Quetta
Discover Quetta
Quetta (Urdu: کوئٹہ, Balochi: کویته, Pashto: کوټه) is the capital of Balochistan province in Pakistan. If you are taking the overland route from Istanbul, Turkey to New Delhi, India without going through Afghanistan you will have to pass through Quetta. Quetta is an excellent base for exploration of Balochistan. Kan Mehtarzai, which at 2224 m above sea level was the highest railway station in Pakistan until the line closed in 1986, is a two-hour drive away. Loralai, the almond bowl of the country, is 265 km away. Besides, there are numerous other valleys that are fascinating places for explorers.
Taste of Quetta...
In the old bazaars are old tea-shops, which are the local social clubs. There are also many popular eating houses offering different types of delicacies. Among the popular delicacies is Sajji (leg of lamb), which is tender and is not very spicy. It is a whole leg of lamb marinated in local herbs and spices and barbecued beside an open fire. It is very popular among the locals and is offered with great insistence to the guests. The Pathan tribesmen of the valley also enjoy Landii (whole lamb) and Khandi Kebab. Landhi is a whole lamb which is dried in shade and kept for the winters. Kebab shops are very popular, the best being Lal Kebab and Cafe Baldia. They serve Pakistani and Continental food. The Chinese restaurant that is one of the oldest in town is Cafe China. Some of the finest mutton in the country is raised around Quetta. It has a delicious smell which can be sampled in the 'Pualao that most of the eating houses. There is famous Lehri Sajji house and Mir Afzal Karahi at Jinnah Road. The most famous is the Khadi kebab kebab which is just behind the street at Liaquat Bazaar The Pashtun people are also known for their refreshing green tea and Dood Pati shops Very few places can compete with Quetta valley in having wide range of tasteful fruits, exported to all parts of the country as well as abroad. There you can find plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, olives, different types of melon, water-melon, cherries, pistachios, almonds and other dry fruits.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Quetta.
There are religious and social festivals celebrated by the people of Quetta. Two major religious festivals are Eid-ul-Azha and Eid-ul-Fiter. On these festivals people adorn their houses, wear new dresses, cook special dishes and visit each other. Eid-Meladun-Nabi is another religious festival. It is a celebration of the birth day of the Muslim prophet, Muhammad. Numerous colourful social festivals are also source of jubilation. Sibi festival that traces its roots to Mehrgarh, an archeological site of ancient human civilization, attracts people from across the country. It is attended by common folk, ministers and other government officials. Folk music performances, cultural dances, handicrafts stalls, cattle shows and a number of other amusing activities. Buzkashi is a peculiar festival showing the valor of Pashtun people. It is celebrated on horseback by two teams that use their skills to snatch a goat from each other.
Climate
Quetta is 1,680 m (5,500 feet) above sea level and enjoys a healthy climate. The temperature drops a few degrees below the freezing point in winter following a typical autumn when the leaves turn golden and then a wild red. Quetta is known as the fruit basket of Pakistan. Plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, guavas (locally called zaitoon), some unique varieties of melon such as "Garma" and "Sarda" and cherries, pistachios and almonds are all grown in abundance. Some pistachios also grow in Qila Saif Ullah. Saffron grows very well and is being cultivated on a commercial scale. Tulips are an indigenous flower of Pakistan. The yellow and red varieties of tulip grow wild in the area. Quetta is the most diverse city of Balochistan. The largest ethnic groups here are Pashtuns and Balochs. There are also Hazaras, Brahui, Punjabis and Muhajir people. Languages spoken include Brahui, Balochi, Pashto, Hazarigi, Urdu and Punjabi. The national language Urdu serves as lingua franca.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAs of January 2024, you require permission from the police to travel to Quetta due to the poor security situation and high risk of kidnapping. Foreigners will also be given a police escort around the city to fulfil necessary paperwork requirements (NOC) to depart and will not be able to explore independently. If you are leaving by train, you will be escorted onto the train, if self-driving you will be escorted to the border of Balochistan (or the Iranian border). The terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is very active in the area. Pakistan Railways runs daily train connections with most major cities in Pakistan. The overnight sleeper Bolan Mail departs Karachi daily at 6PM, arriving afternoon the next day. Another sleeper train, Akbar Express starts in Lahore and runs via Faisalabad and several other cities in Punjab, travel time for the full journey is about 24 hours....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The city centre is small enough that a visitor can reach most places by foot. It is a place of ancient monuments, wide tree-lined boulevards and sterling British architecture. Even more compelling, Quetta has a dramatic setting, with a mountainous backdrop on all sides. Most sights can be easily seen in a day: the impressive Archaeological Museum of Baluchistan, the fort or the city’s many colourful bazaars which are great places to buy marble, onyx and some of the finest carpets in Pakistan. The main thoroughfare and the commercial centre of Quetta is Jinnah Road, where the Tourist Information Centre of Pakistan's Tourism Development Corporation is located as well as the banks, restaurants and handicraft shops. Shahrah-e-Zarghun, a tree-lined boulevard, runs parallel to Jinnah Road, here many important buildings like the Governor's House, Post and Telecommunication Offices are located. Foreigners are not permitted to explore on foot as of February 2025.
Where to Stay
Quetta is firmly planted on the overland to/from Iran route and sees its fair share of travelers, and most don't run into problems. As things stand in February 2025, foreigners will be given a heavily-armed police escort whenever leaving their accommodation, which should leave you feeling secure if a little less than free. Balochistan gained some media attention as a hideout and winter home for the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and some high-profile wanted men have been captured here. While this may invoke fear in some, you're unlikely to be bothered here, as they're more in hiding and trying to blend in than out starting trouble. In 2009, the general level of safety for foreigners deteriorated as the Head of the UNHCR office in Quetta was kidnapped and taken to Afghanistan. If you are on an official mission or high-profile business some caution should be exercised. All in all the people of Quetta are friendly but don't question their religion, culture and tradition.
Money & Budget
Local handicrafts, specially green marble products, mirror work and embroidered jackets, shirts, and hand bags, pillow covers, bed sheets, dry fruits, etc. The main bazaar is on Jinnah Road. Prominent bazaars of Quetta are located on Shahrah-e-Iqbal (Kandahari Bazaar) and Shahrah-e-Liaqat (Liaqat Bazaar and Suraj Gang Bazaar). Here you can find colourful handicrafts, particularly Balochi mirror work and Pashtun embroidery. The Pashtun workers are expert in making fine Afghani carpets, with their pleasing and intricate designs, fur coats, jackets, waist-coats, sandals and other creations of traditional Pashtun skills. Balochi carpets are made by the nomadic tribes of this area.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Quetta is firmly planted on the overland to/from Iran route and sees its fair share of travelers, and most don't run into problems. As things stand in February 2025, foreigners will be given a heavily-armed police escort whenever leaving their accommodation, which should leave you feeling secure if a little less than free. Balochistan gained some media attention as a hideout and winter home for the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and some high-profile wanted men have been captured here. While this may invoke fear in some, you're unlikely to be bothered here, as they're more in hiding and trying to blend in than out starting trouble. In 2009, the general level of safety for foreigners deteriorated as the Head of the UNHCR office in Quetta was kidnapped and taken to Afghanistan. If you are on an official mission or high-profile business some caution should be exercised. All in all the people of Quetta are friendly but don't question their religion, culture and tradition.