Chabahar Instead of India: How It Happened?

It was late 2016 (late 1395 in the Persian calendar), and I was planning my Nowruz holiday trip. There was still no sign of soaring exchange rates or COVID-19, and I was dreaming of traveling to India. I was checking flight prices to India when Hossein called out of nowhere and said, "Baba, have you ever been to Balochistan?"

That question made me pause and think. On one hand, I had always believed I should explore every corner of my homeland before visiting other countries; on the other hand, Balochistan didn't seem that different from India to me. Most importantly, visiting Balochistan had always been a long-held dream. Just a few months earlier, at a backpackers' meetup, I met Eshaq Didehvar and told him with deep longing that I wished to see that distant corner of Iran. All these thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant, and just like that, my destination shifted from India to Balochistan.

I was lucky enough to snag a flight ticket for March 18 (28 Esfand)—I'll share more details about this flight later. Chabahar felt distant and unfamiliar, and I had my share of concerns, especially regarding safety. So, I visited a friend who had lived in Chabahar for years. He told me about the sights, the people, and the local cuisine. Meanwhile, his wife brought me a cup of tea. I took a sip and said, "This tastes like heaven!" She laughed and said, "That’s the aroma of star anise!" That was my first intimate encounter with Chabahar.

They asked how much I paid for the ticket. When I said 120,000 Tomans, my friend asked, "920,000?" That’s when I realized what an incredible deal I had gotten—flights to Chabahar are rarely cheap. As we said goodbye, he handed me the keys to his home in Chabahar, which gave me an overwhelming sense of reassurance.

March 18 arrived—departure day for the land of the unknown. The plane took off around 9:00 PM and touched down 2 hours and 20 minutes later; it must be one of the longest domestic flights in Iran. What makes it even more fascinating is that a flight from Chabahar to Muscat takes only about two hours!

Although named Chabahar Airport, it is actually located near Konarak. It functions primarily as a military airbase rather than a civilian airport, featuring a very small transit hall back then—though a larger, modern terminal has since been built.

We grabbed our backpacks and got into the pre-arranged car, which was a huge stroke of luck. Taxis were scarce, leaving many travelers stranded—a significant issue considering the airport is about 50 kilometers from the city. To be honest, I don't even remember what time we reached the house; I only remember rushing to sleep because I was bursting with excitement for the morning ahead!