Turbat
| Turbat تربت | |
|---|---|
| District Headquarter | |
  Turbat  Turbat | |
| Coordinates: 26°0′15″N 63°3′38″E / 26.00417°N 63.06056°ECoordinates: 26°0′15″N 63°3′38″E / 26.00417°N 63.06056°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Balochistan |
| District | Kech District |
| Tehsil | Turbat Tehsil |
| Elevation | 129 m (423 ft) |
| Population (2017)[1] | |
| • Total | 213,557 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Number of Union councils | 1 |
Turbat (Urdu and Balochi: تربت) is a city in southern Balochistan, Pakistan, and the administrative centre of Kech District. Situated on the Kech River, Turbat was the historical capital of the State of Makran. Turbat is the second-largest city in Balochistan Province after Quetta, and is the largest city in the southern part of the province. The Gwadar Port is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) to the southwest of Turbat.
Climate
Turbat is one of the hottest cities of South Asia with 53.5 degrees temperature.[2]
Overview
The town is located in southern Balochistan province in Pakistan. It is situated on the left bank of the Kech River, which is a tributary to the Dasht River. The Makran Range to the north and east descends to the coastal plains in the south. The town is a marketplace for dates grown in the surrounding region and has a date-processing factory. Jowar (sorghum), barley, wheat, and rice are also grown, and livestock are raised.
Koh-e-Murad (Persian: كوه مراد) is a shrine located in Turbat. This is a sacred place for Zikris where they believe that Muhammad Jaunpuri, whom they view as the Mahdi, meditated and offered prayers for a long time. The followers of Zikri sect gather here annually on the night of 27th Ramadan for a ritual visit (Arabic: زيارة, Urdu/Persian Persian: زيارت) to this shrine. And also Turbat have multilingual singers.
The town has a special place in Baloch folklore and literatures as it is the home of Punnu, hero of the romance of Sassi Punnun. The remains of Punnu's fort can still be seen at Turbat.[3]
Atta Shad who is considered as one of the greatest poets of Balochi literature was also born in Singanisar, a town in Turbat city. He not only versatile in Balochi poetry, but he was also greatly appreciated for his contribution in Urdu poetry. He was unique in his diction and style. He is credited to have written four books that include two Balochi books, Rochgir and Shap sahar indem, and two Urdu books, Singaab and Barfag. He died on 13 February 1998 in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.[4]
Turbat is the birthplace of Qadir Bukhsh Rind Baloch alias Kadu Makrani was a 19th-century archetypal figure who was born and brought up in Makran, Balochistan. He rose as an insurgent in Kathiawar, Gujarat, martyred and buried in Karachi, Sindh in 1887. His final resting place in Mewah Shah Graveyard (Lyari) which has become the center of inspiration today. He is also remembered as the eastern Robin Hood.
Koh-e-Imam lake is a Holy Place, its mountainous range stretches more than 15–25 km from main Kech (Turbat) City. Where you find many picnic points as there are many natural water reservoirs, during rainy seasons. In koh-e-imam there are also centuries old tombs we call them DAMD in Balochi Language. They are mysterious in a sense that people still don't find facts about the tombs aside of the river which is almost more than 100 km.
History
Turbat was ruled since ancient times by the Gichki Tribes of Makran and as well ruled by Buledi Tribe about 400 years. It was then the headquarters of the Makran State and the Nawab of Makran resided in Shahi Tump near Turbat. When Makran State was dissolved, Turbat city remained the Division Headquarters. Turbat means place of Graveyard. It has different historical places and associated stories.
Places of interest
- Koh-e-Murad
- Former palace of the Nawab of Makran
- The Nazim's Mosque
- The Government's Farm
- Fort of Punno, commonly known as meri-e-kalat.
- Absor, a very important union council turbat town of the District Kech, Koh-e-Murad and Date Research Farm, Agriculture Research Farm, Peegambar e aap, Maasit e Kunch, Dukurm Delay Action Dam are important places in Absor.
- Hapdrok river (Balochi: Hapdrok) is a river that is joined on the south side by mountain waters and on the other side by the Kor river.
- Mirani Dam
- Dasht Sangai
- Absor (Askani Bazar)
- Kech Kaur (river)
- Koh-e-Imam Gwarm (lake)
- Pakistan and Iran Border
Since 2016 there is a VLF transmission facility of the Pakistani Navy near Turbat for sending messages to submerged submarines.[5]
Transport
Turbat has an international airport which offers direct flights to Gwadar, Karachi, and Sharjah, (U.A.E). The road network links Turbat with Kalat and Quetta to the northeast, Gwadar and Pasni to the south, Chabahar and Iranshahr to the west, and Karachi to the east.