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Sukkur
In upper Sindh, this is the most important town. More than 2000
years ago the town was at Armor, nine kms (6 miles) east of the
present site, but was relocated in 962 A.D., when owing to an earthquake,
the Indus diverted its course to its present channel. By the 13th
century the twin towns of Sukkur and Rohri were bustling river ports
that reached their zenith in the 17th century.
Worth
visiting here is the Minaret of Masum Shah. This light house shaped
brick minaret was built by Mir Muhammad Masum, a local soldier appointed
Nawab of Sukkur by the Emperor Akbar. The tower is slightly tilted
and is 84 ft. in height, 84 ft. in circumference with an equivalent
number of steps leading up to its top. Masum Shah is buried, along
with other family members, in a pavilion near the minaret.
Thar
The Thar desert is located in the Tharparkar District and is continuation
of the Rajasthan arid zone. The District derives its name from the
desert it houses. Of a total area of 28,170 sq. kms. (11,404 sq.
miles) most is arid except for the coastal belt on the south. The
desert area has a colorful heritage with its own distinct folklore,
culture, flora and fauna. Some of the major towns bordering the
desert are Naukot, Mithi, Nagar Parkar, Chachro and Islamkot that
are market centers, situated amidst mud-and-brick houses, narrow
lanes and bazaars, where good buys are items such as tribal embroidery
and silver jewellery. Accommodation available in the town is not
recommended but the rest-houses there is a suitable alternative,
though some lack basic facilities such as running water. August
and September are the best months for a visit as precipitation is
then highest and the area at its greenest. Also recommended is the
period from December to February when day time temperatures are
cool and the nights cold.
Rohri
This old town is on the other side of the Indus, opposite Sukkur.
The ancient city of Aror is a few miles to the east, its ruins lying
on the edges of a low limestone range. Of its historical past, not
much remains. Places to visit in Rohri are : The shrine of War Mubarak
(1545) built by Mir Muhammad Kalhora. A gold and jewel encrusted
casket enshrines the hair of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.), that is
displayed to the faithful for general viewing annually on the 2nd
of March. On the outskirts of Rohri is the SATHBHAINASTAN, the Tomb
of the seven Virgin Sisters. According to legend, vowed not to ever
show themselves to any man and had themselves locked in rooms. When
a licentious Nawab decreed that all beautiful girls be sent to him,
one legend has it, that the sisters were swallowed up by the ground
in a minor quake. Close to the War Mubarak is the Jamia (Akbari)
Mosque (1584) built by an officer of Emperor Akbar. Having been
frequently damaged and undergone repeated repairs, little of the
original wall-tiles remain.
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