as Saifullah Lake, and stay at the base of the Sri Kalam mountain where they should spend night.

Early next morning, they can climb the mountain to reach the lake where they can spend two to three hours and then come back,” said Amjad Ali Sahab, another trekker.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2020