Balochistan ( The Hidden Gem Of Pakistan )
Have you ever been to Balochistan?
If not, then after reading this blog, your heart will surely make you want to visit Balochistan!
Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with all kinds of geographical beauty. The beauty of northern region of Pakistan does not need any introduction. Domestic and foreign tourists come here to see the beauty of the region. But the South Pakistan is also blessed with innumerable blessings… South Pakistan includes Baluchistan and Sindh.
Today’s writing is for Balochistan!
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan which covers 44% of its total geographical area. The land of Balochistan is full of dynamic and beautiful places which a person must visit once in a lifetime. But, a common misconception about Balochistan is that, people believe that Balochistan is not safe to visit. They think that, there are terrorists everywhere ready to kidnap and kill people. This is not true at all. Those who are familiar with the culture and temperament of Baloch and Pathans, they know that the Baloch people and Pathans do not harm any traveler or tourist in their area. They treat every tourist as a guest. They are at the forefront of hospitality. Therefore, Balochistan is the safest area to visit. Balochistan is full of natural beauty but most of us aren’t even aware of this yet. I hope that with the help of this article I will change your mind for Balochistan!
Balochistan has all the geographical features. A long sea that starts from the Golden Delta of the Hub River and ends just before the Iranian port of Chah-Bahar beyond Jiwani. The length of this coast is 720 km out of the total Pakistan’s coastline length of 1046 km. Besides, looking at the dry muddy mountains of Balochistan, it seems as if there is an attraction in these mountains that is pulling us towards them.
Apart from these, there is a lot more to see in Balochistan, let’s have a look at the mesmerizing places of Balochistan!
- HINGOL NATIONAL PARK
Hingol National Park is located on the Balochistan Coastal Highway which is 653 kilometres long. Hingol park is the only national park in Pakistan which includes forests, mountains, deserts, beaches, rivers, sandy plains, and hills. There are many types of wildlife in Hingol National Park and every year many tourists come to see this beautiful place. It also includes the sea area. This park includes grazing birds, reptiles, cattle, fish, marine animals, wolves, foxes, leopards, and a variety of animals and birds. Hunting is banned in Hingol National Park. There are also two sacred places of Hindus located in Hingol National Park. One is the temple of “Shri Hinglaj Mata” which is situated on the bank of the river Hingol. It’s history is thousands of years old. Every year millions of Hindus come here for pilgrimage from home and abroad.
There is also an active Mud Volcano known as Chandragup, which is located in Hingol National Park. It is the largest mud volcano and it has a sacred place in Hinduism. The Hindu community also worships here. A ritual is performed by throwing coconuts in mouth of volcano. Chandragup mud volcano is worshiped by Hindus as an embodiment of Hinduism God Shiva. Such a masterpiece of geographical structure is not found in other provinces of Pakistan.
The ‘Princess of Hope’ is a statue of a human body in a cluster of rocks , located in the Hingol National Park. This tall princess looks elegant and she is dressed in a royal style, but it seems as if she is hoping for something. It was named as “Princess Of Hope” by famous Hollywood actress ‘Angelina Jolie’ during her visit in 2002 as a United Nations Good will Ambassador. Another important naturally carved rock structure ‘The Great Sphinx’ is also located in Hingol National Park and according to locals, these mountains are haunted by ghosts and the Princess of hope and other similiar sculptural hills in the range are their remains. According to some experts, these statues are approximately 750 years old.
2. ASTOLA ISLAND
Pakistan’s largest island, Astola Island or Haft Talar Island is an amazing tourist destination in Balochistan. It can be reached via launch from Pasni or Gawadar.
The reason why the Island is uninhabited and tourists do not come here is because of its journey. After travelling from Karachi to Pasni for 7 hours, you will need a motorboat in which after travelling for another 3 hours you will reach Astola Island. Astola Island is a very beautiful destination in Balochistan. From hills to gulls and amazing sea creatures, Astola Island has it all!
‘The Island is mentioned in history in reference to Admiral Narcos, who was sent by Alexander the Great in 325 BC to explore the coastal areas of the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.’
3. MOOLA CHOTOK
Although the province of Balochistan is mainly famous because of its dry hills and desert areas, but the site of Moola Chotok is a paradise in Balochistan. Amidst the beautiful mountains at a distance of 85 km from Khuzdar city, Moola Chotok enhances the splendor of Balochistan province. In native Balochi language, the word “Chotok” means certain types of water falling from the top. The road to Moola Chotok is very rocky and difficult, it is impossible for every vehicle to cover it. But, as you move forward, pleasant valleys and magical scenes mesmerize the viewer.
Cold water flowing in the form of a waterfall sometimes takes the form of a stream and sometimes becomes a pool of cold water. The mountains here are awe inspiring. Many tourists come every year to see this beautiful place of nature. Moola Chotok is truly a Hidden Paradise.
4. MEHRGARH
Balochistan has many underground treasures, it also has a large archaeological reserve on the surface. Archaeologists consider MehrGarh to be the source of the oldest civilization, located in the Kacchi district of Baluchistan. Mehrgarh is one of the most important Neolithic site, with some of the earliest evidence of Agriculture discovered there. The oldest civilization of Mehrgarh was also very famous for its Artistic Handicrafts.
On the way to Mehrgarh, there are archaelogical remains on a mound consisting of a wall and a gate. One of the Archeologist added that it was a Mughal-era mausoleum, the rest of which had collapsed, leaving only a wall and a door. According to him, this place dates back to 7000 BCE.
5. BOLAN PASS
Bolan Pass is 3 miles southeast of Quetta, Near Kolpur. After entering this pass from Kolpur, a gradual descent begins. It falls from 5950 feet above sea level in Kolpur to 450 feet in Muskaf. Dara Bolan is named after a famous person of the Kurdish tribe, Bolan. For many centuries, traders, invaders, and other nomadic tribes have used this route as a gateway to and from South Asia.
Every place in Bolan Pass is a place of entertainment, picnic spots, and beautiful scenery.
6. ZIARAT
Ziarat is an airy place located at a distance of 130 km from Quetta, 2449 m above sea level. This entire valley is called Ziarat because of the shrine of an elder known as “Kharwari Baba.” One of the main reason why Ziarat is so famous is a vast forest of pine trees. Spread over 12,600 acres, it is one of the oldest forests in the world, with some trees dating back 5,000 years. The pine tree is a precious tree, and it grows only an inch a year. That is why the government has imposed a strict ban on the cutting of these trees.
Ziarat is also famous for its historical significance, that is, the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spent the last days of his life here. His residence is now known as the Quaid-e-Azam Residency. If you can cope with the severe cold, visit during the snowfall in the months of October to February, because all tourists agree that the most beautiful area of Pakistan during the snowfall season is “Ziarat.” From the plains to the top of the mountains, the tall pine trees are completely covered with snow in winters. And when the sun shines on them during summer, their radiance dazzles the eyes!
So, now its very clear that Balochistan along with rest of Pakistan, has a great significance. Even a brief introduction to the tourist destinations of Balochistan cannot be completed in this one short article. A complete book can be written for a detailed introduction. But I’ve written about some places you probably didn’t know!
If you haven’t explored Balochistan yet, and you consider yourself an adventure seeker, then visiting Balochistan is definitely a treat for such people!
