Hazara shines in winter tourism

Swat district, often dubbed as the ‘Switzerland of Pakistan,’ has emerged as a leading winter tourism destination in the country, witnessing a remarkable surge in tourist influx in 2023.

The region has captivated a significant number of adventure and snow enthusiasts with its seven unique features, including snowfall, ice skiing, snow-capped mountainous valleys, and its famous trout fish.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a tourist from Nowshera, Umar Khayam, expressed his excitement while exploring the natural beauty of Malam Jabba, Bahrain, Madain, and Gabin Jabba during his recent honeymoon visit.

He shared, “Swat is my favourite winter destination due to its seven unique features, including river rafting, adventure snow, ice hockey, trout fish, snowfall, and easy accessibility through the Swat motorway.” He added that this marked his third consecutive yearly visit with his family to Kalam and Malam Jabba to enjoy snowfall, skiing, and the renowned trout fish.

“I have travelled to several tourist destinations in Pakistan, but I have rarely encountered a place with such distinctive features like snowfall, river rafting, trout fish, motorway, Gandhara civilisation, and ice skiing all in one place,” he remarked.

Bakht Zada Khan, a senior research officer at the Archaeology Department, highlighted that Swat is home to the primitive Gandhara civilisation, where each stone tells the tale of the primitive age, attracting monks and followers of Buddhism from across the world.

He emphasised that Swat’s significance is enhanced by features such as ice skiing, river rafting, adventure sports, snow-clad mountain peaks, trout fish, and the Swat motorway. Additionally, ancient artefacts housed at the Saidu Sharif Museum offer a glimpse into the glorious history for incoming visitors.

Tourists from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and Lahore were seen in large numbers at Kalam, Malam Jabba, and Bahrain, anticipating the beauty of snowfall. Another striking feature of Swat is the annual skiing sports event at Malam Jabba during the winter season, unlike any other place in the country.

Bakht Zada highlighted that these distinctive characteristics, second to none in any other district of the country, attract adventure sports enthusiasts, archaeologists, water rafters, mountaineers, snowfall lovers, foodies, and eco-tourists throughout the year.

Read: Dry weather, cold wave grips Hazara

The 150-kilometre-long freshwater of the River Swat, originating from different glaciers and lakes, including the Mahodand and Gabral mountains, offers unique opportunities for adventure sports enthusiasts to explore in a single-day trip with their loved ones. Fazagut, Fatehpur, Barikot, and Chakdara are identified as suitable locations for water rafting in the Swat River. If developed on modern lines, they have the potential to attract a large number of tourists during winter.

The River Swat is also ideal for ‘fish jumping and disappearing water sports,’ and the introduction of such sports could bolster the rural economy, promoting tourism and transport industries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). With over 50 high-altitude small and large lakes, Mahodand Lake in Swat is an exceptional attraction for tourists, offering blue waters and boat rides amid cold breezes and snowfalls in winter. Bakht Zada added that Mahudand and Gabrial lakes carry a unique charm with clean air, along with nearby bird-chanting valleys that immerse tourists in a lap of serenity.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Tourism and Culture Authority shared that from January 1 to December 26, 2023, approximately 17 million people visited K-P, with a special focus on Malakand, including Swat and Hazara divisions. This included 4,554 foreign tourists, showcasing the province’s growing global recognition as a friendly tourist and travel destination in Pakistan. In total, Galiyat Valleys attracted 6.34 million tourists, Naran Kaghan Valley saw 5.08 million visitors, and Malam Jabba, Swat, recorded 3.54 million tourists. Similarly, Upper and Lower Dir districts received over 10 million tourists, with Lower Chitral hosting 591,330 tourists and Upper Chitral welcoming 38,771 visitors in 2023.

To further boost tourism in K-P, a Rs238 million initiative is under way, focusing on winter sports and tourism in various districts, including Swat. Additionally, plans include Kalam’s winter gala and a sports rafting event at River Swat, an international paragliding event at Saidu Sharif, and the development of new tourist spots at Sola Tanar, Puchar, and Jargo valleys, along with walking tracks to promote ecotourism and adventure sports in Swat. The provincial government is heavily investing in road infrastructure, connecting tourism hotspots with the Swat motorway.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2024.