Saidgai Lake
| Saidgai Lake | |
|---|---|
 Saidgai lake | |
| Location | Swat Valley |
| Lake type | Glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Glaciers water |
| Primary outflows | Ushirai Khwar |
| Basin countries | Pakistan |
| Max. length | 1 km approx |
| Max. width | 0.5 km approx |
| Surface elevation | 3500 meters |
Saidgai Lake is located in the upper reaches of Swat Valley at an average elevation of 3500 meters above the sea level. Saidgai is considered as one of the largest lake in the area and several adventure loving people swarm the area to discover and explore this spectacular jewel of nature.
The Lake is largely clouded in the mist of infamy, due to remoteness of location and long journey to the area but those peopele who have seen it once are wishing it again & again.
Location
Saidgai Lake is situated in the Hindukush chain of mountains between Swat and Dir mountain ranges and serves as a huge reservoir of water for Ushirai Khwar (Stream), of upper Dir which falls into panjkora river. The lake is encircled by snow clad mountains and vast swathes of pastures are laid out around the lake. The pastures wear a blanket of diverse variety of flowers that attract different species of rare birds and insects to its lap.
Access
The lake can be accessed through three different trails and sides; Ushirai valley, upper Dir, Sulatanr, upper Swat and Lalko (Gabina Jabba), upper Swat;
- The Lalko Gabina Jabba trail to the lake is the most favoured and fabulous one. A jeepable and unmetalled road ends in the beautiful and exotic valley of Lalko Gabina Jabba where your trekking and hiking chapter commences. From here, continuous trekking for almost 4–5 hours will lead you to the lake. On the way deep green pine, conifer and cedar forests provide cool and shady spots for rest, while sweet cool springs are dispersed along the trek which can used for quenching of thirst.
- Similarly, most of the people from upper Dir, Ushirai valley visit through Ushirai trail due to close proximity of trail to the lake.
- Another charming trail lead to the lake from the fairytale land of Sulatanr which is also located in the northern tip of Matta, Swat. The best season to visit and explore the lake is during the months of July to September every year. In the remaining, a thick coat of snow covers the lake and makes it difficult for the observer to differentiate it from the surrounding landscapes.[1]
See also
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- Lake Saiful Muluk - Kaghan Valley
- Katora Lake - Kumrat Valley
- Mahodand Lake - Kalam Valley
- Kundol Lake - Kalam Valley
- Daral Lake - Swat Valley