MINGORA: Apart from scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage, Swat valley offers another feast to the tourists -- the trout fish of the Swat River.

The valley known as the Switzerland of Asia has great attraction for the tourists, who enjoy the cool breeze, thick forests, high peak mountains, gushing water, lakes and waterfall in the summer season.

The view of snowcapped mountains in Swat and winter sports are other attractions for the tourists.

However, for food lovers, the valley has more to offer as the delicious trout fish attracts tourists in droves.

Tourists throng Chail Madyan as it is famous for the delicious trout fish.

Fish farming is a beneficial business and source of income for many local people

“I visit this area regularly with my family. We not only enjoy eating trout fish but also relish the beautiful scenes and pleasant weather here,” Naeemur Rehman, a resident of Khwazakhela, accompanied by his family, told Dawn in Chail. Anyone, who tasted the delicious trout fish of the Swat River, would come again and again, he added.

The tourists said that eating good food in pleasant weather and scenic area increased its taste. They love to watch the fish hatchery and different levels of its rearing.

Muniba, a young girl, who was with her family enjoying watching trout fish in the ponds in Madyan Trout Park, said that she was excited to see beautiful trout fish. “We watched so many trout fish here, small and big. We ate fish in our lunch here and they were really different in taste from other fish we eat at home,” she told Dawn.

However, many tourists complained about the bad condition of road leading to Chail area. They said that provincial government must construct the road to promote tourism in the picturesque valley.

“The area is very beautiful. It is suitable for family tourism and trout fish but the road is not good which causes inconvenience to tourists,” said Samiur Rehman, another. He added that the number of tourists would increase if the road was constructed.

The farming of trout fish also contributes to the local economy.

Haider Ali, the owner of a trout fish park in Chail, said that trout fish farming was a beneficial business and source of income for many local people. “We are content that hundreds of tourists come here from down districts and eat trout fish eagerly. People eat it here and take it home also,” he told Dawn.

Mr Ali said that they sent trout fish to big hotels and industries in the country and even exported it to foreign countries. “About 20 men work with us here in the park which is the source of their livelihood,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2015

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