Written by: Areej Ahmed
Posted on: January 06, 2020 | 
| 中文
Ormara Beach (photo credits to the writer)
Pakistan is full of unmapped treasures, away from the hustle and bustle of city lives. These untouched places not only allow you to connect with yourself on a meditative level, but also gives you opportunities to discover the hidden majesty that Pakistan has to offer. Once these places are discovered by the world, neither you nor they will remain the same.
Recently, a few friends and I took a road trip from Karachi to Ormara. But the real beauty that we set out to explore, was the stunning Makran Coastal Highway of Balochistan, which eventually leads to Gwadar.
View from Jinnah Naval Base, Ormara (photo credits to the writer)
Our adventure started from Hub Chowki, a border town between Karachi and Balochistan, known for being a ‘hub’ for many factories that were established close to Karachi. A few miles ahead we crossed “Gadani”, which is famously known as the ‘Graveyard of Ships’. Gadani used to be one of the world's largest ship breaking yards, but output has massively declined after the 1980s, with many ships rusting away on the roadsides.
We continued straight for about 90 km, till we reached “Zero Point”, which marked the beginning of the Makran Coastal Highway. The landscape slowly began to change, becoming sandier on both sides. Further into the Makran Range, the terrain becomes muddier. To our left, were the famous Chandragup volcanoes, two active volcanos that spew mud and methane, the highest of which is at about 300 feet. This site is considered holy by the Hindu communities that live nearby. It is said that Hindu devotees must stop to worship at the volcano, before entering the Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple. However, recently the Chandragrup volcanos have also become popular as a new tourist destination for adventure enthusiasts.
Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple (photo credits to - topyaps)
The climb to the top is scary, steep but also breathtaking (quite literally). On the way up, it is not uncommon to see some volcanic residue, which appears wrinkly and snake-like. If you are afraid of snakes, you may be in for a fright, before realizing what these little shapes actually are.
The Top of the Chandragup Volcanoes (photo credits to the writer)
Recently, the volcano has been made accessible to tourists and worshippers by the construction of a stairway. However, the stairway was only half complete, and while it would have made our climb easier, our trek would have been less adventurous. The volcano becomes slippery at the top, and you see and hear the deep rumbling from the boiling mud. But the view from the top shows an indescribable magnificence of the area’s vastness. No photograph could truly capture the rugged beauty of the landscape.
We set off again on the highway to the fishing village of Kund Malir. Kund Malir boasts a gorgeous coastline drive, pristine land, and clear blue water, which is a rarity nowadays in Karachi. This beach is slowly becoming a new favorite weekend getaway place for Karachiites these days. Due to the lack of facilities and rest stops, people often come for a picnic, but the more adventurous stay for camping.
The road ahead from Kund Malir takes you away from the sea, and towards Hingol National Park. Established in 1988, the park is known for its unique desert landscapes and subtropical forests. It is especially surreal to drive through the mountains of Buzi pass, where sea and wind erosions have made interesting, castle-like formations out of the rocks. The drive never gets boring, and there is always something new to discover.
Rock Formations at Hingol National Park (photo credits to instagram)
Princess of Hope (photo credits to the writer)
The rock formations appeared before us as statues and silhouettes to our left and right, like figures of an ancient world long wiped out. We stopped to look at the famous “Princess of Hope”, which resembles a stoic princess looking beyond the horizons. The site was named as such by actress Angelina Jolie during her visit in 2002.
Our final destination of Ormara was drawing closer, and lying almost in the middle of Karachi and Gwadar. This town is known for its fishing, as well as the beautiful beaches which surround it. It was very undeveloped, until the recent completion of the Makran Coastal Highway, and the establishment of the Jinnah Naval Base. But it still has a long way to go, in terms of infrastructure and security. Although the beaches are gorgeous, it is not very suitable for one to stay there for more than one or two days. And one upsetting detail I have noticed since my first trip to Ormara in 2008, is the shocking increase of environmental degradation and littering.
Ormara Beach (photo credits to the writer)
Many places of this country are left unexplored, and while we have made strides, developments in tourism have a long way to go. Two things which are of the utmost importance are the creation of accessible rest stops or bathrooms, and garbage control. This was perhaps one of the biggest disappointments in this otherwise amazing road trip. There should be mechanisms in place which raise environmental awareness and prevent people from throwing their garbage on the beaches or the sea.
The Coastline of Pakistan is truly one of this country’s hidden gems. Pakistanis must see these places to recognize the beauty of the country, but also the diversity and harmony with which nature and humans can operate together. However, if steps towards tourism are not taken with the locals and the environment in mind, we will be at the risk of losing these precious locations, before fully exploring all the wonders they behold.
You may also like:
Centers of No Attention: Comparing Pakistan's City Centers with European Squares
(November 22, 2024)
