Balochistan 3/3

Ziarat is one of the go to places of Baluchistan , The place is significant for us due to the residency of Quaid . Ziarat is 130 km approximately from quetta which is almost 2 hr 40 min drive the road is ok , much better then the road to wali tangi dam. Out of all the places that ive visited in Baluchistan ziarat was the most beautiful , mineral rich mountains and trees is a pleasant sight for the eyes . The are is pretty much less developed . Ziarat is significant for another reason that is not known to many people is due to the “Juniper Forest” also known as “The Sanober” tree in the local language . It is believed that the forest is the second largest of its kind in the world. The juniper species found there are of global significance because of their advanced age and slow growth rate. In fact, the junipers of Ziarat are among the oldest living trees in the world.

Color matching with that of you national flag this was the last residency of Quaid Azam  Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The residency is built on the highest point of ziarat and it is important to visit the place to actually understand why Quaid choose this place .The atmosphere is surreal ,so is the tour of the house , shoes are not allowed in the house so don’t forget to were warm socks is your visiting in winters . 

Whats sad is the fact that back in 2013 this residency was burnt completely by a faction of anti state people and every thing got burnt so what youll see in the house are the replicas .

After the incident the area is now controlled by the FC , their mess is few min walk form the residency . On our way back I was told about this famous market called the Nato market which was in the heart of Quetta city. The market was famous for the American  Nato stuff that was available , but since no container passed in the few years the place was filled with all the low grade Chinese stuff . Shalwar kameez is must if want to visit the market and you should be able to communicate in the native language pushto otherwise you’ll face problem bargaining .

Balochistan 2/3

Travelling in Pakistan has its own perks with long distances you tend to learn with the passage of time that good places aren’t easy to excess and a lot of patience is required similar was the case with Baluchistan . The next place on my list was the “Wali Tangi Dam” just 20 km away from Quetta city this dam built in 1960s by Pakistan army . The Dam is one of the few places where you can see greenery . The place itself gives you a scenic and pleasant view. The road is normal with few patches of off-roading but it takes you around 30 to 45 min to reach the place.

The setup is all controlled and governed by the army and they have a decent arrangement up there for restroom and a place to sit besides  that they allow you to hike and on the mountain and you see can a lot of people enjoying around that area.

On your way back there’s a spot a very significant spot that cannot be missed. In the British Era this place used to be a spillway which ironically was still in use , Amazing how we are still using their methods . Besides that close to this control room was a fishery and in this farm they were specifically farming Trout Fish which was very uncommon for that place .Upon further inquiring it came to my knowledge that this fish farm was 55 years old it was an initiative taken by the government back then to  somehow farm the fish in that region  but due to the scared resources especially it was not possible and the project had been limited to that on building.

With ample amount of time on hands I decided to visit another place a place that was close by that was the Hanna Lake. It is a very iconic tourist point but to my disappointment the place was barren as heard , the lakes all dried up . The reservoir was constructed in 1894 during the British Colonial era on the land of local tribesmen, and is one of the main attractions in the city and a great historical bridge wall between two mountains the depths like battlements of a fort for storing of water. The lake that was totally dependent on rain water is all dried up due to the deficiency of rain in the last few decades .

Hanna Lake was a total disappointment but what was more alarming was the size of plants that were planted by the dignitaries from various countries almost 10 year ago

This situation was no less then a joke and this showed the level of interest and seriousness of the government

  

Balochistan 1/3

A land rich in culture and minerals, Baluchistan is the province that well be talking about today. The landscape itself is fascinating. Traveling has always been spontaneous I had the opportunity to travel to Quetta in mid-February this year. As it was my first visit to this part of the country, I was very eager to explore this province. Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan so it is more developed then the rest of the province.  

With few days on hand and a lot to cover , the first place that I wanted to visit was the chaman border . Chaman is a city that is connected with the border of Afghanistan. The most unusual and fascinating thing about this border is that there’s a mosque on the border line on door opens from Pakistan and the other is in Afghanistan. The mosque was closed at that time due to the tensions between both the authorities.

 This border is controlled by Pakistani authorities and the concrete building that you can see in the above picture is the property of Pakistan. During the initial days of the war this border was the main supply route for the NATO containers and building on the right is border control management by the nato forces .If you’re lucky enough to get on the building the one with the Quaids picture on it this is how the other side looks. 

