Local visits o Karachi
Quaid’s tomb – Tower – old mansions of KHI – Frerare Hall – National Museum – Empress market – evening visit by traditional boat of mangroves
Dinner at Beach Luxury Resort – o/n Avari Towers

Full day excursion to Chaukundi tombs – Bhambore – Thatta Makli necropolis and Thatta city to see Shah Jehan’s mosque and the bazaar – return to Karachi
Dinner at Boat basin (Nando’s Restaurant)

Enroute drive through vast agricultural land of Sindh, gives us opportunity to make short stop and acquaint with the local farer – later continue on the remote road to Mithi. We shall arrive in the afternoon and soon after check-in proceed on short tour of Mithi town – walk through the bustling bazaar. We shall also visit Mithi’s main Mandir(Temple)
We shall then drive up to Mithi’s prospect point – Gadhi jo Bhit Tower
In the evening for a cocktail party treated with traditional desert folk music presentation followed by BBQ dinner on roof top.

Our real desert adventure of Thar Desert starts today we shall start visits of some of the oldest and interesting Jain temples from various period. These temples remind us of a booming period when the port was active but due to frequent changes in the Indus river flow into a delta and constant shifting of river and sea silt it became impossible for the local fishermen and business people to continue living in the remote part of this region. The other interesting feature of our visit will be the local nomadic community and visits to their Goths or villages still surviving a traditional way of life in Thar Desert.
On arrival transfer to Rooplu Kohli Sindh Tourism Resort.

1st visit: (enroute)
Gori Temple – 1375-76 – 23rd Jain Tirthankar Lord Parshwanath – 22 kms northwest of Viravah Temples

2nd visit: (enroute)
Three Viravah Jain Temples – 456 AD built by Jeso Parmara – 24 kms north near old port site of Parinagar.

3rd visit: Three Bhodesar Temples:
1st – 9th century dedicated to Poni Dharo – Karoonjhar hill
2nd – built 1375
3rd – built 1449
Bhodesar Mosque – 1505 AD

4th visit: Nagar Parkar Bazaar Temple – style
Thar Desert:
Thar is a large tract of desert in the south eastern Pakistan bordering India with its share of of Thar mostly in the Kutch region also has a sizeable share of the desert along the eastern boundary line. Thar region is mentioned in Rigveda some 4500 years ago as a fertile land with part of Sindhu or Indus river flowing probably was the Hindu classical Ramayana’s Srasvati River. Also it mentions about Lavanasagara or the salt ocean. This gives us an idea that desertification had already started by then when salt land started appearing caused by drying up of river. Thar suffers from occasional drought which is another factor in creating large tracts of desert land. The abandoned temples constructed by flourishing Jain community had to leave the region when the busy port of Kutch started drying up with the Arabian Sea shifting due rising of silt in the coastal parts. Jains had established a strong community living from 12th to 15th century when many temples were built so much so that area was known as Sardhara the place of Jain pilgrimage and many holy men of Jainism had taken abode in the hills of Karoonjhar. But a considerable Jain community continued their presence protecting their places of worship. After the partition of India in 1947 Jains migrated to the Indian part. Thar is inhabited by many ethnic communities with their own tribal affinities living hamlets spread out throughout the desert land were subject of powerful Rajput rulers. Though their rule has come to an end but their influence is still very strong. Apart from powerful Rajputs, the migrant Muslim rulers also controlled vast area in Sindh and prominent among them were the Kalhoras and Talpurs. The powerful Talpurs were defeated in 1843 by the expanding British established control over this part from Bombay Residency. Thar is rich in wild life and its desert land abounds in wild ass, wolf, caracal, fox, honey badger, blue bull, chinkara deer, desert cat, saurus crane, Indian peafowl and Houbara Bustard, long billed vultures and Egyptian vulture are prominent. Wild life enjoys state conservation and is now strictly regulated and protected. Different kinds of rodents and snakes are found. There are lots of wetlands where local and migratory birds nest and live through the season. Thar offers great attraction in local nomadic and settled life in traditional goths living in gompas made of mud and straw.

We shall retract back to Mithi and enroute shall make stops at various nomadic villages. Later while driving on Mithi road shall take a detour to Toba Meghwar village in the remote part. This interesting visit will be exploring the local Mehgwar community, their life style and daily Activities – we shall see local embroidery making, traditional pit looms and see making of shawls and other apparel. Later depart for Mithi and on arrival transfer to Marvi Guest House Enjoy the local vegetarian dinner.

Morning depart for Hyderabad via Umarkot enroute several stops at the villages and farmland. While in Umarkot visit Shiv Temple and later we shall visit Umarkot Fort overlooking the surrounding countryside.
On arrival transfer to Hotel Indus or similar – later we shall visit Sindh Cultural Museum and shall take an orientation tour of Hyderabad.
Dinner at traditional Sindhi Restaurant

Morning excursion to Matiari to see the Ajrak making process – later return to Hyderabad and drive to Kirthar hilly range. The stark scenery of Kirthar National Park is home to Urial sheep (ovis vignei), Chinkara Gazelles, Indian wolf and Sindh wild goats.
On arrival transfer to SDTC Ranikot Guest House After settling in we shall drive to Raikot Fort which is 32 kms in circumference and its present wall was built in 17th century by Talpur Dynasty however prior to present fort there was an old fortress from Sassanid period around 2nd AD and later it was under the control of Greco-Bactrians and Parthians. Some gates are majestically made with decorative art in stone.

