BarSwat
HXWF+C2, Malakand, Pakistan
Zwrandi Waterfall is a hidden cascade in the Malakand-Swat foothills that drops over weather-worn black granite into a shaded pool. It is one of the closer waterfalls to lower Swat and a popular weekend escape for families from Mardan, Mingora and Peshawar.
The name 'Zwrandi' comes from the Pashto word for 'roaring', a reference to the sound the falls make during summer monsoon flow.
Local Yousafzai tribes have used the spring above the falls as a watering point for livestock for centuries, and small water-mills (jandar) once operated downstream.
The site was opened up to tourism after the 2009 Swat operation when KPK's tourism authority began signposting lesser-known waterfalls along the Mardan-Malakand road.
April to September. Flow is strongest July-August during monsoon. Avoid winter when the path can be slippery.
Drive from Malakand pass towards Dargai and follow signposts for Zwrandi (about 8 km off the main road). 4x4 not required, but the last kilometer is rough.