 

Chaman border is appromxatily  2 hrs away from Quetta  the roads pretty good surprisingly . A few km short of chaman city is the beautiful khojak top . Khjoak top is significant for two main reason , one the the tunnel that was built in 1891 and another reason was that this khojak top was used to be the last line of defense in the British Era . What’s interesting about this khojak top is will travel if you pay attention on the mountain you can still see the bunker that were built in the British Era. The 4 km long tunnel was built in 4 years . Another significant thing about this tunnel is that it was printed on a 5 Rs note .

 

The best hiking-treks in Pakistan

Pakistan is a country known for its diverse natural beauty, and it really shines when it comes to hilly areas. Pakistan is home to few of the most stunning valleys and mountain ranges in the world. If you are a backpacker or enjoy hiking, Pakistan would not disappoint you. Hiking is an amazing way to experience nature while discovering the beauty of any region. It is also a good exercise as it helps battle cardiovascular diseases as well as stress and other health related problems. It is a natural remedy. Here are some of the hiking trails that one can find in Pakistan:

Margalla Hills Islamabad

Margalla hills are the go-to spot for all Islamabadis when they need to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The hills are actually an extension of the Himalayas. There are 6 trails that intertwine with each other along the way. Most people go to either trail 5 or trail 3. Trail 3 goes straight to monal restaurant and it is the steepest one, whereas 5 is relatively much easier. The trails are not that long and even if you are inexperienced, you can get to the top in around 2 hours.



Mushkpuri Track

Mushkpuri track starts a few kms before Nathiagalli. When you enter the track, there are two paths that lead to the same spot. The easier one is four kms long and the tough one is 2.5kms long. It depends on your preference, but they both end up at the Mushkpuri top.



Miranjani Trek

Miranjani peak is around 8kms long and it is quite challenging. It starts from Nathiagalli and takes around 3 hours to reach the top. At the top, the hikers are welcomed by views of Tarbela lake, Thandiani & Abottabad, and even Nanga Parbat.



Ratti Galli 

Ratti Galli is located in Neelam Valley Kashmir. It is a beautiful trek and people usually go there for the Ratti Galli Lake which is situated at the top. The lake is at a height of around 12,000 feet and is accessed after a long 20km trek. Glaciers can also be seen around the lake and the views make the whole hike worth spending the time and energy.



Pipeline track

Dungagalli to Ayubia track is also called pipeline track. A water supply runs alongside it, hence the name. It is a four km track but considered the most beautiful in the region.




Fairy Meadows

After crossing Raikot bridge in District Chillas, there are two hotels that provide transport twards Fairy Meadows. The jeep ride is around 2.5 hours long. Following the jeep ride, there is also a 3 hour hike that takes you to the top. The scenery at the top is breathtaking. There is also a stunning view of Nanga Parbat. A polo ground is also situated at the top, where locals play on mules instead of horses.



K2 Base Camp Trek

The hike to K2 is the trek of a lifetime. K2 is the second highest peak in the World at a height of 8611 metres. The hike is more than 5kms long but it becomes so worth it when you get to the base camp and witness K2 as well as other mountains in all their glory.

Cliff-diving in Khanpur

Khanpur dam is a beautiful dam constructed over River Haro, you can catch it going to wards Abbottabad. The lake is almost 50kms away from Islamabad. It takes around 2 hours to get there from Islamabad. It hosts a spring carnival every year that attracts many tourists from within and outside Pakistan. It is an ideal place for a day-trip. 

The lake offers activities like fishing, swimming, boat-ride to an island from where one can do cliff-diving, rock climbing and many other.
There are services and tourists agencies, that can accommodate you with everything from pickups to drop offs, with dinner on rafts.



The experience depends in what season you go in. In summers when you go for cliff jumping you to get to jump from the high points, getting a more thrilling experience. In the winters, those points are closed as the water levels falls. However, in the winters you get a lot of variety of fish to eat. In addition, if you are an enthusiast you can fish there as well.



Similarly, if you want to go for jet skis go in summers as in winter you won’t be allowed to go by yourself, as the water level falls you won’t know how to navigate to through the dam, there are some high and low points the jet skis can be damaged and it’s also dangerous for you. In the summers that is not the case, you can take the jet skis where you want you do not get ubered around. So pick your battles.



