Holiday in Quetta

About Quetta

Quetta is the capital of the Balochistan province and is located at an altitude of 1,680 meters in a fertile valley, surrounded by barren but dramatically beautiful mountain ranges. The city is nicknamed the Fruit Garden of Pakistan, as apples, apricots, cherries, and pomegranates thrive in surprising abundance in the surrounding valleys. The Juniper forests of Ziarat, about 130 km northeast, are home to the second-largest juniper forest in the world: some of the gnarled trees are over 5,000 years old, making them older than the Pyramids of Giza. UNESCO has recognized the area as a biosphere reserve. The Quaid-e-Azam Residence in Ziarat, where Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah spent his last days, is situated amidst these ancient forests. Hanna Lake, just 10 km east of the city, is a green oasis at the foot of red sandstone cliffs: paddle and pedal boats on the turquoise water, surrounded by orchards, make the lake the most popular excursion destination for city dwellers. The Urak Gorge nearby offers spectacular hikes through narrow rock gorges with small waterfalls. The Quetta Bazaar is a colorful experience: Balochi mirror embroidery, Pashtun carpets, Afghan lapis lazuli jewelry, and dried fruits from the region are offered for sale. The city is a melting pot of cultures — Baloch, Pashtun, Hazara, and Brahui live side by side, each group with its own language, clothing, and cuisine. The Bolan Pass route south of Quetta is one of the most historic trade routes in South Asia: for millennia, the pass has connected the Indus Valley with the Iranian plateau and Central Asia.