Quetta is the
capital of
Baluchistan, which
is the largest
province in
Pakistan. Most of it
is desert, and the
Baluchi's look like
true
desert-dwellers:
they have baggy
trousers, big
moustaches and they
love their freedom.
Quetta lies 1692
metres above sea
level at the mouth
of Bolan Pass. It
has three large
craggy mountains.
Chiltan, Zarghun and
Koh-e-Murdar,that
seem to brood upon
this pleasant town.
There are other
mountains that form
a ring around it.
Their copper red and
russet rocks and
crests that are
powdered with snow
in winters add
immense charm to the
town.
Quetta is an
excellent base for
further exploration
of Balochistan. Kan
Mehtarzai (2240
metres), the highest
railway station in
Asia, is a two-hour
drive away. Loralai,
the almond bowl of
the country, is 265
kms away. Besides,
there are numerous
other valleys that
are fascinating
places to be in for
explorers.
Quetta can rightly
be called the fruit
basket of Pakistan.
Plums, peaches,
pomegranates,
apricots, apples,
guavas (locally
called zaitoon),
some unique
varieties of melon
like "Garma" and "Sarda"
and cherries,
pistachios and
almonds are all
grown in abundance.
Some pistachios also
grow in Qila Saif
Ullah also. Saffron
grows very well on
mountains around
5000 ft (1524 metres)
high. It is being
cultivated on a
commercial scale
here. Tulip is an
indigenous flower of
Pakistan. The yellow
and red varieties of
tulip grow wild
around Quetta.
Getting There
Quetta is connected
to the rest of the
country by road,
rail and air. The
R.C.D. Highway
connects it to
Karachi and then on
(via Koh-e-Taftan)
to Tehran, Iran,
1435 kms away. The
road to Sibi
connects it with
Punjab and upper
Sindh. The road via
Loralai - Fort Munro
-D.G. Khan and
Multan is a short
route for Punjab.
The Chaman Road is a
link between the
county and the
Afghan border.
Quetta is linked by
PIA with Karachi,
Lahore and Islamabad
by daily flights. |
