Sights of Balochistan

[Metropole]

Originally Posted by James-Bond

I don't know what is sexier. The warm climate, or the blue waters.

It's not warm, it's hot like hell. Not exactly sexy.

Alexander the Great conquered the world but his army was destroyed by the heat of the Baluchistan desert. It used to be called Gedrosia by the Greeks.

Gedrosia

Gedrosia ( /dʒɨˈdroʊʒə/; Greek: Γεδρωσία) is the hellenized name of an area that corresponds to today's Balochistan. Eastern Balochistan is southwestern province of Pakistan and parts of southwestern and south-central Afghanistan and western Balochistan is divided between Iranian provinces of Hormozgan and Sistan va Baluchestan. The area which is named Gedrosia, in books about Alexander the Great and his successors, runs from the Indus River to the southern edge of the Strait of Hormuz. It is directly to the south of the Iranian countries of Bactria, Arachosia and Drangiana, to the east of the Iranian countries of Persia and Carmania and due west of the Indus River which formed a natural boundary between it and Western India.

Following his army's refusal to continue marching east at the Hyphasis River in 325 BC, Alexander the Great crossed the area after sailing south to the coast of the Indian Ocean on his way back to Babylon. Upon reaching the Ocean, Alexander the Great divided his forces in half, sending half back by sea to Susa under the command of Nearchus. The other half of his army was to accompany him on a march through the Gedrosian desert, inland from the ocean. Throughout the 60 day march through the desert, Alexander lost at least 12,000 soldiers, in addition to countless livestock, camp followers, and most of his baggage train. Some historians say he lost three-quarters of his army to the harsh desert conditions along the way. However, this figure was likely based on exaggerated numbers in his forces prior to the march, which were likely in the range of no less than 30,000 soldiers.

There are two competing theories for the purpose of Alexander the Great's decision to march through the desert rather than along the more hospitable coast. The first argues that this was an attempt to punish his men for their refusal to continue eastward at the Hyphasis River. The other argues that Alexander was attempting to imitate and succeed in the actions of Cyrus the Great, who had failed to cross the desert. The decision to cross the Gedrosian Desert, whatever his intentions, is regarded as the largest blunder in Alexander the Great's Asiatic campaign.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gedrosia

So Gedrosia included all the part of Sindh west of the Indus including Karachi which is where Alexander sailed from.

[Pakia]

Little shaky in the beginning. MUST watch for Karachites IMO

Amazing to see clean running stream, not too far from Karachi

Video by Baloch student/NGO worker- Qaisar Roonjha of Lasbela

[Pakia]

Anda Rock, 2 km south of mail Astola Island


An apparent cave in Astola Island


A small mausoleum to a dervaish who died on Astola Island

[Pakia]

Okar, near Jiwani

[James-Bond]

Originally Posted by Pakia

Okar, near Jiwani

I wanna roll in that sand.

[Pakia]

[hero g]

Gwadar

[Pakia]

[Pakia]

Kund Malir, Balochistan


Hingol

[smfarazm..]

Amazing Rock Formation in Pishkun near Gwadar. While moving towards Ganz Beach from Gwadar and Pishkun.

Pic by S.M.Rafiq




More ganz Beach Rock Formations.

[RFSK]

Now that is just out of this world! Mashallah!

[smfarazm..]

Originally Posted by James-Bond

Whats that island in the background. Astola?

Charna Island.

[OmI92]

Churna Island

[smfarazm..]

Gwadar City!




Quetta to ziarat road





Gwdar after heavy rains.






Gwadar bay.





Kund Malir beach.

[Pakia]

Dinosaur skeleton at World Wildlife Foundation, Jiwani Museum

[Pakia]

ancient Tombs, Hanidan

[siamu maharaj]

Isn't that a whale's skeleton?

[Pakia]

Originally Posted by siamu maharaj

Isn't that a whale's skeleton?

Maybe so

[mehdi_cs]

Originally Posted by siamu maharaj

Isn't that a whale's skeleton?

Yes, it is a whale's skeleton.

[Pakia]

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

Gwadar