Tourist Attractions In Quetta

Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province, remains the country's most distinctive city, but least visited because of its geographic isolation. Surrounded by hills, Quetta is a natural fort that lies along the travel route between Iran's capital city of Tehran and the Punjab region of Pakistan. The U.S. State Department warns against travel to Pakistan because of continued Al Qaeda and Taliban activity, especially in the areas along the Afghan border, which includes Quetta. In the event that the political stability in the region improves, Quetta has several famous places that are of interest to visitors.

Bazaars

Quetta is home to three famous traditional bazaars, or markets, for shoppers who enjoy bargaining for local goods. Kandahari Bazaar is located on Shahrah-e-Iqbal. Liaqat Bazaar and Suraj Gang Bazaar are located on Shahrah-e-Liaqat. The bazaars offer local handicrafts, especially world-famous Balochi mirror embroidery found on carpets and clothing. Additionally, you can find fur coats, jackets, vests, jewelry and sandals at the bazaars.

Museums

If you wish to connect with Pakistan's history and culture, head to one of Quetta's famous museums. Located near the bazaars, the Archaeological Museum houses rare weapons, manuscripts, tools and pottery that date back to the Stone Age. The Geological Survey of Pakistan (www.gsp.gov.pk) has a Museum of Historical Geology in Quetta that showcases fossils, with the most famous display, the Invertebrate Gallery, that showcases marine life fossils that date back 540 million years ago. Visitors who are interested in the British military history should head to the Command and Staff College Museum, which houses military artifacts, paintings and photographs.

Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

Treasure hunters must visit the famous Hazarganji Chiltan National Park during their stay in Quetta. Hazarganji means "of a thousand treasures," in reference to the legend that claims over 1,000 treasures are buried with in the protected 35,000 acre park. Hazarganji Chiltan National Park is located a little more than ten miles from Quetta and also was built to protect the Chiltan wild goat or Markhor. The park is also home to exotic plant species such as pistachio, juniper and almond trees.

Hana Lake

Located a little more than five miles from Quetta, Hana Lake draws visitors because of its contrasting landscape in reference to mountains and desert that surrounds it. The lake, one of Quetta's most popular attractions, is actually a reservoir that was constructed by the British in 1894. The lake is formed by rainwater and snow from the nearby mountains. Because the dam that created Lake Hana was damaged during a flood in 1976, the lake has rotated between spells of dryness and water. Most recently, Hana Lake was dried up between 1999 and 2005.

Quetta...a Food-lover's Paradise

 Quetta is a food-lover’s paradise, with some of the best meat dishes being served at roadside cafes. You could savour the delicious Sajji or roasted leg of lamb or bite into juicy bits of tender kababs. The Landhi, dried whole lamb, is a favourite with nomadic tribals who stock them for the long winters. Besides traditional Balochi cuisine the city restaurants also serve a variety of Pakistani, Chinese and Western fare.

Recreational Parks

 Besides the Chiltan National Park, there are several beautiful spots around Quetta, including the Karkhasa Recreational Park just 10 kms away and the captivating Urak Valley 21 km away. The approach road to the valley is lined with fruit orchards and wild rose bushes. At the end of the valley the visitor is greeted with a waterfall crashing down amidst apricot and apple orchards. At the mouth of the Urak Valley is the beautiful emerald green Hanna Lake. Girded with sandy brown hills, the lake has been developed as a tourist spot with terraces and pavilions running down to the lakeside. There is a regular wagon service running from the bus stand at Circular Road in Quetta.

Pishin Valley

 50 km from Quetta is the Pishin Valley and Bund Khushdil Khan. The valley abounds in fruit orchards irrigated by tapping ground water to create artificial springs or karez. The man-made lake of Bund Khushdil Khan is 16 kms. away, and a favourite spot for duck shooting in winter.  Pir Ghaib, 70 kms. from Quetta on the Sibi Road is a picturesque retreat with waterfall and streams rippling through palm trees. This spot is accessible only by jeep.

Kan Mahtarzai Railway Station

Kan Mehtarzai at 2,224 metres is 2 hours away from Quetta and is famed as the highest railway station in the world.

Ziarat

 133 km from Quetta is the pristine mountain resort of Ziarat. 3 hours by car and at a height of 2,449 metres, the resort is surrounded by one of the world’s oldest juniper forests. Fruit orchards, flowering trees, surround a pleasant government tourist motel complex with rooms and cottages, and honey growing farms. Ziarat is also popular for hiking and trekking expeditions into the deep valley, while the Chashma walk is a stretch of flat ground between the towering hills and ravines. The path leads up to natural springs or chashma that feed the town of Ziarat.

Quaid-e-Azam Residency

An important landmark in Ziarat is the Quaid-e-Azam Residency, where the founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah spent his last few days. 8 kms. from Ziarat is the shrine of Kharwari Baba. A highly revered saint, the Baba is believed to have rested in the valley and blessed it. After his death, his followers buried him in the valley and a shrine marks the spot. During the Muslim festival of Eid, there are special celebrations at the shrine marked by wrestling and marksmanship contests.