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History
The history of Ziarat during the British colonial administration is the
same as that of the Sibi district of which it was a part until 1986. The
area came under British colonial influence by the middle of the last
century, and was made a part of British India in 1887 like the rest of
the old Sibi district. Two years earlier, in 1885, the British
Government had acquired land for construction of a civil station (at the
present Ziarat town), on payment of Rs.1,400,000 to the Saidzai sub
section of the Sarangzai tribe. Before the creation of Sibi district (in
1903), Ziarat used to be the summer headquarters of Thal and Chutiali
District (Duki Sajavi Sub Division). Later when the Sibi District was
created in 1903, it became Sibi District’s summer headquarters. It
formed a part of Shahrigh Tehsil of Sibi District till 1974 when it was
given the status of a sub-Tehsil.
Before Independence, the camp offices of the Agent to the Governor
General in Baluchistan; the Revenue Commissioner, Baluchistan; the Civil
Surgeon, Baluchistan; the Political Agent and the Colonisation officer,
Nasirabad, used to shift to Ziarat during the summer. Following the
creation of Sibi Division in 1974, the divisional offices shifted to
Ziarat during the summer.
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The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spent his
last days at Ziarat Residency which is now a National Monument. The
local people believe that the Quaid-e-Azam had in fact breathed his last
here in Ziarat, contrary to the official reports that he expired in
Karachi on 11 September, 1948, the day he was shifted there from Ziarat.
The residency building is a majestic piece of architecture, but people
visit it primarily for its association with the Quaid-e-Azam.
Ziarat Valley:
A visit to Quetta is incomplete without a trip to Ziarat. Situated 76
miles (3 hours by car) from Quetta, at an altitude of 8400 feet above
sea level, Ziarat is a holiday resort amidst one of the largest and
oldest Juniper forests in the world. It is said that some of the Juniper
trees are as old as 5000 years. The name Ziarat means 'Shrine' a local
saint, Kharwari Baba, is belived to have rested in the valley and
blessed it. After his death he was buried here. People frequently visit
the saint's shrine, which is 10 km by jeep from Ziarat.
Extensive research is being done in the forest nurseries to replace the
juniper forest with fast growing trees as the regeneration of the
juniper is very slow.
The magic of Ziarat lies in its honey-flowers which attain a large size
here, its lush green grass and cool weather even in the hottest months
of summer. 'Shinshoab' a lavendar-like wild bush, looks lovely in
twilights. There are many interesting spots to visit around Ziarat. At
first, the Quaid-e-Azam residency which was built in 1882, is a terrific
place to visit which still reminds one of the times when the founder of
Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah spent the last days of his
life. A walk to Chashma is favourite amongst joggers and those who wish
to have a pleasant walk. Situated 6 km from Ziarat the 'Prospect Point'
offers breathtaking view of the valley. |
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Hundreds of hectares in and around Ziarat are utilized for apple
orchards. Apple grown in the orchards, particularly the black and red
kulu variety, are simply delicious. A fair amount of black cherry is
also grown in Ziarat. The cherry season lasts from the 1st to 15th of
June. Tourist season is all year round, particularly form May to
October. Ziarat remains quite cool during hot summer and receives enough
snowfall during winters. Light woolen clothing for summer and heavy for
winters, are recommended. All in all Ziarat offers a nice cool vacation
spot for travelers of all ages.
Topography Ziarat:
The district is mostly mountainous area. It is roughly a rectangular
piece of country comprising several valleys. The principal valleys are:
Kach, Kawas, Ziarat, Zandra, Mangi, Mana, & Gogi Ahmadoon. The altitude
ranges from 1800 - 3,488 meters.
The soil is loamy on both sides of the streams, and loamy stony in other
places, varying in hardness according to proportion of clay and shingle.
In most parts of the valleys, the fields are in terraces, the faces of
which are carefully riveted with stones. The hill torrents are kept
within bounds by well-constructed spurs of timber and rush wood. In
rainy seasons the floodwater brought by hill torrents is diverted on to
the fields. The fertile mud is beneficial for the cultivation of
valuable crops.
In the dead of winter the temperature often falls well below zero
Celsius. The temperature ranges from (-) 160 to 200 C.
Climate Ziarat:
The area is refreshingly cool in summer, from May to August. It starts
getting cold in September and is extremely cold during November - March.
In winter, it gets a good amount of snowfall.
Average rainfall is 20.60 mm. The range is 53.8 mm -1.3 mm. The months
of January - March in winter and July – August in summer receive most of
the rainfall.
Important places/Buildings: |
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The entire area in the upper parts of Ziarat district is worth visiting
for its natural beauty, its enchanting juniper forests, mountain peaks,
the lush green valleys, springs and streams. The popular sights are
Ziarat town and surroundings the Qaid’s Residency, the shrine of Baba
Kharwari, Zizri valley, Prospect point, Mana valley, Sandeman Tangi,
Karvi Kach and Khilafat peak. These are briefly described below.
Ziarat:
Ziarat is the holiday resort of the province and no visit to Quetta is
complete without a trip to Ziarat. The district is famous for its
ancient and magnificent juniper forest which spreads over 126,000 acres,
and is the second largest in the world. Some of the trees are almost
4,000 years old.
Residency:
The most famous landmark is, of course, the Residency. It was here that
the Father of the nation spent his last days. The building, constructed
in 1892, was originally meant to serve as a sanatorium but was later
converted into the summer residence of the Agent to the Governor General
(AGG). It has now been declared a national monument.
Shrine of Baba Kharwari:
The shrine (Ziarat) of Baba Kharwari (whose real name was Mula Tahir) is
one of the most well known places in the district. Baba Kharwari
rendered great services to the cause of Islam in the early 18th century.
His shrine is situated about 9 km from the town and a large number of
people who visit Ziarat go to the Mazar to offer Fateha.
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Zizri Valley:
Zizri valley, situated on the southern edge of the district, possesses a
breathtaking beauty. The road leading to the valley is kacha, rough, and
tractable mainly by four wheel drive vehicles.
Prospect Point:
Six km from the town, this place offers a spectacular view of the Koshki
valley. There is a local government resthouse on this spot and a wide
open space for picnic/camping.
Mana Valley:
This lush green valley with its apple orchards and scintillating blue
lake is a popular tourist site.
Sandeman Tangi:
Within easy reach of the town, this narrow gorge between lofty mountains
culminates in a perennial spring. This is another major tourist
attraction.
Khalifat Peak:
This is the second highest peak in the province – 3,488 m high. For
climbers it presents a real challenge. The district is blessed with an
overall natural beauty. There are many more places of interest than
those mentioned above. In the summer season, thousands of tourists visit
the area.
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