1) Hinglaj

Hinglaj is an important Hindu pilgrimage place in Balochistan, Pakistan and Kuldevi of many Kshatriya and other Hindu Communities of India. Hinglaj is the place considered the most important of the 51 Shakti Peeths where Lord Shiva’s body parts are burried and herein buried is his head. Hindus pay visit to this place , the Pilgrimage starts near Karachi where services and facilities to the pilgrims can be established. Hinglag Temple is situated in Balochistan and the pilgrims have to travel nearly 200 km on foot, about 250 km north-west of Karachi.

 

2) Urak:

Surronded by mountains Urak valley is an astonishing place located in the Quetta District of Balochistan Province, in north western Balochistan. The valley is located near Hana Lake, and 21 km from Quetta city.

 

3) Gadani:

Gadani is an another important area with significance in terms of economic activity it is a coastal village of Lasbela District located in the southern part of Balochistan. It is a village where Muslims and Hindus live together with peace from centuries. Excavation of the area has provided evidence of people who lived here millenniums ago. With the help of China in Gadani a project has been undertaken to produce electricity by the new government and Chinese government collaboration, this project will produce jobs for the local residents and electricity for country. Gadani also has a ship breaking yard which is currently the source of income for the local community and a huge economic benefit for its stake holders.

 

4) Gawadar:

Gawadar is the largest port of Pakistan as soon as it starts operating. It is a place many super powers have wanted to control. Gwadar Port is located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, approximately 460 km (290 mi) west of Karachi, 75 km (47 mi) east of Pakistan’s border with Iran and 380 km (240 mi) km northeast of the nearest point in Oman across the Arabian Sea. Strategically area of Gwadar is situated at the Balochistan Province western side along the Makran coast and the ships enroute to major oil importing countries like France, Germany, Japan, Spain stop at the port of Gawadar coming from OPEC. Gawadar can be an economical hub for the province of Balochistan and subsequently Pakistan.Exports outbound from Iran, Western China, Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and other countries like Afghanistan and Taiwan all can freighted out from here. Abundant revenues from taxes, freight, loading and thousands of jobs for local people are additional benefits we can gain from Gawadar. Military benefits can also be gained from Gawadar if India attacks Pakistan, as the distance compared to Karachi is more and Pakistan Navy can make their base here and alot of countries import/exports will be affected so international pressure on India will also help Pakistan.

 

5) Makran Coastal Highway:

Makran coastal highway donated as N10 is the most important land route to access Gawadar and is 653 Km in length. It was built by FWO (Frontier Works Organisation). It is a part of Pakistan’s National Highways network. It runs primarily through Balochistan province between Karachi and Gwadar, passing near the port towns of Ormara and Pasni. It is a lengthy highway passing through Balochistan Province and can play an essential part to access many other places in Balochistan for tourism and economical activities and saved a lot of cost and time for seafood industry. It has reduced the distance travel from Karachi to gawadar of 48 hours to 6-7 smooth driving. MCH is itself a very breathtaking beautiful area crossing road and a very memorable journey.

 

6) Bolan Pass:

The Bolan Pass is a mountain pass through the Toba Kakar Range of Balochistan province in western Pakistan, 120 kilometres from the Afghanistan border. Historically as it was located at a very strategic used as a gateway to south Asia by many traders, invaders, and nomadic tribes.For an annual fee the British government controlled this pass by the permission of the then Khan of Kalat.

 

7) Astola:

Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar in balochi we call it جزیرہ ہفت تلار‎ or ‘Island of the Seven Hills’, is a small island unpopulated, its location is 39 km southeast from Pasni into the Arabian sea. Its altitude is 75 meters. Administratively, the island is part of the Pasni subdistrict of Gwadar District in Balochistan province. The island can be accessed through boats. Tourists can camp there and view the endemic life and fishing, diving etc are also activities to be enjoyed.”

 

8) Ziarat

Ziarat is the capital of Ziarat District, Balochistan. It is located at an altitude of 2453 meters (8050 feet) and is a notable holiday resort of Balochistan.  Ziarat was the summer residence of the chief commissioner of Balochistan, and sanatorium for the European troops at Quetta. It is also famous for its juniper forest which is the 2nd largest in the world. There are many important species of animals and birds, bushes and ground flora within this ecosystem, many of which are used by the local people to treat disease. However, Ziarat is best known for its juniper trees, some of which are 5000 to 7000 years old. Basically Ziarat is the location of the Ziarat residency where Jinnah lived and spent his last days of life; Ziarat is a famous tourist site. There is a small dam and the valley is full of different fruits during summer and winter. Some of the famous sites nearby include the shrine of Baba Kharwari which is 8 km from Ziarat town while the local residents of Ziarat are Pashtun.

