In this Post:
– Best Tourist Destinations in Thatta
– Why is Thatta Called the City of Kings
–Getting Souvenirs from Thatta
Often dubbed as the ‘Rome of Pakistan’, Thatta is an ancient city of Sindh. It served as the capital and a seat of power for three dynasties, then it was later ruled by the Mughal Emperors, and thus it always remained at the centre stage, enjoying the status of being one of the most prominent cities in Sindh.
Thatta has the honour of hosting one of the largest necropolises in the world – the Makli Graveyard – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beautiful blue tiled mosque built by Emperor Shahjahan speaks volumes about the expert craftsmanship of Sindh’s masons and labourers. Check out this video presented by the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) before we take you through some of the best tourist destinations in Thatta.
Some of the Best Tourist Destinations in Thatta You Must Visit
People from all over the world visit Thatta to delve deep into history and marvel at the intricate carvings on stone and tiles that adorn the historical buildings. Let us take a look at some of the best tourist destinations in Thatta in detail.
- Keenjhar Lake
- Haleji Lake
- Museum in Bhanbhore
- Makli Hill Necropolis
- Old Jamia Masjid Thatta
- Soonda Graveyard
- Maqam Qadam Shah Graveyard
- Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim
- Nawab Ameer Khani Mosque
- Shahjahan Mosque
- Dabgir Mosque
- Kalan Kot Fort
Keenjhar Lake
Thatta is not only home to Sindh’s historical buildings, but it also provides ample opportunities for watersports activities. People who love jet-skiing and swimming head over to one of the largest freshwater lakes in Pakistan to take a dip in the cool waters of Keenjhar Lake.
Local people also call it the Kalri Lake because they believe that it is not only Keenjhar Lake, but two lakes i.e. Sonehri and Keenjhar are merged into one large lake, which is 24 km long and around 6km wide. The best part about visiting Keenjhar Lake is that you get to see the migratory birds in their natural habitat. Storks, Ibises, Waders, Flamingos, Coots, Geese and Sea-gulls can be seen swooping down Keenjhar Lake. It has also been termed as a Ramsar Site, which means it is a protected wetland site under the international treaty for the conservation of wetlands called the Ramsar Convention.
While some people enjoy the calming atmosphere of the lake, others look for adventure-filled activities like boating deep into the sea. There are plenty of opportunities for those who would rather jet-ski than spend time bird-watching. From boat rides, jet-skiing, fishing, swimming to bird-watching, Keenjhar Lake offers it all. You can also check out some of the best fishing spots in Karachi.
The charges to book a Keenjhar Lake Resort of Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) are around PKR 8k-10k for a day. You can book a room at the resort using their online booking service. The check-in time is 4:00 PM and the check-out time is 3:00 PM.
Keenjhar Lake Resort Contact Info: (021) 99206371
Grave of Noori Jam Tamachi and the Interesting Backstory Behind it
The prominent grave of Noori Jam Tamachi is also situated in the middle of Keenjhar Lake. There is a folklore associated with it. Jam Tamachi was a prince belonging to the Samma dynasty and ruled Sindh from 1367 to 1379. He fell deeply in love with a fisherwoman, Noori and married her. Unlike other sad stories of love, the tale or Noori Jam Tamachi is a successful one. The prince loved her so much that she enjoyed more powers and status than the other wives of Jam Tamachi who belonged to the royal bloodline.
People who visit Keenjhar Lake never miss a chance to pay tribute to Noori Jam Tamachi. Special boat rides take you to the middle of the lake where you can see the grave yourself.
Watch out this detailed documentary on Keenjhar Lake.
Documentary on Keenjhar Lake
How to get to Keenjhar Lake
Situated on N-5, Keenjhar Lake is located between Thatta and Hyderabad. You can get a public minibus that charges around PKR 150 for a non-air-conditioned bus service between Hyderabad and Thatta.
Once you reach there, you can get a boat ride starting from PKR 500 and going to PKR 2000, depending upon the duration and timing of the boat rides. There are different cabana style huts that can be rented for as low as PKR 100-PKR 500 for a day, depending upon which day of the week you visited Keenjhar Lake.
Haleji Lake
Located around 85 kms from Karachi, Haleji Lake is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Asia. From November to February, scores of migratory birds from Siberia flock at the lake to take refuge.
When the temperatures in Russia drop to -30 degree centigrade, the birds in search of warmer climates take the International Migratory Route Number 4, also known as the Indus Flyway, where the migratory birds track the Indus River and enter Sindh, swooping down on various wetlands in Sindh. Haleji Lake has seen waterfowls like spot-billed duck, pheasant-tailed jacana and cotton teal.
Around 200 various species of birds have been recorded at Haleji Lake. It is also a great fishing spot in Sindh and people buy a kit from a nearby shop to enjoy fishing at the lake. The serenity and calmness of Haleji Lake will leave you inspired for long.
