White Palace of Marghazar: A Complete Guide
A marble jewel crowns the Swat Valley the White Palace. This royal palace rises on a green hill near Saidu Sharif. Kings of Swat built it as a summer retreat. Marble from afar gives it a gleaming beauty. This royal home serves as a hotel for visitors today. This guide covers the White Palace for the curious traveller. It explains the setting the history the marble the palace today and how to visit.
This guide offers a general overview. Details and figures vary between sources.
Quick answer: A historic marble palace the White Palace of Marghazar rests in the Swat Valley, some 13 kilometres from Saidu Sharif, on Marghazar Hill at around 7,000 feet. Built around 1940 by Miangul Abdul Wadud the first ruler of Swat State, it served as a royal summer residence. Its walls of white marble, said to come from the same source as the Taj Mahal, give it its name. This royal home is now a popular hotel and tourist resort. Summer is the finest season to visit.
About the White Palace
A marble palace rises on a green hill at Marghazar. It is located around 13 kilometres from Saidu Sharif. A height of some 7,000 feet cools its air. Green meadows and springs surround the palace.
A lovely setting drew the kings of Swat. Wooded hills rise around the small town. Cool air fills the country through the summer. This beauty made it a royal retreat.
A gleaming palace shines with white marble. Its gleaming walls give it the famous name. Sunlight glances off the smooth stone. Few buildings in the valley match its grace.
A royal home rests near the twin cities. Mingora and Saidu Sharif stand close at hand. A short drive brings the traveller here. This nearness makes the palace easy to reach.
History of White Palace
A grand palace carries a royal story. Miangul Abdul Wadud built it around 1940. He ruled as the first king of Swat State. People knew him as the Badshah Sahib.
Green beauty drew the king to Marghazar. He chose the hill for a summer resort in 1935. Marghazar became the summer capital of the state. Kings ruled from here through the warm months.
This palace served the royal family for years. It stood as the summer home of the Wali of Swat. Miangul Jehanzeb kept the palace in later years. Royal life filled its halls each summer.
A quiet spell fell after the first ruler died. His death in 1971 left it quiet for a time. Later it opened once more to visitors. So the royal home began a new life.
Marble and architecture of White Palace
A grand palace draws its beauty from fine marble. Its builders raised it from white stone. Craftsmen from afar shaped the design. This blend gave a palace of rare grace.
Marble came from distant Agra for the walls. These quarries are said to have served the Taj Mahal. Bronze arrived from Belgium for the fittings. Skilled artisans from Turkey shaped the building.
Clever methods gave the palace great strength. Lime bound the marble in place of cement. High ceilings of many feet kept out the heat. This care has kept it firm for generations.
A clever layout served the royal household well. King Abdul Wadud built matching blocks for two wives. Each held rooms, servant quarters and a private lawn. A grand royal suite crowned the palace.
White Palace palace today
A grand palace now serves as a hotel. Guests may stay where kings once lived. Its rooms keep the old royal style. Visitors enjoy the grandeur of the past.
Fine features still adorn the palace. A royal suite recalls the old king. Marble benches rest on a garden balcony. Engraved grapes mark a table of stone.
A great chinar tree shades the grounds. This ancient tree has stood for centuries. Its branches spread a canopy for guests. Green lawns and springs surround the palace.
Famous guests have graced the palace. A British queen once stayed here for days. Her visit added to the fame of the place. Travellers still come from far and wide.
Visiting the White Palace
Come in summer for the finest weather. Warm, mild days suit the mountain hill. Spring and autumn bring cool, clear skies. Winter turns cold with snow on the heights.
Reach the palace with ease. It rests a short drive from Saidu Sharif. Roads climb the green hill to Marghazar. Mingora is close for the traveller.
Stay a night in the royal rooms. A grand hotel welcomes guests today. A night here recalls the age of kings. Book ahead in the busy season.
Enjoy the grounds and the views. An old chinar shades the lawns below. Green meadows and springs reward a walk. Bring time for both history and scenery.
Frequently asked questions
Who built the White Palace of Marghazar? A marble palace at Marghazar was built around 1940 by Miangul Abdul Wadud, known as the Badshah Sahib. This ruler was the first king of the princely state of Swat and founder of its dynasty. Drawn by the green beauty of the Marghazar hills, he had chosen the spot for a summer resort in 1935. Marghazar was then declared the summer capital of the state. This palace served as a royal summer residence. It later passed to Miangul Jehanzeb the Wali of Swat. Today it ranks as a treasured symbol of the royal heritage of the Swat Valley.
Why is it called the White Palace? This palace takes its name from the gleaming white marble used to build it, lending the whole building a bright and graceful look. This marble is said to have come from the area of Agra in India from the same quarries that supplied the famous Taj Mahal. Such fine stone lends the palace much of its beauty. Over the years the building has carried several names, including Swati Palace and Moti Palace. It became widely known at last as the White Palace. Locals call it the Sufed Mahal in their own tongue. This name reflects both its material and its elegant appearance.
What is special about the architecture of the White Palace? A fine palace is admired for its marble and its careful design, blending craftsmen and materials from far and wide. Builders brought white marble from Agra, bronze from Belgium and artisans from Turkey, who shaped and raised the palace. Lime was used to bind the marble in place of cement, making the walls remarkably firm, while the high ceilings help to keep the rooms cool in summer. A clever layout was arranged around the royal household with matching wings a grand royal suite, garden balconies with marble benches and other fine touches that recall its royal past.
Is the White Palace open to visitors? Yes the White Palace is open to visitors and now serves as a hotel allowing guests to stay in the same building that once housed the rulers of Swat. After the death of the first ruler in 1971 the palace was closed for a time. It later reopened and was turned into a tourist resort. Visitors can enjoy the royal suite the marble halls the garden balconies and the ancient chinar tree on the grounds along with fine views of the surrounding green hills. Its closeness to Mingora and Saidu Sharif makes it easy to reach.
When is the best time to visit the White Palace? A best time to visit the White Palace at Marghazar is in summer from around May to September. Warm, pleasant weather graces the hill then. Green meadows spread across the country. Spring and autumn also bring cool, clear days that are fine for sightseeing, while winter can be cold with snow on the higher ground. Many visitors come as part of a wider Swat tour, pairing the palace with the Buddhist sites the Swat Museum and the scenic valleys of Kalam and Malam Jabba. These summer months are the busiest, so booking ahead is wise.
Marble palace of Swat
A marble palace graces the hills of Swat. This royal home rises on a green hill near Saidu Sharif. Kings of Swat built it as a summer retreat. Marble from afar gives it a gleaming grace. Guests may now stay where rulers once lived. Few palaces in the mountains match its beauty.
You may come to the White Palace for the history the marble or the views. This landmark rewards the visit either way. You can stay a night in the old royal rooms. You can rest beneath the ancient chinar tree. You can gaze over the green hills of Marghazar. Come to the White Palace and discover the marble jewel of Swat. This is the royal retreat of the valley.
