Scenic Maho Dand Lake attracts tourists this summer in Kalam Valley, Swat

Swat, once tourists haven, which had under the grip of militants awhile ago, has lost its galore and a tourist attraction as no one wanted to be entrapped in a militancy hit area. 

However, thanks to the efforts of the Pakistan Army, which with the assistance of the locals, not only defeated the militants and cleared the area of these armed miscreants, but has also brought back the once hustle and bustle of tourists which it was famous for centuries. Now the business which had almost reached a dead end is started to flourish again as tourists are thronging Swat to beat the heat off as temperatures are rising in the plains.

Recently, a tourist festival was held at the scenic Maho Dand [dand in local language means a lake], located some 35 kilometers from Kalam. Mahodand Lake can be best described as an artistic endowment of nature, where the unspoiled natural beauty mingles with serenity and calmness. The festival was arranged by the local Pakistan Army commander with the assistance of the civil administration and tourism department.

Watch the video below and see tourists enjoying at the Maho Dand in the Kalam Valley of Swat:

The holding of such festivals is likely to bring back the life to Swat, where life and livelihood of locals entirely hinges on the tourists. Do visit Swat, specially Maho Dand lake, you will be spellbound and cherish its memories forever.

Video Published on Jul 21, 2012 at YouTube - shared with Courtesy monthlyshaoor

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The Summer Antidotes

Summers are really hard to live. From mid May to end September, there is no respite from the summer heat. (un)Fortunately we have the accompanying man-made partnership when the summer comes – our very no-dearly load shedding, which makes us sweat more than the weather and nature had ever desired. So where to go and what to do?

Well, fetch a cola to lower your temperatures. But do you think it really does? I don’t think so. But if we return to our very indigenous drinks, that in cities people don’t talk about much, specially in modern localities, lest they be labeled as “paindus – the villagers.” While in fact these drinks are the best and natural antidotes to beat the heat of the summers. Lets take these one by one.

The simple, easiest to make and perhaps the cheapest is the “Sikanjbeen – or Nimbo Pani” – or simply the local lemonade. Made from the juice of fresh lime, add sugar to your taste (shouldn’t be very sweet), a pinch of salt, ice and water. Easy, I told you.

Satoo and Shakar – Barley powder and raw sugar made from the sugar canes in the villages. Add water and ice and let me tell you this will be so refreshing that it will have a cool air conditioning effect on and inside your body.

Tukham-e-Malangan: I really cannot translate these black small seeds, which are added to a glass of sweetened water and drank. I personally don’t like these much, but this is a very favourite drink across the entire country.

Gannay ka Ras: Easily available along the roadsides, is the fresh juice of the sugar canes and ice added to it. Some say that this is the best to beat the heat and patients suffering from Jaundice are encouraged to drink this as it lessens the effect of heat (which is the main cause of the disease). But there is a caution here. Ask the vendor to first cleanse the sugar cane with water so that it is cleansed of the residuals left by the flies swarming on the sugar canes.

These are some that I recall. So instead of various types/colours of bulls available in the market, drink either of the drinks above. You may have four to five full glasses in the cost of one… bull. Give it a try – there is nothing bad if you are called a “paindu” while your thirst is quenched and heat is beaten off in a few bucks.

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