The White Palace in Marghuzar (also spelled Marghazar) is the white marble summer house that Miangul Abdul Wadud, the ruler of Swat known as Badshah Sahib, built around 1940–41 in a small green valley about 13 km from Saidu Sharif. It has been run as a hotel for years, and reopened in April 2026 after renovation as a heritage resort. You can see it in two or three hours from Mingora, or stay the night.
This guide covers the palace's history, what it is like today, the drive from Saidu Sharif, what else is in the valley, and whether it is worth a night.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Marghuzar valley, about 13 km from Saidu Sharif |
| Built | Around 1940–41, as the Swat ruler's summer residence |
| Now | Hotel and heritage resort, reopened after renovation in April 2026 |
| Drive from Saidu Sharif | About half an hour |
| Time needed | Two to three hours, or one night |
| Best months | April to October; snow is possible in mid-winter |
| Pair with | The Swat Museum, and Islampur's shawl weavers |
| Nearest hospital | Saidu Sharif; there is no clinic in Marghuzar |
Who built the White Palace, and why?
Miangul Abdul Wadud ruled Swat from 1917 to 1949. He was the grandson of Saidu Baba, the 19th-century religious leader whose shrine stands in Saidu Sharif, and he turned a patchwork of valleys and tribes into a single state ruled from Saidu Sharif. Swat remained a princely state, first under the British and then within Pakistan, until it was merged into West Pakistan in 1969.
Marghuzar, whose name is usually translated as "green land", was his summer retreat: a small side valley with springs, a stream and cooler air than Saidu Sharif. The palace went up here around 1940–41, and went through several names, from Swati Palace to Motti Palace, before settling on the White Palace, or Sufaid Mahal. The name comes from its white marble, which, as the story is told locally, was brought from the same Rajasthan quarries that supplied the Taj Mahal.
In 1961 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent three days in Swat as guests of the last Wali, Miangul Jahanzeb. The palace's royal suite is where they are said to have stayed.
What is the White Palace like today?
The palace is still owned by the Wali's family and runs as a hotel. It has around two dozen rooms plus the royal suite, halls that were once used for the state's cabinet meetings, and a restaurant. After a period of renovation it reopened in April 2026, now presented as a heritage resort.
For a day visitor, the draw is less the rooms than the setting: the white building against the green hillside, lawns and gardens, the stream running below, and an old chinar, said to be about 200 years old, that shades visitors on the lawn. It is a good place for lunch or tea and a slow hour.
Two practical points:
- Ask at the gate whether day visitors pay an entry charge or need to eat at the restaurant to use the grounds. Arrangements may have changed with the renovation.
- Treat it as a hotel, not a museum. The royal suite and inner rooms may be occupied, so ask politely at reception if you would like to see them.
The drive from Saidu Sharif
Marghuzar is about 13 km from Saidu Sharif, up a side road into the hills. In normal traffic it takes about half an hour from Saidu Sharif and a little longer from central Mingora.
You can drive your own car, or take a taxi or rickshaw from Mingora and agree the waiting time and fare before you set off.
Close to Marghuzar, and next to Saidu Sharif, is Islampur, a village known across Pakistan for its handloom woollen shawls. Most of the weaving is done in small cottage workshops, in which women play a large part. If you are buying shawls on this trip, this is the place to do it, and a stop on the way back fits easily into the afternoon.
Staying the night
Most visitors come for a few hours, but a night here is a quiet alternative to a hotel in Mingora. After the day visitors leave, the valley is calm, and the air is noticeably cooler than in the city.
Before you book:
- Check current rates directly with the hotel. Prices after the renovation may differ from older listings, and we have not found a reliable 2026 figure.
- Ask about heating if you are coming between November and March. In January 2026 snow fell in Marghuzar as well as in the higher valleys.
- Think about medical access. Marghuzar has no hospital or clinic, so anyone with a health condition should know that the nearest care is back in Saidu Sharif.
- Plan to eat at the hotel. Marghuzar is a village, not a bazaar town.
For other bases in lower Swat and what they cost, our guide on where to stay in Swat compares Mingora, Saidu Sharif and the rest of the valley.
Around Marghuzar: Elum and the valley walks
Above Marghuzar rises Elum Ghar, about 2,800 m, on the ridge between Swat and Buner. Until 1947 it was a place of Hindu pilgrimage, with its summit known as Ram Takht, and Buddhist tradition also connects it to a past life of the Buddha. It is snow-covered for much of the year.
The mountain is a serious climb rather than a stroll, and the Buner side is currently one of the areas under travel advisories. For most visitors, the better walk is a short one along the stream and through the fields near the palace.
Making a day of it
The White Palace fits neatly with the other sights of Saidu Sharif:
- Morning at the Swat Museum, which opens around 9 am (closed Fridays).
- Lunch at the White Palace, a half-hour drive away.
- An hour on the lawns and by the stream.
- Islampur on the way back for shawls.
- Evening in Mingora, or the shrine of Saidu Baba in Saidu Sharif.
Is it safe to visit Marghuzar?
Pakistani visitors continue to come to Saidu Sharif and Marghuzar, and the palace reopened to them in 2026. Swat's security did worsen this year, though. In July 2026 residents reported armed men in the mountains of Matta and Charbagh, and on 2 August a suicide bombing at the Kabal police station, near Mingora, killed 17 people during a peace rally.
Before you go, check local news and current police advice, travel in daylight, and carry your CNIC. Overseas visitors should know that the UK government advises against all travel to Swat, and that travelling against government advice can void travel insurance.
Is the White Palace worth it?
Yes, as a half-day from Mingora or Saidu Sharif, especially in spring and early summer when the valley is green and the city is getting hot. It is a pleasant place for lunch with a real story behind it.
It is not a major sight. If you have only two days in Swat, the Swat Museum, Malam Jabba and the drive towards Kalam matter more. Our guide to places to visit in Swat ranks the palace against the rest of the valley.
A night suits couples and families who want somewhere quiet near Saidu Sharif and don't need anything in the evening beyond dinner and the sound of the stream. The Swat Valley page has an overview of the rest of the valley.
Frequently asked questions
Who built the White Palace in Swat?
Miangul Abdul Wadud, known as Badshah Sahib, who ruled Swat from 1917 to 1949. It was built around 1940–41 as his summer residence.
How far is the White Palace from Mingora?
Marghuzar is about 13 km from Saidu Sharif, which joins Mingora. The drive takes about half an hour from Saidu Sharif and a little more from central Mingora.
Is the White Palace in Marghuzar open to visitors?
Yes. It reopened in April 2026 after renovation and runs as a hotel. Day visitors usually come for lunch or tea and the grounds; ask at the gate about any entry charge.
Did Queen Elizabeth stay at the White Palace?
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent three days in Swat in 1961, and the palace's royal suite is where they are said to have stayed.
Can I stay at the White Palace?
Yes, it has around two dozen rooms and a royal suite. Book directly and confirm current rates, which may have changed with the renovation.
Why is it called the White Palace?
Because it is built of white marble. Locally it is known as Sufaid Mahal, the white palace.
