Road Trip to Swat from Karachi: Information about stay and some tips

[msohail]

Salam to all,

This forum helped me a lot to plan my trip to Swat. To reciprocate, I decided to write few lines (certainly not a travelogue) as I am not used to write blogs. I understand that the forum is flooded with photos and information about sight seeing, so I decided to write about something that families could face during such trips.

[msohail]

I was accompanied with my wife, a son (8yo) and two daughters (4 and 1 yo). And the vehicle was City 2017 model.
As per SOP, the vehicle was tested for mechanical things and was reported fit for such tour.
Since I was using stock tyres for the last two years that had covered 30000 Km so I changed to Michelin tyres (heavy on poeckets, but I thought the price could compensate air tickets

[msohail]

Due to job commitments, it was not possible to leave early in the morning on July 6, 2019, Saturday. So we left in the afternoon at around 3:00 pm from Karachi. In the evening, took a tea break at Hala and reached Sukkur by 10:00 pm.
As the most of the persons traveling with families have concerns about time of travel and hotel stay so I would keep my focus on it.
In Sukkur, we stayed at Hotel One which is on Military Road, not too far from N5. It cost me ~9000 per night including tax and complementary breakfast. The stay was quite comfortable; their food was also very good.
One thing that could be useful for many users, is about availability of bank card machines. It's not advisable to carry huge cash and ATMs are also not easily available, particularly in Swat/ Fizagat/Kalam. It would be wise to avail hotels and pumps that accept cards. Hotel One is certainly amongst those.

[msohail]

Next day, we left at around 10:30 AM for Lahore. I don't know how people manage to leave at 5/6 AM with little kids. I can't force my kids to awake early after a tiring day. Although, all got up at around 7:30/8:00 but with a single washroom in hotel room, it took us 2 hrs to get ready.
Persons traveling with families could understand it.
I drove continuously until reached Bahwalpur (BBQ-tonight) in the evening at around 4:30 or so. Although, food was ok but their A/Cwere not working and it was quite torturous in that heat. They have a very scenic backyard and kids enjoyed in that area.

[msohail]

From Bahawalpur, I had to track E5 and then Motroway for which I relied on GoogleMap Aka Google-Aunty.
I would emphasize the readers not to completely depend on this Aunty. The Aunty gets sleepy, distracted even drunken and can take you to the wrong direction. Obviously poor mobile data/wifi/ GPS signals should be blamed for it.
It would be advisable to keep possible routes in your mind or the offline maps can be downloaded.
Although, it was not difficult route but Aunty preferred to keep me moving here and there and then I got the motorway.
Multan-Lahore Motorway is one of the coolest motorway in terms of traffic.One can easily cover the entire way by maintaining 120 speed.
Nonetheless we reached Lahore in the night at around 10:00 PM.
Based on our previous experience, I looked for Hotel One (Gulberg branch), although it was not as good as the Sukkur branch, but was reasonably comfortable with an ideal location. It was a bit costly 13000 Rs per night including tax.
We stayed at Lahore and went to Jallo Park, Packages Mall, Yadgar the next day.
The weather was not good, and it was not possible for kids to walk in that heat, so I went to Packages Mall in the after noon to have lunch and some other fun activities for kids,

[msohail]

In the morning of July 9, we left Lahore at 10:30 and visited Salt mines. It's a must 'see' site once in a life. Kids really enjoy the short travel by electric train and the amazing salt rocks and structures. If one is traveling by car then it's easily manageable in 3/3.5 h in between lahore to islamabad.
Food is not good at the site, one can either take lunch on motorway or in a restaurant on Pind-dad Khan road.
We reached in the night at around 8 in Islamabad and stayed at Magnolia Guest House that turned out to be a good accommodation option. They charged 6000 per night including tax with complementary breakfast.

[HanifBhatti]

Excellent narration, please share pictures too

[andaparatha]

do share pics

[msohail]

This is roof top of a salt pond. Crystals formed at the top. They say these crystals naturally gather and form the word " Allah"
Another part shows the word "Muhammad"
It might be illusion but believers like this.

[msohail]

Model if Minar e Pakistan made from salt

[msohail]

Ventilation all the way towards top. It's 2200 ft, if i am not mistaken.

[msohail]

Historical background as mounted at the ticket counter

[msohail]

In Islamabad we visited Rawal lake park, Centaurus Mall (as it was hot outside in the noon), Faisal Masjid, Daman e Koh and Monal
The drive to Monal gave me confidence that i can make it to Swat, as it was my first drive to hilly areas.

[msohail]

On return journey from salt mines rowards Lilla interchange for M2, the google aunty all of a sudden directed me to move towards a village, Saroba!. I was surprised as I knew the route but thought that the aunty might have some shortcut and I followed the instructions.
After a km or so i was in small street with many buffaloes and villager women laughing at me. I meant women were laughing as buffaloes were more innocent. Somehow i manage to make a U turn and turned off the google navigation.
Later i realized that a check was activated on navigation mentioning "avoid motorways and toll plaza" that's why aunty led to that village. I was unable to figureout how come that option was activated.

[tourist]

Excellent trip:
Amazing photos of Salt Mines (khiyora)
Thank you for sharing with details.

[sajid65]

Excllent Trip MashaAllah.

[msohail]

Thanks for liking.
With newly built Swat Motorway/Expressway took only 4 hours to reach Fizagat from Islamabad Blue Area.
With few bad patches, the road is good, particularly the tunnel is a treat for drivers.
In Fizagat, first i went to hotel Burj Al Swat, but that was completely packed, so I moved to a hotel in front of river with the name, Hilton Palace (Relax) @5000 per night. Although it's reasonable for families but it's with lousy service and pathetic mattresses, i changed my plan and left it next day.
On the same day visit to riverside and White palace cherished all if us. The heavy rain at WhitePalace brought smiles to the faces of Karachiites

[msohail]

[msohail]

[msohail]

As I said, I changed my plan to not to stay at fe hotel Hilton Palace so next morning i moved to Kalam.
The road to Kalam is like road to success, always under construction!
From my previous visit in last September, i found that a patch of 5 6 km is un good shape, else, it's the one of the most tiring ride one can have (without steep).