Astola Island

Arabian Sea, Balochistan, Pakistan

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Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar or the “Island of the Seven Hills,” is Pakistan’s largest offshore island, nestled in the Arabian Sea about 25 kilometers south of the Balochistan coast and 39 kilometers southeast of the fishing port of Pasni. This uninhabited island spans roughly 6.7 square kilometers and rises to a height of 246 feet above sea level, offering a dramatic landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and a tilted plateau crowned by seven distinct hillocks.

Its isolation has preserved a unique ecosystem, making it a sanctuary for endangered species like the green turtle and hawksbill turtle, which nest along its shores, as well as the endemic Astola viper and a variety of seabirds. Astola holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. It is home to the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali, and a small mosque used by fishermen, believed to be linked to the revered Islamic figure Saint Khizar.

These remnants reflect the island’s layered religious history and its role as a place of reverence across faiths. Despite its arid terrain and lack of fresh water, the island’s stark beauty and biodiversity have earned it recognition as Pakistan’s first Marine Protected Area, designated in 2017 under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Reaching Astola requires a boat journey of several hours from Pasni, making it a destination for the adventurous.