 

9) Pashin valley

It is located in the northwest of Balochistan. It consists of thousands of acres of fruit orchards. The valley is a fertile land where several crops and fruits are grown. Pishin Valley is renowned for the greenery and is also the primary place for crop production. Besides the crops it is also famous for the growth of vegetables and fodder. Today Pishin Valley is famous for horticulture and agriculture in Pakistan. Apart from the fruit, there is a quaint little market town which is famous for eating joints and other traditional foods. There is a man-made spring ‘Karez’. This artificial spring is made in order to use the subterranean water for irrigation purposes. The Pishin Valley is a center of festivity and colorful harvest programs and other cultural fetes. Folk dances are very popular. In spring when most of the plants are in bloom, it gives a splash of colour to Pishin Valley. Migrant tribesmen travel across the valley in autumn and spring with their herds of sheep and camels and their assorted wares for sale. This seasonal movement adds color and beauty to the life of Pishin Valley.

 

10) Mehrgarh

It lies on the Kacchi Plain ofBalochistan. It is one of the earliest sites with evidence of farming and herding in South Asia. Mehrgarh is located near the Bolan Pass, to the west of the Indus River valley and between Quetta and Sibi. The earliest settlement at Mehrgarh, was a small farming village that has been dated to between 7000 BCE to 5500 BCE. The whole area covers a number of successive settlements. Archaeological material has been found in six mounds, and about 32,000 artifacts have been collected.

Early Mehrgarh residents lived in mud brick houses, stored their grain in granaries, fashioned tools with local copper ore, and lined their large basket containers with bitumen. They cultivated six-row barley, einkorn, emmer wheat and dates, and herded sheep, goats and cattle. Residents of the later period (5500 BCE to 2600 BCE) put much effort into crafts, including flint knapping, tanning, bead production, and metal working. The site was occupied continuously until about 2600 BCE.Mehrgarh is probably the earliest known center of agriculture in South Asia.

 

11) Punnu Fort

The ruins of Punnu Fort (also called Punnu’s Fort) are sited about 15km from Turbat, a city in southern part of Balochistan. According to archaeologists Punnu Fort could date back to 6000-8000 BC. Punnu was a Hoth prince remnant of whose miri (fort) can still be seen near Turbat, and Sassi was his beloved. Much folklore has been written about this legend in all the local languages.

 

12) Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

Hazarganji literally means “Of a thousand treasures”. In the folds of these mountains, legend has it, that, there are over a thousand treasures buried, reminders of the passage of great armies down the corridors of history. The Bactrian, Scythians, Mongols and then the great migrating hordes of Pashtuns, all passed this way.  In the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, 20 km southwest of Quetta, Markhors have been given protection. The park isis spread over 32, 5000 acres, altitude ranging from 2000 to 3200 meters. Nature lovers, students, scientists and researchers are welcome to visit the park at any time of the year. Facilities include a museum, picnic spots and accommodation in rest houses.

 

13) Bibi Nani and Pir Ghaib

Bibi Nani is an area between the towns of Quetta and Sibi, in Balochistan. The area name is most probably derived from a Sufi figure that was buried in its suburbs and is also the location of a Hindu shrine. The location is a major site for power connections that link areas of Balochistan with the water sources from the Sindh Rivers.

 

14) Hanna Lake

The lake is located a little short of the place where the Urak Valley begins and 14 km from Quetta. The reservoir was constructed during the British Colonial era in 1894, and is one of the main attractions in the city. Golden fish in the lake come swimming right up to the edge of the lake. There is a lakeside restaurant with picnic tables shaded by pine trees.

The turquoise waters of the lake provide a rich contrast to the sandy brown of the hills in the background. One can promenade on the terraces or hire a boat and paddle on the lake and round the island in the middle. Public wagon service operates from city bus station side by the City District Government office. The transport can also be hired through the PTDC Tourist Information Center.

 

15) Lak Pass

Lak Pass is 25 km from Quetta. It is a break in a mountain range or other high obstruction; used for transportation from one side to the other Here the scenery is interesting, the trucks and trailers laden with goods move along the zigzag road while the herdsmen watch from hills along with hundreds of their sheep which graze on scant herbage available there.