SOUTHERN PAKISTAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL TOUR
Day 00
Arrive at Airport
Welcome To Lahore, at Lahore airport our representative will greet you at Airport and Check in at Luxus Grand Hotel Lahore
DAY – 01 LAHORE – SIGHTSEEING TOUR 140 KM – 08 HRS
Full day sightseeing tour of Lahore (Area: 1,772 km² – Population: 13,095,166 (2021) – Altitude: 217 m) – Delhi Gate: (1556 – 1859 – 2015) – was known as “Shahi Guzargah” Or “Royal Trail” of Mughal emperors., Wazir Khan’s Mosque: (1634 – 1635) – This captivating Mosque of colorful architectural is nicknamed “An Ornament of the Mughal” Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila): (1556 – 1818 – 1947) – built by Mughal Emperor Akbar is a large complex of fortifications, quadrangles, marble mosques and palaces. This Mughal architecture is a UNESCO protected monument in 1981., Badshahi Mosque: (1673) – 5th largest in world, Wahga Border – Flag lowering parade ceremony at Pak-India Border. Dinner in Fort Road Food Street at Haveli Restaurant. Overnight in Luxus Grand or similar in Lahore (BLD)
DAY – 02 LAHORE – SIGHTSEEING TOUR 90 KM – 08 HRS
Full day sightseeing tour of Lahore – Chauburji: (1647 A.D.) – literally meaning “Four Towers or Four Minarets” – A monumental gateway to an extensive garden in the Mughal Empire period attributed to Mughal Princess Zeb-un-Nisa (daughter of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan). The princess was eight years old at the time of construction., Kamran’s Baradari: (1545 A.D.) ,, Lahore Museum: (1865 – 1894 A.D.), Shalimar Gardens: (1637 – 1642) – Three terraced garden having 410 water fountains. This Mughal architecture is a UNESCO protected monument in 1981, Liberty Market: famous market of Lahore. Dinner at M.M Alam Road Overnight in Hotel Four Points / Luxus Grand Lahore(BLD)
DAY – 03 Lahore -Multan SIGHTSEEING TOUR 350Km KM – 04 HRS
Drive to Multan half day sight seeing of Multan city Over night at Hotel one Multan
DAY – 04/05 MULTAN TAUNSA BARRAGE-MULTAN
Mohana’s of Indus refers to a community of Sindhi fishermen circumventing Indus River waters between Sindh and South Punjab since ancient times. Various groups of assorted tribes and clans live in small boathouses (with pet herons as good luck sign) in form of boat village clusters. Often called Amir ul Bahar (Lords of the Sea), Mohanas of Indus seldom set foot on mainland areas without utter necessity. They guard their tradition, crafts, motifs, Songs and lullabies. They show no desire to compete with bewildering speed of civilization by adapting to new ways of life. For centuries they dominated water course of Indus River, meandering through river and its marshlands from Taunsa, Lashariwala and Alipur in South Punjab and Manchhar Lake in Sindh, hunting fish and living in utter seclusion away from the pandemonium of land people
In theses two days we will try to visit to the dense boat village comprising a commune of about one hundred people, fishing boats and boat houses floating on Indus River near Taunsa Barrage, Kot Addu,. You instantly fell in love with simple splendor and rareness of brightly boat houses and their décor colored rough sketches of crops, peacocks and fish (motifs of Indus Valley civilization) by Mohana artisans. You will do candid record of the Mohanas in their natural habitat, their means of livelihood, strengths and vulnerabilities of their culture and traces of history reflecting through their ethnicity. In no other part of land you will Come across such beauty and grace where men and birds sailed in complete harmony.
An aspect of the Mohanas’ life is their skill and willingness in cohabitating with other species. They have been living with birds for centuries. They are sometimes called ‘blood brothers’to the birds they keep as pets. When a child is born, little birds are placed in its cradle so that the birds and the babies grow together. The Mohanas claim that they understand the ‘language’ of the birds. Many of them are skillful mimics of the birds’ voices. An Indus Civilization seal shows a boat carrying two pelicans. It is claimed that the birds helped Mohanas catch fish. The other ‘blood brothers’ to Mohanas are grey herons, Claremont, spoons, bills and coots.
