Kallar Kahar is located on the M2 motorway, around 225 kilometers from Lahore and 125 kilometers from Rawalpindi. Somehow this location makes the midway of the road from Lahore to Islamabad. Kallar Kahar is a subdivision of Chakwal District, Punjab Pakistan. The city has beautiful sites that make worth a visit and leave untold stories behind each place.
With the ease of accessibility of the place through the highway, many locals and tourists visit the place that making it worth great sightseeing. It is also the capital of Kallar Kahar Tehsil. Kallar Kahar is a tourist attraction 25 kilometers southwest of Chakwal. It is famous for its natural gardens, peacocks, historical sites, and lakes. To explore the city in Chakwal, you will enjoy the sites of Kallar Kahar places to visit.
Best Kallar Kahar Places to Visit in 2023
History
Kallar Kahar’s history began in 1519 AD when the Mughal Emperor Zaheer ud Din Babur discovered Kallar Kahar when he crossed the Indus River over from Kabul on his way to Delhi. The beauty and serenity of the lake awed him, especially the Kallar Kahar Lake. The water that gushes from natural spring formed Kallar Kahar Lake. He stayed at Kallar Kahar and camped there.
Near the lake, Zaheer ud Din Babur laid the foundation of the first Mughal garden in South Asia called ‘Bagh-i-Safa’ where the fruit trees can be seen on the southwestern shore. In the middle of the garden, the emperor had a stone constructed where he stood to address his army. This historical site is known as Takht-i-Babri. To explore and enjoy the beautiful sites in the city, here are the eight sites of Kallar Kahar places to visit.
Sawaik Lake
Swaik Lake marks the most famous attraction in the city where the lake locates ten kilometers from Kallar Kahar and 48km from Chakwal through M-2 Motorway. The lake is also known as Khandowa Lake and is also known for ‘Neela Pani’ due to crystal clear blue water and the breathtaking waterfall. The lake is open for swimming, picnic, camping, diving, hiking, and photography. With the picturesque landscape, the lake surrounds rocks, mountains, cliffs, and trees. This adds to the beauty of the lake that makes you want to visit this lovely lake. The lake is about 25 minutes from Kallar Kahar.
The best time to visit the area is from July to August due to the rainy season or from February to March, for enjoyable mild weather and bearable temperatures. Since the lake is slippery near the campsites, it is necessary to be cautious to save from injuries. Also, keep your food items with you, as there are no shops around. To visit this attractive physical feature, be sure not to miss the calming and crystal-clear Swaik Lake!
Molat Fort
Molat Fort is one of the historical places in the city that is located 12 km from Kallar Kahar and 40km from Chakwal. The fort was built on the top of the hill of Molat Village. Raj Mal Dev, a Janjua Emperor, built the fort in the 12th century. Molat Fort comprises bright red sandstones of salt range mountains that make a beautiful historical site to visit.
The fort has two Hindu temples that add a beautiful combination of ancient Greek and Kashmir architecture. In various eras, different rulers came and ruled over the Molat Fort. During its existence, the fort became abandoned and makes worth visiting places in Kallar Kahar. To plan a visit to a historical site, be sure not to miss the Molat Fort! This makes Kallar Kahar places to visit!
Neela Wahn Lake
Neela Wahn Lake is a natural waterfall and a lake in Kallar Kahar. The lake is formed by waterfalls from mountains that add natural beauty to the lovely lake. Neela Wahn Lake locates 25km from Chakwal and is locally called Chasma-ab-e-Shifa due to the crystal-clear blue water. The lake has enclosed by small caves that can be seen half above the water. This makes one of the beautiful places in Kallar Kahar where you can do swimming, hiking, camping, and picnicking.
Neela is for blue and Wahn is for water pond that is how it is named Neela Wahn, which means blue pond. Once you visit this lake, you will love the blue water and the surrounding mountains, green bushes, and exotic waterfalls! To visit this beautiful lake in Kallar Kahar, you must not miss the Neela Wahn Lake!
Kusak Fort
Kusak Fort is another historical site in Kallar Kahar that locates 48km from Chakwal and 25km from the Southern East of Kallar Kahar. The fort marks a scenic view where it also situates in the Jhangar Valley of Choa Saiden Shah. The Kusak Fort was constructed in the 11th century by Raja Jodh, the son of the legendary Janjua Sultan of Raja Mall Khan Janjua.
The fort has a history behind it in which the fort has the size of 13 acres and is surrounded at the peak of the mountain called Jodh Mountain. Kusak Fort was constructed to protect the constant threats of invasions coming from the west. The fort has built with local red stone and soil with the structure of 70 houses to give accommodation for the army. Since the majority of the army were Hindus, the temples had constructed to worship prayer.
The rulers of Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey attacked the fort and tried their best to defend their land by fighting the invaders or making an alliance with them. Kusak Fort was destroyed badly when Jalaluddin Feroz Shah Khilji, the first king of the Khilji Dynasty in India attacked in 1290 AD. By then Khilji defeated the Janjua Rajputs and was forced to relocate. The Kusak Fort is a worth visiting place in Kallar Kahar! To visit a historical site near Chakwal, you ought to visit the Kusak Fort!