Museum in Bhanbhore
If you are coming from Karachi, it would take you around 2 hours to reach the ancient city of Bhanbhore, which lies on the coast of Debal Beach. At a fort in Debal, Mohammad Bin Qasim, the mighty Arab general had defeated Hindu Raja Dahir in 711 CE.
If you are a history buff, then you shouldn’t miss a chance of visiting the archaeological museum of Bhanbhore. It was built in 1967 and hosts some of the rarest artefacts. A miniature painting depicting the war between Mohammad Bin Qasim and Raja Dahir can be seen at the museum.
There are storage jars, silver and copper coins, metal objects, glazed pottery with Kufic inscription, kitchen utensils, precious stones, terracotta vases and miscellaneous objects belonging to the Brahmanical period are also kept at the museum. The city of Bhanbhore is one of the best tourist destinations in Thatta where foreign visitors are particularly intrigued by the archaeological discoveries of the city.
Visiting hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Open all days a week, except for Wednesdays.
Entrance Fee: PKR 20 for adults, PKR 10 for kids aged 6-12 years, and for foreigners it is PKR 300.
Makli Hill Necropolis
One of the best tourist destinations in Thatta is Makli Hill necropolis. It is one of the largest graveyards of the world dating back to the 14th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this ancient necropolis consists of several queens, kings and prominent figures belonging to that era. Many historians are of the view that around 1 million people have been buried at the site from the 14th to the 18th century.
The biggest graveyards of the world, Makli Hills lies around 98 kms towards the east of Karachi. The intricate carvings on yellow sandstone make the graves unique. Some tombs also feature the blue-tile work that is characteristic of Sindh.
These graves depict Islamic, Persian and Hindu style-artwork reflecting that people belonging to various religions and civilizations have been buried here and thus the Makli necropolis holds great importance, especially for history buffs. It is recommended to hire a local guide available at the entrance and also a van because the graveyard is spread over a sprawling 10 kms of land. If you have any questions prior to the visit you can contact Mr. Sarfaraz Jatoi of The Sindh Tourism Development Corporation at 92-333-2750124.
Old Jamia Masjid
This is the first mosque built on Makli by Jam Tamachi, the ruler of Samma dynasty. Although the mosque now shows signs of deterioration, the massive brick arches speak volumes about the building’s grandeur. The mosque was built to pay homage to a Sufi saint.
Soonda Graveyard
Along the Thatta-Hyderabad highway lies a small funerary site called the Soonda graveyard, which is one of the best tourist destinations in Thatta. The structure and intricate carving of yellow sandstone remind us of another ancient necropolis in Karachi – the Chaukhandi Tombs. Although Soonda graveyard is relatively small as compared to the massive Makli Hills necropolis, it receives foreign tourists and visitors all year round.
Just like the Chaukhandi Tombs, the graves belonging to women have intricate carvings of jewelry and earrings etc. The tombs of warriors show a carved horse and a spear. Additional slabs are laid on the top of the grave depicting that a warrior is buried in this grave.
As mentioned in a book Tuhfat-ul-Karam, the village Soonda was founded by Jam Tamachi in the 14th century. Before the village was founded, a saint used to live there who had great affection for the raga Sondra, from where the village derived its name.
Historians also reveal that the Soonda village was held in high regard by Muslims because a noble family of saints, the Makhdums had lived there. Some of the notable names in this regard are Mullah Ari, Mullah Abu Bakar, Makhdum Ramzan Vedani and Mullah Bayazid.
Maqam Qadam Shah Graveyard
Spread over 37 acres of land, Maqam Qadam Shah Graveyard is situated in Goth Raj Malik which comprises some tombs that were built using yellow sandstone. These graves belong to the 17th & 18th centuries A.D.
The intricate carvings of the sandstone and the detailed geometrical patterns and designs on these graves reflect that the tombs were built on the same pattern as those of Chaukhandi Tombs. Foreign tourists who visit the place are particularly intrigued by the carefully crafted stone graves. Before you plan to visit Maqam Qadam Shah Graveyard, do call the local watchman, Mr. Sikander Kalmati at 92-322 2130643.
Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim
The 424-year old tomb of Mir Sultan Ibrahim who was a ruler belonging to the Turkhan Dynasty holds great historic significance. Apart from the ancient background of the grave, the intricate blue-tile work having Arabic and Islamic inscriptions is characteristic of the Sindhi architecture.
Made of bricks in an octagonal structure, the tomb reflects the expertise and masterful craftsmanship of the labourers at the time. A pointed dome at the top is set upon a high drum, showing that a king is buried here.
