Assalamu Alaekum
Visited most hyped Swaik Lake on our way back from Islamabad to Multan. Wanted to share some useful info for fellow future travelers as I couldn't find the PRE-REQUISITES of visiting the Lake.
1. First, majority of the people fall for the online (google search) pictures of the lake and plan to visit as its
not far from the M2 motorway and not a place which most of us have yet visited. But the reality is
that it is just a normal lake with lot of difficulty to reach there. You can disagree with me on this but its
true.
2. Once you reach there you feel that you are on a public swimming pool in the suburbs of a city and full of
different kind of BOYS (I'll clear ahead why I used word BOYS).
3. NOT AT ALL a family place to visit. Simply think of it as a public swimming pool where you don't take
family while other people are also enjoying and all are boys.
4. Almost impossible to reach with elderly women and kids (also for ladies) as you need to trek down on
an uneven trekking route with big boulders on the way and which takes 20-25 minutes to finish.
(plus same time to trek back to the top which is rather more difficult)
5. When you reach to the parking place (which the local villagers are running), you need to higher a jeep
which costs Rs. 100 per person (apart from the car parking fee of Rs. 100) one way. But the local jeep
drivers will not tell you that you will have to trek further 20-25 minutes after getting off from the jeeps as
vehicles can't go further from the place. Some people opt to trek right form the parking place to the lake
which is totally insane decision as it will waste your time and energy both. There are considerable
upward and downward slopes.
6. DONT take your cars down the parking area as you will save some pennies this way but you can pose
your car a serious damage which may cost you heavy on such an isolated place.
7. Go as early as you can go to avoid possible rush at the lake and at the jeep picking point near the
lake. As I guess 4-5 jeeps are running only between the parking area and end of the jeep trail and on
your way back after enjoying in the lake, you may face a huge rush waiting for the jeeps to take them
back to the parking area. Literally you may have to struggle physically to get your chance. So try to
come back before asar.
8. Some people think that its a lake on the corner of a road where you can reach any time of the day on
your own vehicle. NO its NOT. I left the parking area at 5.40 pm to get on M2 and literally I saw many
cars entering the parking area at that TIME. Because of moral responsibility, I stopped each of them
told them to go back as the local people would never tell them that its not the time to go down. they will
quickly take Rs. 100 as parking charges from you the moment you park your vehicle and then........
Waiting time in the parking area to get on the jeep == approx 10-25 minutes
jeep journey to the route end == approx 15-25 minutes
trekking time to the lake === approx 15-25 minutes
plus same time slots for getting back to the parking area. now you can calculate yourself when you
should reach there.
When you ask the local handlers, is it a family place? they will lie to you. I saw couple of families
arguing with them that they should tell before hand that its not for families (specially in holdays/wekend)
Motorcycles can go down to the end of the vehicle route but still its very dangerous. What if your bike
gets punctured or damages on such a bumpy/ rocky track?
No aim to discourage people to visit that place. But better to take precautions first.
Many other points are there which can be discusses if anybody wants.
