Kalat, Balochistan
Kalāt or Qalāt, historically known as Qīqān or Kaikan is the historical capital of Kalat State in Kalat district, in Balochistan. The town of Kalat is the headquarter of Kalat District and was also known in the past by the historical names Kalat-e-Baloch and Kalat-e-Sewa.
Qalat, formerly Kalat, is located roughly in the center of the Balochistan province, and in the past, the capital of Balochistan. The Khan of Kalat is presently a ceremonial title held by Mir [Suleman Dawood Jan], and the Pakistan government has made efforts to reconcile with him; his son, Prince Mohammed, who is next in line to be the Khan of Kalat, is pro-Pakistan.
Name
In the Balochi language word Kalat is applied to a fort in general and the town became known as Kalat-e Baloch after the formation of the first Baloch rule over Kalat in the 15th century to distinguish it from Kalāt-e Ghilzai in Afghanistan, and Kalat-e Sewa after its legendary founder. During the reign of Mir Nasir Khan, the royal castle Miri, which was a magnificent building in the center of the city and where the Khan resided, was known as Kalat-e-Nasseer, and appellation it at present retains.History
The town of Kalat is said to have been founded by the Hindu Sewa dynasty before the Brahuis rule in the 15th century.Six battles of Kikan : The legendary battles of Kinan parallel the battle of Thermopylae, where a small contingent of pastoral Jat warriors defeated a massive Muslim army. Despite facing a vastly superior Muslim military in numbers, training, and weaponry, Jats inflicted a crushing defeat on Arabic invaders, a humiliation so profound it was taken personally by the Muslim Caliph. Chach Nama reports that during the Arab Muslim invasion of Sindh, the mountain-dwelling brave and agile Jats of Kikan or Kikanan or Kizkanan,likely present-day Kalat, near Bolan Pass in Balochistan summarily defeated invading Arabic Muslim forces of Haras and killed Haras in 662 CE, only a small portion of Muslim forces returned to Umayyad Caliphate. The impact of Muslim defeat was so significant that for next 20 years each successive caliph made Kikan a special target for attack and sent 6 expeditions of which 5 "failed miserably" and "failed to make any permanent impression" in Sindh.
In the 15th century Kalat was conquered by the Brahui Balochis of the Hindu Sewa dynasty and they established a large kingdom, but it soon declined and the region fell to Mughals for a short period. The brahui speaking Khans of Qalat were dominant from the 17th century onwards until the arrival of the British in the 19th century. A treaty was signed in 1876 to make Qalat part of the British Empire.
In 1947, the Khan of Kalat reportedly acceded to the dominion of Pakistan.
In 1948, Qalat became part of Pakistan when the British withdrew. The last Khan of Qalat was formally removed from power in 1955, but the title is still claimed by his descendants. The current Khan of Qalat is Mir Suleman Dawood Khan Ahmadzai.
Climate
Kalat features a cold desert climate under the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Kalat is, while the annual precipitation averages. June is the driest month with of rainfall, while January, the wettest month, has an average precipitation of.July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of. The coldest month January has an average temperature of. The all-time lowest recorded temperature in Kalat was on 20 January 1978, while the highest temperature ever recorded was on 19 June .
Demographics
Population
As of the 2023 census, Kalat has population of 44,440.Languages
The population is mostly Muslim, with a Hindu population of three percent, out of which many are Hindkowan merchants who regard Kalat as their homeland.