Mountains, desert and coast
Balochistanبلوچستان
Pakistan’s largest province by area runs from the Arabian Sea coast at Gwadar to dry mountain ranges around Quetta. Baloch women are known for some of the densest hand embroidery in the world, and the hills are quarried for banded onyx.
Quettaکوئٹہ
A detour west, to the mountain capital of needlework and stone.
Real photo comingA pile of roasted chilgozaThe real thing
Chilgoza pine nutsچلغوزہ
Long pine nuts, roasted in the shell
Winter’s most prized snack, from the pine forests of the Suleiman mountains.
$20–60Commission link
Real photo comingA full dress laid flatThe real thing
Balochi embroideryبلوچی کڑھائی
Hand-embroidered dress and panels
Needlework so dense the cloth underneath almost disappears.
$60–300Direct from maker
Real photo comingThe bowl held up to lightThe real thing
Onyx bowl
Hand-turned banded stone bowl
Green and honey-banded stone from the hills of Balochistan, turned by hand.
$20–80Commission link