Malam Jabba
Encyclopedia
Malam Jabba is a Hill Station
in the Karakoram
mountain range nearly 40 km from Saidu Sharif
in Swat Valley, Peshawar
, Pakistan
. It is 314 km from Islamabad and 51 km from Saidu Sharif Airport
.
Malam Jabba is home to the only ski resort
in Pakistan. The area also contains two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries that are scattered around the resort. The presence of the monuments at such a height indicates that the area has been inhabited for over 2000 years.
Two trekking trails are located near the Malam Jabba resort. The first passes through the Ghorband Valley and Shangla Top and starts about 18 km from the resort. The other trail passes through the Sabonev Valley and is about 17 km from the resort.
, had a ski slope of about 800 m with the highest point of the slope 2804 m (9200 ft) above sea level. Malam Jabba Ski Resort was the joint effort of the Pakistan government with its Austrian counterpart. The resort was equipped with modern facilities including roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephones and snow clearing equipment.
In late June 2008, the Malam Jabba Ski Resort was set on fire and destroyed after being closed for more than a year. Residents said a large portion of the resort had been reduced to ashes and the militants also damaged chairlifts and a tower belonging to the meteorological department. The Pakistani government had long since lost control over the administration and security of the valley and had abandoned the resort, laying off its employees there. This was due to the war in the Swat valley between government security forces and Taliban militias (who were likely relocating from nearby FATA
and Afghanistan). The Pakistani government has since accepted a Taliban truce in the Swat valley. In May 2009 however the army started an offensive against the Taliban and retook the town. The ski hill at the resort has now been rebuilt and is fully operational.. The hotel has undergone reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Neil Gillies
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
in the Karakoram
Karakoram
The Karakoram, or Karakorum , is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan , Ladakh , and Xinjiang region,...
mountain range nearly 40 km from Saidu Sharif
Saidu Sharif
-Saidu Sharif:Saidu Sharif is the capital city of Swat District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°45'0N 72°21'0E with an altitude of 939 metres Saidu sharif is traditional seat of government, remains the administrative headquarters of Malakand division .Saidu...
in Swat Valley, Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It is 314 km from Islamabad and 51 km from Saidu Sharif Airport
Saidu Sharif Airport
Saidu Sharif Airport is an airport in Pakistan. It is situated near the Swat River and between villages of Dherai and Kanju in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The airport was built in the era of the late Wali Swat and two flights take place daily: one from this airport to Peshawar International Airport and...
.
Malam Jabba is home to the only ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in Pakistan. The area also contains two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries that are scattered around the resort. The presence of the monuments at such a height indicates that the area has been inhabited for over 2000 years.
Two trekking trails are located near the Malam Jabba resort. The first passes through the Ghorband Valley and Shangla Top and starts about 18 km from the resort. The other trail passes through the Sabonev Valley and is about 17 km from the resort.
Malam Jabba Ski Resort
The Malam Jabba Ski Resort, owned by the Pakistani Tourism Development CorporationPTDC
PTDC or Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation is an organization of Government of Pakistan. The PTDC is governed by the Board of Directors headed by the Minister for Tourism...
, had a ski slope of about 800 m with the highest point of the slope 2804 m (9200 ft) above sea level. Malam Jabba Ski Resort was the joint effort of the Pakistan government with its Austrian counterpart. The resort was equipped with modern facilities including roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephones and snow clearing equipment.
In late June 2008, the Malam Jabba Ski Resort was set on fire and destroyed after being closed for more than a year. Residents said a large portion of the resort had been reduced to ashes and the militants also damaged chairlifts and a tower belonging to the meteorological department. The Pakistani government had long since lost control over the administration and security of the valley and had abandoned the resort, laying off its employees there. This was due to the war in the Swat valley between government security forces and Taliban militias (who were likely relocating from nearby FATA
Federally Administered Tribal Areas
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are a semi-autonomous tribal region in the northwest of Pakistan, lying between the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the neighboring country of Afghanistan. The FATA comprise seven Agencies and six FRs...
and Afghanistan). The Pakistani government has since accepted a Taliban truce in the Swat valley. In May 2009 however the army started an offensive against the Taliban and retook the town. The ski hill at the resort has now been rebuilt and is fully operational.. The hotel has undergone reconstruction and rehabilitation.
External links
- - Swat Complete Tour Guide
- Tourism.gov.pk - Malam Jabba
- Photos from Malam Jabba by Waqas Usman (2005)
- Photos and Info by Hanif Bhatti
Neil Gillies