I came home from work late one night, it was already 11-ish when my cousin hit me up and asked to jump in with his friends on an unexpected journey. They were leaving in an hour or two. I didn’t even know where we were going. Moola Chotok was the answer. It is a small village situated in the Khuzdar District of Balochistan, Pakistan.
The place is heaven, he said! It is famous for its waterfall and greenery. Since it was a spontaneous decision, I didn’t have time to do any research about Moola Chotok. I just packed my backpack and hopped in the back of the SUV owned by his friend. There were seven of us, and we left Karachi around 2 am.
The ride up North was longer than I knew. We took the Lyari Expressway and then connected to the RCD highway that took us into Balochistan. We drove non-stop all night. The first stop was for tea and breakfast at a tuck shop at one of the fuel stations. We prayed Fajr and took back to the road. Soon enough, the team member handling the Google Maps indicated to the driver to take the left turn off the main highway and onto the unpaved road that would take us to Moola Chotok.
Or at least we thought so!
The detour
It was well past sunrise, and the sun was high up in the sky; we had been driving for hours with no sign of Moola Chotok. We realized we had taken a wrong turn from the highway, hence the long and winding road we found ourselves on. There was not a single soul from whom we could ask for directions. The only living creature we encountered on our way were some camels and their owners, who were taking a nap under the trees. The network signals dropped, and we were completely cut off from the world.
The driver stopped the car, and we all got out to stretch our legs and have some fresh air. We had limited food and water supplies, but the good thing was there were little streams of water all around. The map showed that Moola Chotok was a few kilometers ahead, but it seemed to take us forever as we were driving completely off-road. The SUV tires had taken a beating, the suspension was shot, and we were all tired and cranky – completely exhausted.
There were a few places where the SUV got stuck in the stones and mud, and we had to get out and push. We all banded together, and with a lot of grunting and groaning, we finally made it to a Dhaba restaurant, where we found some other tourists as well. The restaurant served as a base camp for the hour-long walk ahead to the Moola Chotok waterfall.
Some of us (not me) had given up on the idea of Moola Chotok and wanted to head back. But since we had come this far, we might as well go a little bit further, right? The group was divided; until I suggested regaining energy by drinking ORS-mixed water. Sure enough, the down-and-outs felt better, and I decided to take on the Moola Chotok challenge.
The walk to Moola Chotok
The walk was tiring but scenic. Moola Chotok is located in a valley, and there are dry and barren mountains all around. The waterfall was hidden away, and we had to go through a narrow valley-like path to reach it.
It took us almost 45 minutes to reach there. But it was worth the effort! The village was straight out of a storybook. There were pristine streams of water running through the middle of the village, and the colors were so vivid and the air so fresh; it was like a breath of fresh air.
The Moola Chotok waterfall was incredible. It’s one of those waterfalls where the water cascades down from a great height and hits the rocks below, making a thundering noise. The force of the water is so strong that it sprays everyone who’s standing nearby.
We all sat on the rocks and just stared in awe at the natural wonder in front of us. It was one of those moments where you feel so small and insignificant in the face of nature’s greatness. We stayed there for a while, taking photos and videos and just enjoying the moment.
A refreshing dip
The locals warned that the pools are really deep – almost 20-30 feet at some places – and that we should be careful about not going too near the edge. Apparently, there have been a few cases of people being drowned in these beautiful but deadly waterfalls.
Since I like to think I’m good at swimming, I gave it a try. The water was cold, but there were no currents. I managed to swim to the other side and back, but I was a little scared when I realized how deep the pools were.
We finally tore ourselves away from Moola Chotok and started the long walk back to the Dhaba. By the time we reached it, it was getting dark, and we were all hungry. The Dhaba only had simple food like daal (lentils) and roti (flatbread), but it was the best meal we’d had in days. We wolfed it down and packed our stuff for the return journey.
The SUV was waiting for us at the restaurant, and we all piled in, exhausted but happy. The drive back was long and arduous, but we made it safe and sound. I was asked to drive, but I refused to take on that responsibility as I was completely knackered! My cousin and his friend held on to the wheel with their eyes open (miraculously), and we finally reached Karachi in the early hours of the morning.
But was the trip worth it? Yes!
Moola Chotok is breathtakingly beautiful. I’ll recommend it to anyone who’s looking for an adventure and wants to explore a place that’s off the beaten path.
Some tips from my experience
Here are some tips for those of you who are planning to visit Moola Chotok:
- Make sure you’re prepared for a long and difficult journey. The drive from Karachi to Moola Chotok is around 9 hours, and it’s a bumpy ride.
- Carry plenty of food and water with you, as there are not many shops or restaurants en route.
- Save the Google Map route offline before leaving Karachi, as there is no mobile network coverage in Moola Chotok.
- Keep power banks or a spare cell phone in case of emergencies.
- The locals are friendly and helpful, but you have to respect their customs and traditions. If you take help from someone, don’t forget to offer them something in return respectfully.
- Don’t litter! I was sad to see so much trash on the banks of the waterfall. Please be considerate and clean up after yourselves.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as you’ll have to do a lot of walking
- Be careful around the waterfall as the pools are very deep.
- Don’t forget to have fun!