Ajrak the wonder fabric:
This wonderful fabric is unique stamping art applied since centuries and even believed that apparel worn by the ‘Chief Priest’ of Moenjodaro may be a local fabric similar today’s Ajrak apparel. You will see the traditional way of making Ajrak which goes through 18 processes of treating, maturing and skillful stamping of cloth. The colors used are mostly natural dyes prepared from vegetables, fruit skins, plant fugus, gum and minerals. Even dry powdered cow dung is used for smoothing of impression stamping. All these processes result in the form of a wonderful art of fabric making not seen in hand made textiles.

We shall continue our tour driving into upper Sindh along the Indus River cities. Our first stop will be at Sehwan to visit the shrine of famous 12th 13th century Sufi Saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar who came from Iran and preached his virtue of peace. He is greatly revered by the local people thronging his tomb from travelling from far off places to pay homage to the great saint. Later continue to drive upstream along the Indus river we reach Moenjodaro, the famous of Harappan site of the Indus Valley civilization. After a walking tour of the site seeing various sections of a well laid out township, we shall then proceed to Larkana. On arrival transfer to SDTC Sambara Inn.

Moenjodaro – the version of Sapta Sindhu! Some 5000 years ago a vibrant culture was in full bloom along the rivers known as Harappan sites discovered as the oldest. Moenjodaro was a propsperous city, existed along the banks of Indus and for sure was a developed city. The town planning in Moenjodaro could be considered as the brainchild of a highly developed civil society. The lanes and houses were well laid out with proper administering of civil amenities.
Moenjodaro greatly subsisted on Indus river helping the local community in trade and other communication with other cities in the vicinities travelling up and upstream existing on and off the river banks. There was a strong administration regulating quality control as suggested by the presence of seals meant for stamping on the graded goods.
The chess board pieces in stone used in Moenjodaro were found also in the Persian Gulf sites testifying the long contacts between the sites of Indus Valley Civilization and the outer world.

Morning depart for Rahimyar Khan – we shall drive through Sukkur onto the main highway and shall take a detour after reaching Sadiqabad to reach Bhong village driving through orchards of oranges(Dec – Feb) and mangoes (Jun – Aug).
At Bhong our visit will be the famous mosque whose completion took 50 years from 1932-82 by Rais Ghazi Mohammad a landlord and minister in the cabinet of former Bahawalpur State. The construction of this masterpiece of decorative Muslim Art was supervised by Master Abdul Hameed employing artisans from Rajasthan and calligraphers from Karachi. The mosque décor ideas were burrowed from Spain, Mughal, Turkey and Iranian secular buildings. The material used was brought from Italy, Rajasthan and Iran. Expensive material like teak, onyx, ivory, wrought Iron, marble and colored glass was employed with frescoes in floral and geometric patterns. The mosque was the recipient of Aga Khan award of architecture 1984-86.
Afterwards we shall walk through Bhong bazaar an interesting village market and shall see if we could visit a local orchard and have interaction with local farm owner. Later continue to Rahimyar Khan and on arrival transfer to Hotel One

We shall depart for Multan enroute visiting Uch Sharif – Alexandria on the Indus. Though most of the area which once supported the ancient city, undated by the changing of river Chenab or Acesines of the classical writers. The city of Uch and nearby Panjnad marks the place where Alexander the Great decided to abandoned the idea of invading mainland India after facing mutiny of his soldiers.
We shall visit the tomb complex of Bibi Jawindi dating form 15th century AD – though partially destroyed the tombs retain superb quality of its tile work making it very photogenic. Later continue to Multan and on arrival transfer to Hotel Ramada We shall make an orientation tour of Multan visiting the tomb of Shah Rukn Alam and see the evening bazaar. Also time permitting visit the local crafts people

Morning depart for Lahore and on arrival after four hrs of drive on the main highway. Arrival and transfer to Hotel Avari Lahore. Afternoon we shall visit Shalimar gardens – see the beautiful three terraced gardens was construction in 1641 century by Emperor Shah Jehan famous as the builder king of the Murghals. Later visit Lahore Museum through all galleries. Dinner atop 19th century building overlooking Badshah Mosque and Lahore Fort.

Full day sightseeing tour of Lahore the grandest of Mughal cities we shall start with Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort. Badshahi mosque was constructed during the reign of Aurangzeb, the last of the celebrated Mughal Kings. Later visit Lahore Fort which was constructed and added through various periods starting from late 15th century to 17th century. Lahore Fort is regarded as the best place to see development phases in Mughal architecture. Afternoon excursion to Jehangir’s Mausoleum spread in palatial ground housing the whole Complex known for its beautiful architecture We shall then return to Old City of Lahore see the walled portion and walk through the narrow Streets visit Golden Mosque and later visit Wazir Khan’s Mosque ending at Delhi Gate Farewell Dinner at local restaurant.