Mohanas don’t like to eat bird meat and seriously dislike hunting of birds by their neighbors. In the breeding season of fish, they eat coot or cook lotus
IN THESE TWO DAYS WE WILL TAKE A VENTURE TO SEARCH MOHANAS AT TAUNSA AREA ,OVER NIGHTS WILL BE IN MULTAN
DAY – 06 MULTAN TO SEHWAN 650 KM 9 HOUR DRIVE
Today we will do the longest drive from Multan to Sehwan its about 650 Km long and it will take 9 hour driving time we will take Multan Sukkar Motor way than N-55 Route Over night at STDC or Sehwan Devine
( My recommendation very early departure so we reach Sehwan to listen the traditional folk song )
Pakistan is one of the most culturally rich country, comprising of different languages, traditions and festivities. Sindh is a resourceful land, where civilizations like Indus valley, Harappa etc were discovered; in fact, history begins with them. Tharparkar, also known as Thar, is a district located in the south of Pakistan’s Sindh province, which is headquartered at Mithi, appearing to be the largest in Sindh. Geographically, it is enclosed by three districts as the district Umerkot and district Mirpur Khas are towards the North-Western side of Tharparkar, whereas, Badin joins the boundaries of the Tharparkar on its western side. The border of India is towards the eastern side of Tharparkar and the Rann of Kutch.
The Thari culture is somewhat a mixture of the Gujrati, Rajistani and Sindhi Culture. However the Rajistani Culture overshadows the other two. Also the Thari Music seems to be more inspired from the Rajistani traditional music however it has a sound and feel of its own.
The Thari life is full of adventures for visitors who visit in order to explore the indigenous cultures , traditions and lifestyles. Some of the peculiar scenes of the desert include the Sun- rising and sun-setting scenes viewed from a top of a due camel caravans, the grazing herds, big and small sand dunes with thorny bushes, traditional dresses and Jewellery of women, folk songs sung in wilderness
DAY – 07/08 SEHWAN – HYDERABAD
In these two days we will be in Mirpur Khas and visit the surrounding villages to see the real life of Kholi, Beel, Megwal, Jogi, Baghari, Rabari tribes we will spending whole day in them and night will be in Hyderabad at Indus hotel (B,L,H).
(Specialty of days see how the Tattoo are be made as it was in the ancients art .)
DAY 09,10,11,12,&13 HYDERABAD – NAGAR PARKAR- HYDERABAD
350 Km away from Hyderabad at the foot of the Karoonjhar hills we will be in an area where , Centuries -old Fourteen beautiful abandoned Jain temples , Uniquely build houses and eye catching handicrafts shrouded under the persistent clouds of diminishing and away from Misery the region boasts a rich cultural religious heritage.
In next 5 days we will try to cover the maximum of prominent sites related to Tourism and their Culture of Nagar Parkar which includes Marvi Well, Gori Temple, Bhodesar Temples and Mosque. If time permits than also visit Sardhara, a pilgrimage site , featured a Mahadeve Jain temple and a ceremonial lake and Ram peer Mandar . You will also witness their house and the way of living in the Desert. Day 3 and Day 4 Nights will be at Roopoli (BLD) Day 5 Back to Hyderabad with short stay at Mitti
Day 09 Drive to Mitti if any village left in Mir pur khas we will visit them and than drive to STDC Mitti ( 215 Km 4 Hours B,L,D)
Day 10 Drive to Nagar Parkar Visit Gori Tample Kantar village , witness village life over night at Rooplo STDC Nagar Parkar ( 131 Km 3:15 Hours B,L,D)
Day 11 Full day in Nagar Parkar with visit to different villages Tribes day over night at Rooplo STDC Nagar Parkar
Day 12 Drive to Umar kot with see Jogi and Thakur Tribes Over night at Ghousia guest house Umar kot ( 205 Km 4 Hours B,L,D)
Day 13 Drive to Hyderabad with stop over at Noukot over night at Hyderabad. ( 153 Km 3:15 Hours B,L,D)
NAGAR PARKAR-LAND OF HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS
The Cultural Landscape of Nagarparkar is located at the southern limit of the vast Thar desert, where old stabilized sand dunes and the flat alluvial plain meet the marshy, tidal mudflats of the Runn of Kutch, and the Arabian Sea. ,which extended northwards to the pink granite Karunjhar hills. Today these hills in the eastern part of the Runn surround the area of Nagarparkar and form the only raised, dry land in this dramatic locale. Areas to the west and east which were formally sea are now alluvial marshland and brackish ponds, part of the Runn of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary .
