Ziarat – A hidden treasure in Balochistan

Pakistan has a number of beautiful valleys, enchanting their spectators with enthralling beauty but Ziarat’s treasure of Junipers forests sets it apart. Situated about 122 km to the north of the metropolis city of Quetta in Baluchistan, this popular picnic resort is at the elevation of 8,200 feet from sea level. The summers in the valley are always pleasant, attracting a number of tourists, and the winters are extremely harsh. Junipers forests, which are one of the world’s oldest, are the main source of lush green vista of the Ziarat valley. Some of the trees were sowed as long as 5000 years ago, which adds to the uniqueness of the place.

The word Ziarat means a ‘shrine’ (grave of a holy man). According to local folklore, a saint called Kharwari Baba is believed to have stayed in the valley and blessed it. He was a member of the Sarangzai tribe and his original name was Mulla Tahir. Later, he became a disciple of Nana Sahib. A number of miracles are attributed to Khurwari Baba. The shrine of Khurwari Baba, after which Ziarat was named, is located 8 km away from the city of Ziarat and is visited by a large number of people who come to pay tribute to the divine soul. Ziarat is also popular because of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. He spent the last days of his life in a government residency there. This monumental residency was built in 1882 by the British government and till independence it was in the use of the agents of the British governor general for India as their summer headquarters. The residency is embellished with beautiful lawns, covered with grassy carpets with roses dancing at the rhythmic tunes of the wind all around the garden. From there one can witness striking views of the picturesque valley.

The valley of Ziarat is full of fruits in the summers, especially the orchards of cherry and apple. Additionally, the honey of Ziarat is also considered to be a delicacy. The western side of Ziarat, which leads to the Afghan border is rocky and barren. The border village of Chaman is also a major trading hub of the region.