LOCATION & CONTACT

Located in a safe, secure setting on Shahrah-e-Zarghoon in the Cantonment area, Quetta Serena Hotel is walking distance from downtown shops, attractions, businesses and restaurants and only a 20-25 minutes drive from Quetta International Airport.

Quetta is the capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province and makes an excellent base for exploration of Balochistan. The name Quetta is derived from the Pashto (the language of Afghanistan) word "Kwatta" which means a fort and relates to the fact that the city is a natural fort, being ringed by hills, dominated by three mountains: Chiltan, Zarghun and Koh-e-Murdar, all of which are capped with snow in the winter. Strategically, Quetta is an important city due to its proximity to borders with Iran and Afghanistan. Historically, however, Quetta owes much of its importance to the Bolan Pass which links it to Kandahar, Afghanistan. An ancient city, Quetta has been a place of human habitation since pre-historic times.

Known as the fruit basket of Pakistan, Quetta if famous for its wild tulips, saffron fields and its glorious selection of fruits and nuts, which include; plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, guavas (locally called zaitoon), melons, cherries, pistachios and almonds. Quetta is 1,680 meters (5,500 feet) above sea level and enjoys a healthy climate. The temperature drops a few degrees below the freezing point in winter.

It is not known when Quetta was first inhabited, but most likely it was settled during the 6th century. The region remained part of the Sassanid Persian Empire and was later annexed by the Rashidun Caliphate during the 7th century Islamic conquest. The first detailed account of Quetta relates to its capture, in the 11th century by Mahmud of Ghazni. The Mughals ruled Quetta until 1556, when the Persians conquered the city, only to have it retaken by the Mughals in 1595. The powerful Khans of Kalat held the fort from 1730. Although occupied briefly by the British during the First Afghan War in 1839, it was not until 1876 that Quetta came under the control of the British Empire. Since Partition, the population of Quetta has increased dramatically; it has also become a popular Pakistani tourism destination.

As a tourist destination, Pakistan is probably one of the world's best kept secrets. Not only does it offer some of the highest and most spectacular mountain ranges in the world, but also it boasts the architectural glories of the Mughal empire, the drama and adventure of the Khyber Pass; and the glories of the Karakoram Highway, which travels 1300km through stunning scenery beside the Indus and Hunza rivers, and over high mountain passes into central Asia. Although subject to undeniable security problems, Pakistan offers a number of advantages: tourism is minimal and much of the country remains undiscovered by international travellers; Pakistanis are by nature a welcoming people and meet travellers with genuine interest and enthusiasm; the ancient bazaars offer unrivalled shopping; the cuisine is one of the most multi-facetted in the world and the culture and music one of the most colourful.

Urdu is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are also several regional languages and local dialects. Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%.

Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include adventure tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism as found in Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harrappa, and early Muslim and Mughal heritage of Multan, Lahore. For centuries, the ancient Silk Road remained the main trading route between the South and the Central Asia. After the construction of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which joins Pakistan with the Chinese Muslim autonomous region of Xinjang, tourism on the ancient trade link has been revived. The KKH has provided a great opportunity for international travelers to explore the unspoiled natural beauty, unique culture and traditions of Northern Pakistan together with other Silk Route destinations, such as China, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

From the mighty stretches of the Karakoram's in the north to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the south, Pakistan is a land of high adventure. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching are all popular activities. The whole of Pakistan is dotted with magnificent shrines and mosques, some of the finest of which are in Lahore and souttern Punjab. Pakistan is in the northwest part of South Asia. The eastern and southern parts of the country are dominated by the Indus River and its tributaries. Most of Pakistan's population lives along the Indus. West of the Indus the land becomes increasingly arid and mountainous. To the north the land rises to the great mountains of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram and include K2, the world's second highest mountain after Everest, at 8,611 meters (28,250 feet). The High Himalayas, Karakoram and the Hindukush ranges feature alpine meadows up to the permanent snow line. Coniferous forests and sub-mountain scrub cloak the foot hills. The vast plains of the Indus merge into the great desert, coast line and wetlands.

Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora and fauna, both endemic and migratory. Pakistan's ocean-to-alpine geography supports an amazing variety of animals and plants: 188 species of mammals, 666 species of migratory and resident birds, 174 species of retiles, 16 species of amphibians and 525 species of fish. Of the approximately 5,000 wild plants, 372 are endemic. Pakistan has 255 protected areas including 14 national parks, 99 wildlife sanctuaries and 96 game reserved equating approximately to 91,700 sq km or 10.5% of the country. The main parks are : Central Karakoram National Park, Chitral Gol National Park, Deosai Plains National Park, Khunjerab National Park and Lal Suhanra National Park.