Takht-e-Babri
The Takht-e-Babri marks a historical site that locates behind Kallar Kahar Museum. The place locates 25km southwest of Chakwal and along the motorway. Takht-e-Babri sits on an elevated ground, which is a stone that has cut out by the first Mughal Emperor King Babur to address his army while coming down from Kabul.
On his way back to Kabul, he wished to seize the area called Koh-e-Jood. To motivate his army for the next battle, the Mughal emperor wished to sit at an elevated spot. That was how the Takht-e-Babri came into existence. To visit the archaeological spot, be sure not to miss the Takht-e-Babri!
Kallar Kahar Lake
Kallar Kahar Lake is a recognized tourist attraction that makes Kallar Kahar places to visit. The lake situates 25km from Chakwal and has an elevation of 1000 feet. The size of the lake is 8km and has a depth of 5 feet. This lake has been preserved and declared by the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department to reserve for games.
The lake surrounds by mountains and nearby motels where you can enjoy the view of the lake and mountains and rest at the motels. Kallar Kahar Lake has known as a salty water lake due to the greater deposits of rock salt. Nearly a few yards away comes the Bagh-i-Safa, which is the first Mughal garden in the subcontinent. Once you enter the garden, you will awe the beauty of the saltwater lake, which is the salt mine, is nearby! To visit the salty lake in the city, be sure not to miss the Kallar Kahar Lake!
Katas Raj Temples
Kallar Kahar has full of historical sites and abandoned temples in which the Katas Raj Temples are a great example for Hindu people. The temples are also known for Qila Katas and comprise several Hindu temples interconnected with one another by walking. Katas Raj Temples situates near Kallar Kahar and has an altitude of 2000 feet. The complex is 100km away by road and marks the most sacred pilgrimage for Hindus.
Katas Raj Temples leaves a sacred of Hindus and Sikhs in which the founder of the Sikh, Guru Nanak visited this temple and the Sikh Emperor Ranjit Singh performed regularly in this pilgrimage. The temple leaves a sacred pond, which is said to believe that the pond has filled with Shiva’s tears after the death of his wife Sati. In 2012, the level of water has decreased due to the usage of plantations and a nearby cement factory. After that, the government closed the cement factory to restore the level of water. To visit this sacred Hindu pilgrim, you must not miss Katas Raj Temples!
Kallar Kahar Museum
Kallar Kahar Museum is a must-visit place to educate about the overall background of the city in Chakwal. The museum was established in 2008 and displays various fossils that have been taken back 50 million years ago. Apart from fossils, the museum displays various artifacts, galleries, animals, coins, jewelry, utensils, and traditional items of Chakwal. The galleries have displayed in Indus & Gandhara that dates back from 7000 to 1500 BC and the pre-historical times from 1st Century to 7th Century AD. The museum has a collection of coins that dates back to the 5th century BC. To visit a place full of knowledge and historical background about Kallar Kahar, you will enjoy the various displays of the Kallar Kahar Museum!
Where to stay
Kallar Kahar’s TDCP (Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab) promotes tourism in the city of Punjab that offers several hotels and rest houses for a relaxing stay in Kallar Kahar. The TDCP Lake View Resort offers a spectacular view of Swaik Lake. It marks one of the most comfortable places to stay in Kallar Kahar.
The restaurant facing the lake serves Asian and Chinese meals (inside and outside on the terrace). In a pleasant and comfortable ambiance with dedicated accommodation, the restaurant provides some delicious food in a unique setting. TDCP Lakeview Resort offers the right combination of attraction and luxury for business or family trips. The resort has 12 rooms with a Wi-Fi facility, TV, BBQ, Boating, Snack Bar, Car Parking, Mosque, and Kitchen facilities for an enjoyable stay.
The center of Kallar Kahar is within a few minutes’ drive from M-2. Kallar Kahar is known for its Takht e Babri ancient park and its peacocks. The city has several picnic points, gift shops, restaurants, and guesthouses at the bank of the lake. There are many shinwari restaurants which Dumba shinwari is a special dish to eat at Kallar Kahar. Many restaurants, shops, and markets open at night for fun exploration.
The other places to visit in Kallar Kahar that is the Shrine of Sakhi Hoo Bahoo and the Khewra Salt Mine. The shrine locates at the top of the hill that shows you the panoramic view called the Moron Wali Sarkar or the saint of peacocks. You will see the peacocks dancing and spreading the feathers near the shrine! To visit and stay, you ought to visit this shrine!
Wrap Up
Kallar Kahar has historical sites and attractive features that make you want to visit this lovely city in Chakwal. With the greater influence of tourism in Pakistan, Kallar Kahar places to visit are worth seeing where you will enjoy the historical background and several lakes to add a fun vacation. If you have not been to this place, you ought to visit the exotic sites at Kallar Kahar! Be sure not to miss these places!