Nawab Ameer Khani Mosque
The mosque was built by a prominent governor of Thatta, Nawab Ameer Khan back in 1629, during King Shahjahan’s period. It is a square brick structure hosting a Persian style dome at the top. The white and light blue glazed tiles that once adorned the mosque’s dome are slowly diminishing. However, the mosque’s interior contains some of the most elaborate and intricate displays of glazed tile work. There are stylish floral patterns adorning the walls of the mosque.
From Karachi’s city centre, it would take around 2 hours to reach this historically significant Nawab Ameer Khani Mosque in Thatta.
Shahjahan Mosque
One of the famous places to visit in Thatta is the Shahjahan Mosque. This 17th century old mosque has great historical significance because it was built by Emperor Shahjahan himself. Also known as the Jamia Masjid of Thatta, it is considered to have some of the most elaborate and detailed tile works in South Asia.
When you walk through the mosque you would be reminded of the glorious Mughal-era as each tile in the mosque is carefully designed. The Shahjahan Mosque has an interesting backstory as well. When Shahjahan had rebelled against his father Jehangir, he sought refuge in Thatta. The people of Sindh warmly welcomed him and tried their best to help Shahjahan feel at home. Impressed by the hospitality of the people of Sindh, Shahjahan built a beautiful mosque as a token of gratitude and appreciation.
The detailed tile work in the mosque reflects Timurid influences, Turkic and Persian styles. The main dome of the Shahjahan Mosque has intricately designed tiles arranged in a stellate pattern, so when you look up you will feel that you are standing under a night sky.
What is unique about Shahjahan Mosque is that there are no minarets and around 93 domes, which is the largest number of domes for any mosque in Pakistan. The mosque was on the tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is located approximately 100 kms away from Karachi.
Dabgir Mosque
Situated at the outskirts of Thatta city, Dabgir Mosque was built by Amir Khusro Khan, who was a descendant of Changez Khan. During his childhood days, he was enslaved by Mirza Isa. Later, he broke all the shackles and became the Incharge of Thatta.
During his reign, he built many buildings including mosques, bridges and wells. Dabgir Mosque was built in 1688 AD. It has one large and two smaller domes. The salty soil of Sindh has affected the building’s outlook, but in the remnants you can still see the delicate brickwork that show the skillful mastery of the labourers at the time. Foreign tourists visiting Thatta never miss a chance of exploring Dabgir Mosque.
Kalan Kot Fort
Located near 5 kms from Makli Hills is an ancient fort, named the Kalan Kot Fort. As per a book, Tarikh-i-Masumi, the fort was constructed by Mirza Jani Baig in the 16th century.
It was built to take refuge during important battles fought during that period. Some historians claim that the fort is more than 350 years old and it was in use up until the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ruled India.
Why is Thatta called the City of Kings?
Thatta is often dubbed as the ancient City of Kings because of the numerous emperors and kings who ruled the land and are also buried there. Thatta was the capital city of three dynasties. The first dynasty was the Samma Dynasty ruling from 1335 to 1520 AD.
Then came the Arghun Dynasty reigning from 1520-1555 and the third dynasty that ruled Thatta was that of Targhan Dynasty ruling the city from 1555 to 1665 AD. You can find the tombs and mausoleums of the various rulers, scholars and saints belonging to these dynasties at the Makli Hill necropolis. The tomb of the founding ruler of Samma Dynasty, Jam Unner is still present in Makli. Similarly, the tombs of rulers from other dynasties, Jam Tamachi and Jam Nindo or Jam Nizamuddin are also in this historical site. The main entrance of Jam Nizamuddin’s tomb has Jodhpuri stone imported from Gujrat, India.
Later, the city was ruled by the Muslim Emperors of the Mughal-era. You can see monuments and buildings that reflect the grandeur of the emperors and their lifestyle. The Shahjahan Mosque is one such example of the glorious Muslim rule.
Getting Souvenirs from Thatta
If you are visiting Thatta, you might want to carry a token that could remind you of your wonderful time spent at the historic city. The Shahi Bazaar in Thatta is a long alley containing several shops where you could find all kinds of souvenirs and gifts that you could take with you. You can get the inlaid mirror work that Sindh is famous for. The bazaar is famous for hand printed fabrics, Sindhi embroidery work and glass bangles.
One of the best souvenirs from Thatta that you shouldn’t miss taking with you are the colourful Kedona Dolls made by the local women. There are small to large dolls available. You can get a large doll in PKR 4000 and a small doll in around PKR 1500. You can contact their FB page: Thatta Kedona.
So, this was a comprehensive guide on visiting Thatta, the land of ancient kings. If you are a history enthusiast then do check out the other historical sites in Sindh which you must visit.
In order to explore other beautiful destinations within the country, then keep checking out Zameen Blog, the best tourism blog in Pakistan. Don’t forget to write to us at blog@zameen.com and we would surely get back to you.
