Mahodand Lake — Attraction in Kalam Tehsil

Guideline to Mahodand Lake. Mahodand valley, which lies in the North of Kalam, is famous not only among nature lovers, and escapists but also the exotic trout fish hunters. The valley can be accessed through an un-metalled road from Kalam in a four by four (4x4) vehicle.( from kalam bazar you have to need reant a 4×4 prado 7 sets vehicle feom local gays they will charge you from 8 thousand to 12 thousand defend on vesicle. drive to Lake take 3 hours the journey to Mahodand is very enjoyable and full of adventure the videos and photos i am sharing most watch) road is bumpy and tricky but the surrounding landscapes engrosses you so severely that you wish for more and expect to discover new panoramas. The small hamlets that are scattered in the mountains and the bellowing smoke that spirals into the sky from the houses are some, which lives in the memory forever. Swat River, which is born here, is shackled by the tall mountains, which has turned its water into a roaring monster trying to release itself from its fetters, but there are some places where the river is calm and silent without showing any sign of rebellion. After driving for about four to five hours from the vast valley of kalam, you will enter the wonderful and spectacular valley of Mahodand where the small lakes, towering trees and sprawling pastures welcome you. Some temporary restaurants and hotels have been constructed by the locals, which provide essential facilities of food and accommodation. They also provide boating facilities in the lakes. The valley is long and wide and touches Chitral boundary in the extreme North. There is proper track through which trekkers can either reach Shandoor Top or Gazar in Chitral. The river here is divided into a series of small and large lakes, which once teemed with brown and rainbow trout fish introduced by the former ruler of Swat State. Due to over fishing by the locals for daily income and the illegal use of fishing methods i.e. electrocution, dynamiting and large nets, the population of the fish is deteriorating gradually. The authorities must take drastic initiatives to curtail the problem and conserve this rare feature of the valley. Some migratory have also been spotted by the locals while several species of pheasants thrive in the area. Small birds that are also called non-game birds fill the air with their mellifluous music all the daylong. The valley is a heaven for trekkers and provides several beautiful camping sites with abundance of cool water and firewood. But the trekkers are suggested to arrange for their own gas cylinders, which will not only reduce the burden on the natural ecosystem but also preserve the deteriorating environment of the valley. There are several small huts constructed by the nomads who take their livestock there for grazing in summer. The tourist can also stay in these huts but sometimes they are infested with different parasites, therefore its better to arrange your own good quality tents and spend the night in lush green...

Mahodand Lake is a lake located in the upper Usho Valley at a distance of about 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Kalam in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The lake is accessible by a four-wheel drive vehicle, and is often utilized for fishing and boating. On starting the journey, by the road on a four-wheel jeep, one can enter into the Forests of Kalam and after crossing it, the first stop-over is Ushu Valley. Some patches of the Valley are really fantastic and eye-catching. Gushing water of streams not only gives a spectacular view, but it is also a source of water supply and Power generation for the locals.

The way towards the Lake, one can see many nomads with their herds of sheep/goats, travelling deep into the Valley. One has to stop and often wait for the clearing-up of the road, when herds are crossing the roads. It is a routine scenario for the locals; however it could be a surprise for the visitors/tourists, especially for the foreign tourists. Mahi Banal is the next milestone after Matiltan, a picturesque place towards the Mahudand Lake.

There is another popular tourist resort of the 22 Mighty falls, after half an hour further journey. There is a small market on the way to Mahudand Lake. The Mahudand Lake, the Majestic gift of Nature, lies at the foothills of Hindu-Kush Mountain Range, at an elevation of 9,603 feet (2,927 metres), surrounded by the lush green meadows, snow-capped mountains and thick forests. The tall and lofty Pine trees enhance the beauty of the Mahudand Lake manifold.

Mahudand Lake gets frozen during heavy snowfall in the winters, on the contrary in the Summers the surface of the lake is full of wild flowers like Geum, Blue Poppy, Potentilla and Gentian etc. The Pine trees provide shelter to the hundreds of the birds. The lake is a ideal location for the anglers, as it contains a plenty of trout fish, yet fishing is allowed only to the licensed anglers, which could be obtained from relevant authorities.

Tourists can enjoy the amusing beauty of the Lake, camping, fishing and above all trekking to the nearby mountains. The water of Mahudand Lake is divided into many streams, which contained brown and rainbow trout fish abundantly, but due to excessive and illegal fishing by using destructive fishing methods like electrocution, dynamiting and large netting, the species reduced to the alarming level.

Mahudand Lake must be at the top of one’s priority list while planning a trip to Swat and Kalam Valley. It will be a pleasant and unforgettable experience of one’s life. Its charms, landscape and imperial elegance make it highly dignified in the pool of distinguished lakes of Pakistan in...

Mahodand Lake is one the best peaceful and beautiful valley in Pakistan located near Kalam. It's blue water is crystal clear. Food Items are not much costly there but it is recommended to bring your own food to avoid extra expenditure. You can buy pure honey and salajeet from there. Food items like pakoras, chicken karahi, vegetables like dal, lobia etc, trout fish, chapli kabab etc are available there. Boat ride is bailable there. People are hospitable. You can stay there at night by installing your own camping Tents of you can hire them from there as well. Take your camping tools, food making utensils, cold weather clothing etc along if you plan to stay there at night. Weather is very cold specially during night. Very safe and secure place. Those who are looking for peace, must visit this place once in a lifetime. The only problem you face to visit here is the journey from Kalam to Mahodand Lake, which is totally jeepable track. Distance from Kalam to Mahodand Lake is around 35 KM but it takes approximately 3 hrs to reach there. Don't go there on your own car during your travel to Mahodand Lake, just to save hired jeep rent which is Rs 4000 to 10000 depending on season and bargaining with jeep driver because this route will damage your own car more than the hired 4x4 jeep rent. But the scenery on this way to Mahodand Lake is awesome. Journey to Mahodand Lake is beautiful experience and adventure. Beautiful Ushu Forest, waterfalls and many other beautiful places comes on the way to Mahodand Lake which takes you to a new life and makes you forget the road's bad Condition. The good news about this route now is, this road is under construction and will be ready soon if KPK Govt keeps on working on it. I'm sharing the pictures of my visit on 15 October 2020 when the lake is not full of water but the season is at full bloom in the month of June to September. If you want to enjoy watching people then these months are recommended but then you have to face the rush during travel and at lake with very costly visit including everything like food, car rental,hotel rent etc. If you you visit during off season time you can save time and money. Choice is yours depending upon the nature and type of visit you like. Strongly recommend...