Written by: Muhammad Awais
Posted on: March 08, 2021 | 
Cliff Diving at Swaik Lake
With the wave of adventure tourism introduced in Pakistan, many people are looking for places to satisfy their thirst for exploration but which are not too far from home. The Kallar Kahar area of the Pothohar Plateau is one such region people often pass by on the motorway between Lahore to Islamabad, but seldom get to stop over and explore. Over the weekend, we took a trip to the enigmatic Kallar Kahar mountains, in search of Swaik Lake and any other wonders the site may have.
Swaik Lake is seen as something of a popular underrated tourist spot, much like Churna Island in Karachi or Gorakh Hill Station in Sindh. In order to reach the lake, travelers need to take the M-2 motorway; the lake is a 10-minute drive from Kallar Khahar, and a 40-minute drive south of the city of Chakwal. Those who want to pay a visit to the Katas Raj temples may be pleased to know that the complex is about 24 km away from the Lake. However, we saved Katas Raj for the first day, and spent the next day exploring Neela Wahn and Swaik Lake, both an hour from each other.
The Trek to Neela Wahn
Neela Wahan (Blue Pond) is located 30 km away from Kallar Kahar in a small village called Nurpur. There was only discernable sign to Neela Wahn, so we had to make due with Google Maps and specific directions from the locals. We parked our car outside a large house where there was a rocky path into the hills. The track down to the waterfall is rough but a manageable 45-minute walk, surrounded by a few houses of villagers. One passes both boulders and green pastures with cows grazing in them. However, it is not an unpleasant trip, as one can hear chirping birds and feel the wind gently blowing throughout the trek.
We noticed that we were getting close to the pond when we noticed a grove of green trees and a green pool surrounded by large rocks. Neela Wahn is a collection of small ponds sourced from the same spring behind a mountain. While the first few ponds are small, the others further into the mountains, are larger and one can swim in them.
Small Pools at Neela Wahn
The water itself is largely cool and clear, with little fish and crabs swimming in them. We sat on the rocks, soaking our toes in the water while we had tea and snacks. Though this would have been a beautiful place to simply spend one whole day lazing around, but we had to move on in order to see more sights.
Local Crabs
Swaik Lake is often called Khandowa (or Khandoya) lake, named after the localized Khandowa tribe. It is said that they were a clan of Rajputs from Haryana, India, who settled in Chakwal where the water was ‘sweet’ (Khandowa comes from the Punjabi word ‘Khand’ that means ‘sweet’). Descendants of the tribe are still settled in the area, and are typically known to enlist in the military.
There is a 45-minute trek down to the water, which we were told was harder than its counterpart in Neela Wahn. The initial trek was easy. However, the last leg involves a very steep decline to the lake, amid rocks and rough terrain. One has to keep descending till one can hear the splashing water, the excited screams of tourists and the smell of BBQ on the fire pit.
The Trek to Swaik Lake
The lake is beautiful and very refreshing to swim in, with its calm water and surrounding natural cliffs. Paying attention, we noticed small local fish swimming alongside us. However, it’s worth noting that the lake is quite deep, and life jackets are recommended for those who cannot swim, and many locals sell life jackets by the lake for a small price. Swaik Lake is a little larger than the other lakes I had just seen, so swimming in the freshly green water was a real treat.
Swaik Lake
Swaik Lake also boasts cliff diving activities, with visitors competing to see who can find the highest place from which to jump. There is no local kiosk or roadside café, but families and university students come to the lake with large picnic baskets, ready for a nice lunch. Recently, however, locals have put barbed fences around the lake to prevent littering of the area.
It is said that the best time to visit this area is either the months of July and August at the start of the rainy season, or in February and March, when the weather begins to warm up in anticipation of summers arrival. Travelers should ideally explore the area in the day, and keep a stock of food, water and medicines because there are very few stores or rest stops around the areas. There are camping sites close to both areas, but caution is advised, especially for the inexperienced.
Our trips to Neela Wahn and Swaik Lake elevated what initially seemed like a straightforward and uneventful trip, giving us picturesque views and awe-inspiring moments. These are two of the many breathtaking paths off the beaten road that are worth exploring, though they are not well publicized. These are not only undiscovered sites and activities, but are close enough for a day-trip.
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