Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province in Pakistan. If you want to see an Afghan city without actually having to go to Afghanistan, Quetta might be what you are looking for. If you are doing the overland route from Istanbul to New Dehli without going through Afghanistan you will have to pass through Quetta.

Understand

Quetta sits at 1,680 metres (5,500 feet) above sea level. The population is approximately 670.000, and it has an area of 2653 sq. km.

Quetta has a huge military base just outside the city. Strategically Quetta is an important city due to the its proximity to borders with Iran and Afghanistan.

Historically Quetta owes much of its importance to the Bolan Pass which links it to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Get in

There is an international airport about 15 minutes by taxi from the city center. Flights with PIA will take you to most major cities in Pakistan, such as, Karachi , Lahore , Islamabad , Peshawar and Zhob. The international destinations of Pakistan International Airlines to and from Quetta are Dubai and Mashhad.There are also trains to Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore and Zahedan in Iran (suspended for the time being). Buses ply the same routes.

Get around

The city center is small enough to reach most places by foot.

See

Do

Buy

The main bazaar is on Jinnah Road. Some other bazaars are on Shahrah-e-Iqbal (Kandahari Bazaar) and Shahrah-e-Liaquat (Liaquat Bazaar and Suraj Gang Bazaar).

Baluchi carpets are made by the nomadic tribes of this area. They are generally not nearly as fine or expensive as the Persian city products, or even the Turkoman tribal rugs from further North, but they are generally better than Afghan carpets and more authentic than the bad copies of Turkoman and Persian designs that the cites of Pakistan produce. They definitely have a charm of their own. They range from relatively crude rugs that can, with some bargaining, be had at very reasonable prices to quite fine and valuable pieces. Many are small enough to be fairly portable.

Eat

In the old bazaars one comes across quaint old tea-shops. These are the local "clubs". There are also many popular eating houses offering different types of delicacies. Among the delicacies you must try is "Sajji" (leg of lamb), which is roasted to a delightful degree of tenderness and is not very spicy. The Pathan tribesmen of the valley also enjoy "Landhi" (whole lamb), which is dried in shade and kept for the winters. "Kebab" shops are very popular, the best being Lal Kabab, Tabaq, Cafe Farah and Cafe Baldia. They serve Pakistani and Continental food, while Cafe China specializes in Chinese cuisine. Some of the finest mutton in the country is raised around Quetta. It has a delicious smell which can be sampled in the "Pulao" that most of the eating houses offer.

Drink

Sleep

• Shees Hotel M.A. Jinnah Road. Tel. 823141, 823015. Centrally located. The rooms are a good value, and the manager will help you with everything and anything.

Get out

Hanna Lake

• Hanna Lake is in the hills overlooking Quetta, 10 kms. outside the city. It's a lake in the desert. Due to water shortages it is slowly being drained.
• Buses will take you to Taftan on the Iranian border 15 hours away.

Stay safe