Having heard about all the great experiences Khanpur dam offers, we decided to go there as well. This time there were a lot more of us than 5, so we booked a coaster from Islamabad and headed towards Khanpur. We crossed Taxila on the way and it took us almost 2 hours to get to the lake. It was around noon when we got there. It was a hot sunny day. As soon as we got off the coaster, we headed to the bank to hire a boat. It cost us 300 rupees per head and the price included travelling to and from the island where cliff diving is done.



 Cliff diving was a really refreshing experience. You climb to the top of a cliff and jump into the water. Be sure to wear a life jacket unless you are a good swimmer. It was almost 4pm when we got back to shore. We were all super hungry, so we decided to try out the lake-side fish restaurants. We headed back towards Islamabad around 5 and were in the city before nightfall. All in all, Khanpur is a great place to escape the city and beat the heat during summers, especially if you only have one day.

On the Coast

Gwadar is a port city on the coast of Balochistan in the southwest of the country. It is more of a small settlement than a city. It was recognized in 1954 when it was recognized as a good deep-sea port. The construction of the port started in 2001 and currently Gwadar features CPEC and is planned to become a link between Pakistan and China as well as many other countries via road and sea networks. Gwadar is known mostly for three things; the port, its fishing village and the 5 star hotels on the hammerhead. These are just the beginning. We found the following places and activities that are a must to experience if you ever find yourself in the region:

Deep-sea warm port:

We learnt that this port on the Arabian Sea is situated on the three most important crossroads, which are the Middle East, the Asian countries, and Pakistan. It holds great strategic importance. Apart from its great potential for business and trade, Gwadar has been attracting tourists from all over the World because of its mesmerizing beauty and amazing beaches.



The hammer-head

The hammerhead was created recently when a volcano erupted and caused mud to form a piece of land. It is named after the hammerhead whale because it looks exactly like its tail. One can enjoy the views of Gwadar and the Arabian Sea from the hammerhead, and they are breathtaking.



Astola Island

Astola Island is located in Pasni near Gwadar. The island is attracting a lot of tourists from across the globe. It takes a 5-hour boat ride from Pasni to reach Astola. It is known for its seven rocks as well as the water activities it provides. Fishing and scuba diving is really popular in there, although it is important to know that there are no hotels on the island so people have to spend the night camping. People get to see many breeds of turtles as well as dolphins on the five-hour journey to the island. It is a wonderful experience.



Ormara Beach

Ormara is around 250kms away from Gwadar towards Karachi. This beautiful beach is under the control of Pakistan Navy. Visitors get to see vessels and ships of the Navy all day long and observe the naval activities as well.



Buzzi Pass

Buzzi pass is known for the stunning views it provides as you travel along. You get the ocean on one side, and captivating rock formations on the other. Many people visit Gwadar just to experience travelling on the Buzzi pass. Alexander the great stayed there for some time as well.



Chandrakup & other mud volcanoes

Mud volcanoes are a very rare phenomenon but Gwadar has a few that are still active. They are not easy to access by car; people usually hike to the location. The volcanoes spit out cold mud, which is a very unique yet weird sight. These volcanoes are of high significance in the Hindu mythology, as they believe that these volcanoes were used by Hindus to confess their sins.

 Gwadar Desert

Gwadar has a semi-coastal desert as well. It is not as vast as most of the other deserts in the World, but it is stunning. Many people visit it for the Safari, but recently it has been getting a lot of visitors due to the Gwadar rally that takes place every year. Thousands of people participate in the rally.



The Sphinx

For those people who get tired of the amazing ocean views Gwadar offers, there are cultural sites to visit as well. The sphinx resembles the one in Cairo but this one is in much worse shape. Its wonder attracts visitors from all over the world. It is believed that it is in fact a natural sphinx and not man-made.



Princess of Hope

Princess of hope is believed to be man-made but some people still believe that it was naturally formed due to the eruption of mud volcanoes. The debate aside, many people visit it every year just for the beauty of it.



What to Eat?

Gwadar does not have many restaurants but one can find a decent meal easily. There are fast-food restaurants as well as fancy restaurants in Hotels like PC, but people generally stick to the sea food which is the specialty of the region.