The majestic royal building of the White Palace lies amidst the lush greenery of the small valley of Marghazar. The 35-foot-high Palace was first named the Swati Taj Mahal, but presently, it is known as the Sufaid Mahal.
The location of White Palace is located along the holy stream flowing down from Mount Elum, where Ram Chandra Jee Maharajah once spent three years of Banr Bass (jungle life), leaving it divine for Hindus.
In 1935, the chief ruler of the modern Swat state, Miangul Abdul Wadood alias Badshah Sahab, had chosen to construct a royal summer house here.
White Marble of Safaid Mahal
The white marble for the Palace was brought from the marble mine in Jaipur in India. It was the same quarry from which the marble of the Taj Mahal came. When Miangul Abdul Wadood Badshah Sahab visited Rajasthan in India, he was amazed by the white marble used for the house of the Maharaja of Rajasthan.
If you are more of a visual person, then please watch the following video, which summarizes my White Palace trip:
Badshah Sahab was so impressed by the white marble that he brought it from Jaipur in India on his return to Swat.
Structure of White Palace
White Palace of Marghazar was the first building in the entire region to be constructed on Victorian architecture. It has a multilayered roof, starting from a bronze layer to the wooden layer of a deodar tree, lime layer, mud layer, and again a deodar layer with an iron layer to the outer top.
The area of the Palace is 1800 square meters, and the height is 35 feet. There are a total of 24 rooms here, including two conference halls. The Palace includes a drawing room, dining hall, meeting room, and the personal room of Badshah Sahib.
The bronze in the ceiling was brought from Belgium and its artisan from Turkey. The White Palace’s electrical equipment and ceiling fans were imported from England, and they’re all still operating. The Palace was earlier named Swati Taj Mahal, later called Moti Mahal but presently, Sufaid Mahal.
Presently, the Palace serves as a hotel where many tourists come only for its breathtaking architecture and historical background. What attracts people most is its location, style, and material.
It is a white jewel held in a dark green emerald-green grass carpet. Queen Elizabeth II of England, during her visit to Swat Valley in 1961, stayed in the private room of the ruler of the Swat state.
There are several old historical photos in one of the galleries of the White Palace, including those of Miangul Abdul Wadood and Miangul Jahanzeb Abdul Haq – the last ruler of the modern state – and Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to Swat.
From the King’s entryway, one can enjoy a remarkable view of the garden lawn; and from the King’s terrace, a fine view of the lush green mountains and a swirly stream of crystal clear water.
The white lamps and the telephone set of the 1940s in the Royal suite have their attractiveness.
Best Time to Visit
Marghuzar Valley is a famous tourist attraction which to this day remains crowded with tourists in the summer, as well as winter seasons.
Tourists enjoy the summer’s pleasant weather, cold water springs, ripe persimmons, apricot and peaches, and high-peak mountains. And in winter, the valley attracts tourists for its infinite white snow sheet.
The White Palace stands tall in both seasons, adding a spell of magic on all who visit. A mosque is also constructed at one corner of the Safaid Mahal.
Location
White Palace is at a distance of 15 kilometers from Mingora City, Swat.
Hopefully, this blog will inspire you to visit White Palace. Also, if you have any questions on KPK or my experience traveling on a bicycle/motorbike, please comment below or email me. I’ll try to reply to you as soon as possible.
