Boosting Balochistan
(A three-day road trip to Gwadar city from Karachi)
by
Rana Rais Khan – Editor-in-Chief Hiba magazine
“Have We not made the earth as a resting place? And the mountains as stakes?” (An-Naba 78:6-7)
If you love mountains, this is the journey you must undertake. The road from Karachi to Gwadar is a splendour for the soul and a spectacle for the eyes.
Ash white, gray, brown, beige, black, a palette of colours strewn across. Jagged, sliced, caved, holed, pointy, plain, rocky, dusty, unimaginable textures, shapes and sizes residing along the bendy and swerving road. The ride was no different from the one in a roller coaster as we dipped and soared in our van, in the lap of these rooted giants.
The enormity of giant mounts poised all around, by the Divine Creator Allah (swt) can’t help but make one feel so little. If Allah’s (swt) creation seems so over whelming one can only imagine the Might and Power of Allah (swt) Al-Aziz. And even more wondrous is to contemplate how these humongous creations will be leveled to the ground or blown away like carded wool on the Day of Resurrection.
For those who wish to venture, here is what we did:
Day 1
5:30 am Departed from Karachi in a van.
6:15 am Stopped for 20 minutes at Al Makkah Fahad restaurant for Fajr prayer.
9:00 am Stopped at Kund Malir for 20 minutes for home made breakfast.
9:50 am Crossed the statue of ‘Princess of Hope’. Spot for photography.
1:00 pm Stopped for 20 minutes for home cooked lunch
3:00 pm Arrived at Gwadar Cricket stadium
3:40 pm Checked into Zevar PC hotel, Gwadar
4:15 pm Offered Zuhr and Asr (Qasr prayer)
5:00 pm Set out to dip toes and view sunset at the Sunset park
6:30 pm Offered Maghrib and Isha (Qasr prayer)
7:30 pm Dinner at Sadaf Hotel (Economical accommodation also available)
Caution: Meals are freshly cooked, waiting time for every order is 1 hour
Menu: Mexican fish, chicken karahi and vegetable rice
9:30 pm Drove down Gwadar’s Boat Basin road along the bay with palm trees planted, a rare sight of a modern city feel amid the austere city otherwise.
Day 2
6:00 am Offered Fajr prayer at PC hotel
6:30 am Went for a pleasant morning walk in the crisp morning breeze
7:30 am Breakfast at PC hotel
9:30 am Set out for Gwadar jetty to view boat making by fishermen; marvel at their catch of the day as the fishermen sort the fish, tossing them off their wide spread out nets and witness the fish auction halls bustling with action
Caution: Pungent smell of fishery in the air
11: 30 am Took an hour boat ride in the February gale, on the cool, clear blue water of Gwadar Bay with a magnificent back drop of huge beige coloured mountains towering around. Also spotted the world famous ‘Gwadar port’ and it’s huge promising cranes making business news.
1:00 pm Visited Shahi (royal) Bazaar which was quite Awaami (local) actually. Bought the soft 3 layers sponge cake ‘Lalaei’ and refreshing mint lassi ‘Alis’ Also spotted shop signs in Chinese language. Hmmm…
2:00 pm Lunch at Hotel Marjan offering a beautiful panoramic view of Gwadar city (Economical accommodation also available). The new look of structures built is very Middle Eastern, reminding of Dubai and Muscat ports.
Caution: Meals are freshly cooked, waiting time for every order is 1 hour
Menu speciality: Biryani, chicken karahi, daal, chawal and sabzi
3:30 pm Offered Zuhr and Asr (Qasr prayer) at PC hotel
5:00 pm Swimming at PC hotel
7:00 pm Dinner at PC hotel
9:00 pm Viewed the starlit sky above and dotted lights of Gwadar city and bay sprawled ahead from the top of PC hotel’s prime location on Koh-e-Bateel. The newly constructed buildings and areas have restricted access for civilians, hence this is the spot that gives you a peek into these areas from the top of the city.
Day 3
6:00 am Offered Fajr prayer at PC hotel
7:00 am Went for a pleasant morning walk in the crisp morning breeze
8:00 am Breakfast at PC hotel
9:00 am Packed luggage for our return journey
10:15 am Set out for Karachi
12:30 pm Stopped at Baddock check point to stretch and buy snacks
Offered Zuhr and Asr (Qasr prayer) at Ormara resort and cooled off at the white sandy shore with crystal clear blue water
Stopped at Kund Malir to stretch and have tea. Met a very friendly black nanny goat who loved our sandwiches and wanted a ride with us
8:30 pm Arrived at home, Alhumdulillah
Recommended supplies to carry:
- Mat (Chatai) for prayer
- Tap water in 2 bottles for ablution (Wudu)
- Liquid hand soap
- Toilet paper roll
- Garbage bags
- Paper plates and glasses
- 4 drinking water bottles
- Home made tea in a thermos
- Juice boxes
- Home made breakfast rolls and sandwiches
- Home made lunch of Biryani
- Crisps, biscuits, nuts to munch on
- Note pad and pen to jot down
- Cushions to recline or rest
- Camera to capture the scenic beauty
- First aid box with basic medicine
- Face masks (Not required to wear in Gwadar, though)
- Hand sanitizers
CAUTION: Best to drink less liquids as clean bathrooms are not available in general for a good 5 hours during the journey. The route around Ormara has steep heights and curvy bends, for individuals suffering from motion sickness, it is recommended to take some medicine as a precaution. Carry your National id card as there are multiple security check points in and out of Gwader city
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