Built 1941
Commissioned by Miangul Abdul Wadud, the first Wali of Swat, from marble quarried on the estate.
White Palace
White Marble Marvel
4 packages1 group tour0 rating
The White Palace, or Sufed Mahal, sits above Marghazar at 7,000 feet in Upper Swat. It was built in 1941 by Miangul Abdul Wadud, the first Wali of Swat, from white marble quarried on the estate — the same marble used for Delhi's Taj Mahal. The palace has hosted Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 and now operates as a heritage hotel and restaurant, with the original royal apartments preserved. Even as a day stop the drive up from Mingora, through pine and cedar, is worth the detour.
Packages in White Palace
4 flexible packages — your dates, your tier
Where to Stay in White Palace
2 hotels & properties
Why here
Moments in White Palace
The small, specific reasons travellers keep coming back.
Royal Guest List
Hosted Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 — the original royal apartments are preserved for tours.
Heritage Hotel Today
Operates as a working hotel and restaurant — you can stay in the same wing as visiting dignitaries.
Cedar Forest Drive
The switchback drive up from Mingora climbs through pine and cedar — worth the detour on any Swat trip.
Four chapters
Best Time to Visit
spring
April – June
Best timeMarble courtyards catch soft spring light — comfortable for the switchback drive up.
summer
July – September
Best timeCool escape from the Swat valley heat; the heritage hotel is fully operational.
autumn
October
Best timeAutumn colour in the pine and cedar drive up from Mingora.
winter
November – February
Poor timeSnow occasionally closes the switchback road; the palace stays open but the drive can be treacherous.