Location of Karoonjhar Mountains
Tourism in Karoonjhar Mountains
Weather of Karoonjhar Mountains
Things to Remember
Boasting amazing topographical features, Pakistan is a country dotted with dozens of hidden tourist attractions. These awe-inspiring natural wonderlands are found in different parts of the country.
One of the noteworthy examples in this regard is the Karoonjhar mountain range. Surprisingly, it is found in one of the remotest and most barren regions in the District of Tharparkar, Sindh. Since the place hosts some really intriguing natural features and tourist attractions, we have decided to come up with a detailed travel guide to Karoonjhar Mountains in Tharparkar, Sindh.
So, buckle up as our journey is about to begin!
Quick Fact: ‘Karoonjhar’ is a term formed by the combination of two words in the Sindhi language; ‘karo’, which means black, and ‘jhar’ means dots.
More About Karoonjhar Mountains, Sindh
Counted among the lowest mountain ranges in the country, the Karoonjhar mountain range is only at a height of 305 metres above sea level. It has a total length of 19 kilometres. The experts from the field of geology predict that this mountain range can be around 2,500 million years old.
It was a time when the entire surface of the earth was geologically active and the continents, as we know them today, were being formed. This is why the entire region has interesting and uneven cliffy formations and thus belongs to one of the earth’s oldest rock systems. The place can be listed among the oldest tourist attractions in Sindh that haven’t been fully explored yet.
If you head east from the main range, you’ll see a region dotted with small hills and sparse vegetation, reflecting the typical topography of the area. Moreover, there are also a couple of temporary water streams known as Bhetiani and Gordhro. These streams flow during the rainy season, which usually lasts from July to September. It is also the best season for visiting Karoonjhar Mountains in Tharparkar, Sindh.
So far, we have discussed the history and topographical features of this amazing tourist attraction in Sindh. Now, we’ll get to know more about its location and the best routes to get to Karoonjhar Mountains, Sindh.
Location of Karoonjhar Mountains
The Karoonjhar mountain range is interestingly located near the Pakistan-India border. This is why the entire region is guarded by the Pakistan Rangers. It is found in the area known as Nagarparkar, which is the south-eastern edge of Tharparkar, Sindh.
The mountain range is around 132 kilometres southeast of the city of Mithi in Sindh through the route of Islamkot road. It is also the best route to get to the Karoonjhar mountains, Sindh if you are travelling from major cities like Karachi or Hyderabad. You can also make a pit stop in Mithi and explore the city for a while and then continue with your journey.
The place is connected with some major road links in the region. This makes it one of the most conveniently accessible tourist attractions in Sindh. If you are heading from Karachi, the fastest route that can get you to your destination is National Highway-5. You’ll have to cover a distance of more than 450 kilometres and the total time of your journey will be around 7 hours.
On the other hand, the distance between the Karoonjhar mountain range and Hyderabad is around 350 kilometres. The quickest route you can take in this regard is Hyderabad-Badin Road, which will be around a 5.5-hour long journey.
Don’t forget to stop and explore some of the coolest historical attractions in Sindh, which you’ll come across along the road trip. So, let’s get to know more about these heritage sites and what the concerned authorities are doing to preserve them.
Tourism in Karoonjhar Mountains
The entire region of Nagarparkar and Tharparkar has an ancient history, which is why it holds extreme significance in terms of tourism in Sindh. The Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) has listed it on its official website and has recently developed Sardharo picnic point in Karoonjhar, Nagarparkar for the facilitation of tourists.
A pedestrian bridge has also been recently constructed between two of the cliffs in the region for the ease of visitors. Like other sites popular for tourism in Sindh, the Sindh Tourism Development Authority (STDC) has also plans to improve the infrastructure around the Karoonjhar mountain range in Nagarparkar.
Moreover, the authority is also working on the rehabilitation and restoration of historical attractions near the Karoonjhar Mountains. Some of the noteworthy mentions in this regard include the 16th-century Jain Gori Temple, Marvi’s well (locally known as ‘Marvi jo koonh’) and Bhodesar Mosque.
These historical attractions near Karoonjhar Mountains are either worship places or sacred ritual sites, belonging to ancient times. So, if you are interested in exploring these historical sites in Sindh, let’s find out more about the best season for visiting Karoonjhar Mountains in Tharparkar, Sindh.
Weather of Karoonjhar Mountains
To find out which is the best season to visit this mountain range in Sindh, we’ll have to take a close look at the weather of the region. It is among those places to visit in Sindh that stays dry and dusty almost all year round. The main reason behind the dry and dusty weather in the Karoonjhar mountain range is that it is a part of the Thar desert, one of the largest deserts in Pakistan.
However, as discussed, the area receives a little amount of rain during the monsoon season, which usually lasts from July till September. In case you have started packing for your trip, here are a few things you should know before visiting this mountain range in Sindh
Things To Remember on Your Visit to Karoonjhar Mountains
- Pick a cloudy day for your visit since you can’t comfortably explore the mountain range in the scorching sun and desert heat. Temperatures can cross the 40 degrees celsius mark during the daytime.
- If it is pouring, avoid visiting the Sardharo picnic spot in Karoonjhar, Nagarparkar. Landsliding is a regular occurrence in the area during the rainy season.
- As of now, the roads running through this mountainous and hilly terrain are thin, bumpy and not properly carpeted. Keep all your focus on the roads while driving instead of gazing at mountainous views.
- Since there are no lighting arrangements in Karoonjhar, it gets pretty dark at night. So, try leaving the site before the sun goes down.
- As mentioned earlier, the area is under the control of Pakistan Rangers. This means no professional or drone cameras are allowed. You can only use the cameras on your smartphones to videotape your journey.
- Pack all the necessary hiking equipment with you for your own safety. The mountainous and hilly surfaces in the region can get really steep for hikers.
- Though you can easily spot some local cafeterias and dhabas along the way it is better to pack your own food as well, just to be on the safe side.
Here we wrap our travel guide to Karoonjhar Mountains. We hope it will help you with your trip to this amazing natural attraction in Sindh. In case you have already been to this place, we would like to hear about your experience. Feel free to get in touch with us at blog@zameen.com. We love it when our readers interact with us.
On a side note, you may also like reading about the top tourist attractions in Sindh and popular places to visit in Thatta and Sukkur. We have also written a detailed piece on the archaeological sites of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa that may interest you.
For more informative pieces and travel guides related to tourism in Pakistan, keep reading Zameen Blogs. Get all our updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our email newsletter. To stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments in the country, follow Zameen News.