The Nagarparkar landscape was an important Centre of Jain religion and culture for centuries. The Jains were maritime merchants and financial advisors to the Rajputs, the Mughals and the Sultans of Delhi. They dominated trade and commerce in the region through the port of Parinagar, believed to have been founded in the 5th c. BC. Traces of port facilities are still visible in the nearby village of Dotar, or Doo ptar meaning two landing places.
The Karunjhar hills were a place of pilgrimage called Sardhara where there is a Jain temple of Mahadeve and a ritual pool. The hills contain many sacred spaces associated with Jain munis, followers of Lord Mahavira and Parsanatha, where Yogis and Jain munis prayed and practiced austerity.
The wealth of the Jain community was reflected in the richness of their temples. The towns of Nagarparker, Gori, Viravah, Bodhesar, contain remains of numerous Jain temples dating from the 12th to 15th centuries which appear to be the high point of Jain culture. The Temple at Gori is an excellent example; built on a high platform and reached by a series of steps carved into the rock, it is made of huge stone slabs and grand columns expertly carved with objects of Jain worship. The temple is built in the classical Jain style, with one main temple surrounded by 52 smaller shrines, each housing one or more images of Jain prophets. The interior of Gori temple was adorned with paintings of Jain religious imagery which are older than any other frescos in the Jain temples of North India. Apart from this fabulously carved temple, there is a cluster of three other temples at Bodhesar built in 1375 AD and 1449 AD. Two temples with corbelled domes are built of Kanjur and Redstone, and are finely carved. The third temple, which is raised on a platform, is believed to have been built by a Jain woman and is locally called Poni Daharo.
Other significant Jain temples and remains of religious institutional buildings and water tanks are found in the villages of Nagarparkar, including the outstanding “bazaar” temple, Bodhesar, Viaravah, Kasbo and Gori. The text “Shri Gaudi Parshvanath Stavan” by Nemavijaya, written in Tharparkar region itself in 1706, describes the Parkar country as the most glorious of all regions of India.
The Jain influence declined due to the shifting of the sea away from Parinagar and the other centres of Jain settlement and economic activity. Originally the Nagarparkar area was on the edge of an open marine gulf which gradually turned into an estuary as silt was deposited by the Indus River system. This was augmented by major tectonic events which led to the westward migration of channels of the Indus and the transformation of the Rann of Kutch into saline mudflats and land locked the area of Nagarparkar.
The changes in the coastline and trade routes caused the Jain population to decline significantly in the 19th century and the last remaining Jain community left the area in 1947 at Partition. The faith still thrives in Indian Rajasthan across the border and many of the temples there, all of them named Godiji Parshwanath, trace their ancestry to much earlier religious Centres such as Gori in Nagarparkar.
An embodiment of remarkable architecture, there are over twelve Jain temples found in the area. These dates back to as far as the 14th century – the era when the Jain architectural expression was at its ultimate – and are now one of the oldest heritage sites of Pakistan. Some of the notable shrines include; Karoonjar Jain, Virvah Jain, Gori and a cluster of three temples at Bodhesar etc. These are richly decorated with sculptures and paintings.
