A visit to Quetta is incomplete without a trip to Ziarat. At 2,449 meters, 133 km (three hours by car) from Quetta, it is a holiday resort amidst one of the largest and oldest juniper forests in the world — some trees are said to be 5,000 years old.
Ziarat means “shrine”: a local saint, Kharwari Baba, is believed to have rested in the valley and blessed it, and was buried here after his death.
The juniper forest is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In summer the cool air draws visitors from the hot plains; in winter the valley is often under snow.
Is Ziarat right for you?
- Suggested time
- 1 – 2 days
- Activity level
- Easy — walks in the juniper forest
- Best for
- A cool summer retreat, and the Quaid-e-Azam Residency
- When to go
- May to September, when Ziarat is cool while the plains swelter. Cherries ripen in the first half of June and apples later in the summer.
Combines well withQuetta
Compare Ziarat with another destination →Places to see
Forests & orchards
Honey, outsized flowers, lush grass and cool weather even at the height of summer; nearly 4,416 acres of apple orchards surround the town.
Quaid-e-Azam Residency
Where Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, stayed during his last illness — with lawns, chinar trees and a striking view of the valley.
Prospect Point
6 km from Ziarat at 2,713 meters, with a view of Khalifat, the highest peak in these hills (3,487 m).
Chashma Walk
A mile-long flat path between the hills and a deep ravine, leading to the springs that supply the town.
Shrine of Kharwari Baba
8 km from town. At Eid, tribesmen gather here for wrestling and marksmanship competitions.
Fern Tangi & Sandeman Tangi
Two waterfall gorges 10 km and 4 km from Ziarat — ideal for picnics.
Chutair Valley
13 km towards Loralai, a beautiful valley with green picnic spots.
Zindra
A picturesque spot 14 km away; Zizree (16 km) and Nauna Dam (20 km) also make good outings.
Good to know
- Getting there
- By road from Quetta, about three hours’ drive.
- When to go
- May to September, when Ziarat is cool while the plains swelter. Cherries ripen in the first half of June and apples later in the summer.
- Winter
- Snow often closes in from December, and much of the population moves down to the warmer Harnai valley.
- The juniper forest
- Please keep to paths and never light fires among the junipers — they grow extremely slowly and the forest is protected.
Header photo: The Ziarat valley — Faiqah Abdul Jabbar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons