During the previous swat visit in April 2015(thread, titled as: cheap and safe swat tour in 2015), I could not reach to Mahodhand because of the blockage of route by the glacier. In that trip, I was fully fascinated by the charms of three places only----White palace, Malam jaba & Kalam. Since I was told that the glacier would be melted in a two or two and a half month, so I had to wait for. In the meantime, the month of Ramzan began. Later on, heavy rush of tourists especially locals poured into Kalam during eid ul fitr because of eid holidays, vacations to schools or colleges and hot humid summer season. The season of tourism in Kalam actually started after eid ul fitr. The prices of hotel stays, food items, jeep fares etc had gone up at Kalam. On second day of eid ul fitr, a room at Kalam for two beds rose up to the tune of Rs.10, 000/-
At last, I chalked out a plan for three days (29 to 31 July, 2015) to make a tour of two gigantic Ushu &Utror valleys.
My journey plan followed as given under:
Departure to Mingora at 08/00 pm (Tuesday) by Irfan Niazi Daewoo bus service from Lari Adda, Lahore.
DAY: 01(29 TH JULY, 2015)
04:15 am Breakfast at Mingora.
05:30 am Left for Kalam through van.
09:30 am Kalam.
10:00 am Check-in hotel.
11:15 am Departed for Mahodhand.
03:15 pm Mahodhand.
05:10 pm Started return journey to Kalam.
08:45 pm Back to Kalam.
(Dinner at Farhan restaurant & night stay at Honey moon hotel).
Notes:
1. Kalam hotels were costly. The vacant rooms were found in many hotels; but the owners were reluctant to give them on cheaper rates. There was a queue in each hotel to get the rooms. I succeeded in getting a room for two beds at Rs.3500/- after all-out efforts. It seemed to me that the persons sitting in queue for the rooms must be most of their own persons to take advantage of the time for raising the rates of rooms. The rooms were too available at Matilitan or Ushu villages in good condition at 1200- 1500 rupees; I came to know about that afterwards. The jeeps or cars can also be hired from those points at lesser rates than at Kalam. The tents were also available at Mahodhand for night stay at 600 rupees per person with bedding and light.
2. The irfan niazi Daewoo bus charged Rs.1000/- per head from Lahore to Mingora. The fare for van was Rs.250/- per head from Mingora to Kalam. The private cars were also plying by carrying six persons; and charged Rs.600/- per person (in usual days it was Rs.400/- per head) from Mingora to Kalam & Rs.300/- per person (in usual days it was Rs.200/- per head) between Bahrain-Kalam. The van fare was Rs.120/- per head from Mingora to Bahrain; and from Bahrain to Khawaza khela was Rs.160/- per head. It was Rs.60/- per head from Khawaza khela to Miandam. The van fare was Rs.110/- per head from Mingora to Madyan. The car was charging Rs.3000/- between Mingora-Kalam and Rs.1500/- between Bahrain and Kalam.
3. I rented a car at a price of Rs.4000/- from Kalam to Mahodhand & back to Kalam for whole day. It was agreed upon that there would be no any restriction to stop and taking snaps en route. Car driver, Izat Gul, was a nice fellow to be accompanied with.
4. The vans were also taking people to Mahodhand, charging Rs.500/- per person. As a result, the vans going towards Mingora became short. There was a mob for returning with few vans in the end. The traffic flowed till 10/00 pm at night between Mahodhand, Kalam and Mingora.
DAY: 02(30 TH JULY, 2015)
07:00 am Breakfast at Kalam.
08:00 am Check-out from hotel and left for Kundol lake.
10:00 am Kundol point.
01:25 pm Kundol lake.
05:45 pm Lunch at Dhamaka jheel.
06:55 pm Kalam reached. Started return journey to Bahrain through private car.
09:20 pm Bahrain.
(Dinner at Kiran restaurant & night stay at Deedar hotel).
Notes:
1. The first day was completely energetic and exhausting. I rose early on the next day, and went through Kalam bazaar to fetch breakfast for the family. I took quick snaps or shots from my camera for Kalam points.
2. I had booked the same car for the Utror valley on the same rate viz; Rs.4000/- for whole day. He was a very nice guy and upright person. His colleagues persuaded him to take other family at exorbitant rate. Even they had introduced him a group of family; but he turned deaf ears to them, as he had promised with me on the outgoing day to come and take us to Utror valley.
3. Ushu valley is more attractive, beautiful, lush green and scenic than Utror valley. A very few vehicles witnessed to be seen on Utror valley; a heavy or full rush of people was on Ushu valley side.
4. When we reached Kalam back, we took some shots for camera as Byun village, Ushu/Utror Rivers joining junction etc.
5. Izat gul bargained with a driver of private car at my behest to proceed for Bahrain as vans were very short for Mingora and a huge rush waited for arrival of such vans. So I thought better to hire a taxi. Izat gul made a deal with a car driver, and we sat into a car for Rs.1500/-
6. The room in hotel Deedar at Bahrain was clean and up to the mark. The rent of room for two beds was agreed at Rs.1500/- after a little bargain. The sanitation and quality of food was far better than Kalam or Mingora etc.
DAY: 03(31 JULY, 2015)
10:00 am Breakfast at Bahrain.
11:00 am Check-out from hotel and left for Mingora.
01:25 pm Mingora.
01:55 pm Fiza ghat park visit.
03:00 pm Lunch at fiza ghat (Habib cafee).
04:45 pm Departure for Lahore by Daewoo bus service.
02:25 am Lahore.
Notes:
After breakfast we travelled to Mingora. At Mingora, the booking in all three Irfan Niazi Daewoo buses was full, having not even a single seat; so I took Sami Daewoo bus tickets. There was rushing of people too; and we succeeding in getting last two seats into bus. We had got enough time to spare at Mingora ; so we preferred to visit Fiza ghat park and have lunch before depature to lahore.
Expenses: Rs.26, 000/-(approx. for two persons and one kid).
A few photos are attached below. The further notes and photos for Ushu & Utror valleys along with break-up for expenses on each day would follow later.
THANKS AND REGARDS. FOR ANY QUERY, WELCOME!