The carvings on the pillars and entrances of these temples are magnificent for their intricacy. One of these sanctuaries is believed to have been built by a Jain woman and is locally called, Poni Daharo. The walls of these abandoned buildings are geometric steps of marble — a particular style that shows up everywhere from the temple’s steps to the frames carved inside some of its walls and are widely seen among Jain constructions
Bhodesar, 4 miles from Nagar, features the ruins of three Jain temples. Bhodesar was the region’s capital during Sodha rule. Two of the three temples were used as cattle sheds, while the third was noted in 1897 to be in disrepair with holes in the back. An ancient water tank, known as Bhodesar Talao, was also built in the nearby hills.
The oldest temple, was built in the classical style with stones without any mortar, built around the 9th century CE, by a Jain woman named Poni Daharo It is built on a high platform and reached by a series of steps carved into the rock. It has beautifully carved huge stone columns and other structural elements. The remaining walls are unstable and partially collapsed. Parts of the building had been dismantled by the locals who used the bricks to construct their homes.
The two other Jain temples are said to have been built in 1375 CE and 1449 CE, built of Kanjur and redstone, with fine carvings and corbelled domes
Gori jo Mandar
Stirred by desert sands for over 300 years, The Temple of Gori stands abandoned in Tharparkar, a relic of a culture long forgotten.Situated between Islamkot and Nangarparkar, Gori jo Mandar is shrouded in mystery. Even its original name lost in ancientness has changed many times. No written history of the temple has survived, the only story as to its origin is a legend that Goricho was behind this construction. The building has 52 steeples and several small rooms built with intricately carved stones, some of which can accommodate only one solitary worshipper.
Gori jo Mandar makes an immediate impression on those intrepid visitors willing to travel to this lonely spot. Constructed at the zenith of Jain culture in Sindh, using marble probably brought in from Gujrat.
Marvi’s Well
Located in the Bhalwa village, this well is considered as one of the primary cultural standpoints of the Thar Desert and has now been extended into a cultural center. This complex is a historical reminder of the story of Umar and Marvi. Umar Soomro, a local ruler of the area in the 13th century, fell in love with the beautiful Marvi while she was drawing water from this well.The story, however, takes a bleak turn where after continuous rejection, King Umar kidnapped the girl and kept her hostage for a year in hopes for her to settle one day.But after realizing that no number of jewels could waive Marvi’s love for her fiancé back in her town, alas, he had to let her go. Marvi was immortalized because of her strong-will, determined character and her pure love for her homeland. She is remembered today as one of the bravest women in Sindhi history
BHUDESAR MOSQUE
Seven km north-west of Nagarparkar and close to the foot of rocky hills which encircles the Parkar peninsula for 37 km in circumference is a small 3 domed mosque known as Bhudesar Mosque The white marble mosque of Bhodesar is built in a style that was highly influenced by the architecture of nearby Jain temples. The Mosque was built by Alauddin in A.D. 1449 under the order of Muhammad Shah. The mosque having two inscriptions is considered as one of the earliest standing mosque in Pakistan
The mosque features a central dome very similar to domes found on the nearby Jain temples, resting upon a square shaped edifice measuring 9.2 metres on each side. Pillars at the mosque also reflect Jain architecture, while decorative elements along the roofline were also inspired by Jain temples
The women of Tharparkar lead some of the most difficult lives in Pakistan. On the surface, brightly coloured clothing and bangles up to their shoulders (if they are married) illustrates what a Thari woman looks like. . Here, people live in chaunras, or straw-roofed mud houses.
DAY – 14 HYDERABAD- THATTA – KARACHI
230 KM – 08 HRS
Check out and drive to Karachi : Makli Necropolis: (14th-18th Centuries A.D.) – The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 as an “outstanding testament” to Sindhi civilization, Thatta: Once a large and prosperous city and said to be a resting site of Alexander the Great’s army while marching towards Baluchistan. Shah Jahan Mosque: (1644-1647-1659 A.D.) – with 100 domes, Keenjhar Lake: (1930) – 2nd largest fresh water lake. Lunch in Thatta. Overnight in Mehran Hotel or similar in Karachi (BLD)
DAY 15- DEPARTURE DAY
Home bound Flight