The Quetta city is surrounded by four giant mountains and Mariabad is one of them. The Mariabad is a settlement based on an elevated mountain that is predominantly occupied by the Hazara community. It is very important to note that it is the birthplace of many notable members of the community. Mariabad has a distinct identity because of its inhabitants and their diverse cultural practices. The people are also highly welcoming to the outsiders and treat them with the best of their hospitality. A visitor not only enjoys the scenic beauty of the area but also gets familiarized with the history and culture of the inhabitants.
Mariabad
Mariabad is the eastern suburb of Quetta city with a population of five hundred thousand, making it one of the highest populated areas of Quetta. The mountain is fully occupied, footsteps to their peak. The houses are small. And roads are narrow more like staircases and it takes great physical strength to reach the peak. However, the kind locals are always happy to assist. Also, if one likes to take a personal concierge facility, young people are up to offer their services for a minimum amount. The ideal time to explore the area is early morning, right after the sunrise. It is no doubt a little challenging to get to the peak of the mountain, but when one does, the peak offers a scenic view of Quetta city, making one forget all the hiccups of the trek.
The housing architecture of the Mariabad area is also quite attractive and highly practical. The houses are mainly made up of stones, while the recent ones have concrete structures. The classical stone houses are rock-solid, and it amazes one to estimate the hardship one would have endured to build structures on such elevations. The town management of Mariabad is also very elegant. The corridors are narrow but are present everywhere and despite harsh weather conditions and a huge population, the corridors and streets are never closed. Prominent spots inside Mariabad.
Ziarat
It is worth mentioning here that there is a sacred place located in Mariabad known as Ziarat. The locals narrate that it is the place that was once visited by Hazrat Ali and the imprints of his hand are still there. Many people visit the place every day to pay their respects. The site has a facility where people can offer their prayers, sit and have tea and a special place where the locals light lamps. The site also attracts people from across the country.
Bahisht-e-Zainab
Another interesting aspect of this area is the Bahisht-e-Zainab, which is an almost a century-old graveyard. This is a very unusual graveyard. On the contrary to what graveyards are supposed to be like, this one acts more like a park. Children can be seen playing around the graves, people taking a walk, some readers enjoying their books, and old men sitting beneath a tree discussing their stories. It might very well be the world’s liveliest graveyard.
The Mariabad is an area, which is very loyal to its residents. In this area, it is very frequent to find places dedicated to the martyrs of terrorist attacks and pictures displayed on main roads. The martyrs are never forgotten by their fellows and they continue to occupy a permanent place in the neighborhood.
Known For
The area is also known for its festivities during Eid, Shab-e-Barat, and other such occasions. Since the neighborhood is relatively limited and the residents know each other, the celebration is worth a watch. The entire neighborhood is decorated with lights and the markets are filled with people shopping for the events. During such events, all one sees is the show of bright colors with equally bright smiles on the face of the residents. Weddings of Mariabad are worth experiencing too. They are full of beautiful cultural displays and rituals. The food served on these occasions is also savory. Traditional delicacies have been inherited and duly preserved.
Quetta has a lot of tourist attractions and much has been featured earlier as well. However, it is certainly believed that a visit to Mariabad is the richest experience one could ever have in Quetta. It is beyond the scenic views that people expect. It is about culture, the hospitality of the locals, history and amazing architecture.
Thank you Abdul Haadi for introducing this beautiful land to us. And the government needs to support such researchers to identify more and more spots.
