A Wonderland of Sindh

By Asif Ali

Exploring Sindh is a fascination indeed as it brings you face to face with the vibrant culture and rich heritage of this land.

Sindh is the best place for travelers who wish to explore something besides mountains, peaks, plains, and plateaus, in solitude and peace.

I set off from my hometown in Punjab via train to meet my friends in Ghotki from where we had planned our threeday trip. For the next three days, we traveled from Ghotki to Nagarparkar.

The Journey begins

After reaching Ghotki, our main destinations were Sukkur and Rohri. Sukkur, besides being a small city, holds cultural and historical significance. There are plenty of places to explore including the famous Lansdowne Bridge, Sukkur Barrage, and Date Palm Orchards of Khairpur Mirs. The historical remains of Nawab Shah, Sanghar, Umarkot, Mirpur Khas, Mithi, and Islamkot are a sight indeed.

The most captivating sight was that of Baqar Lake, situated 30km from Sanghar city. The lake is an hour’s drive from Sanghar and a four-hour drive from Karachi.

The Striking Ecosystem

The striking visual and refreshing breeze at the Baqar Lake takes away all the tiredness of the journey.

Baqar Lake is located at the tail end of the Nara canal which starts from Sukkur Barrage near Achro City (doorstep to the Thar Desert). The lake is now part of Chutiari Dam hence the area is generally known as Chutiari reservoir and is often given the title of ‘Wonder Land of Sindh’. This area has been given this status especially due to its diverse ecosystem. There are six lakes namely Akanwari, Tajar, Phuleli, Sari and Sao Naro, and Baqar in this area. After the construction of the Chutiari Dam, Baqar Lake and other lakes became part of the dam.

The region surrounding the lake is declared a wildlife sanctuary. The fauna of the lake consists of 109 species of migrated birds and 58 species of reptiles including crocodiles. More than 20 species of small and large mammals are found in the surroundings of the lake including wild Boars and Fox. Away from the population, the lake offers an enchanting starry night sky, a perfect delight for stargazers.

Baqar lake is one of the unique lakes because of its interesting geography. The lake has multiple islands, some accessible through a boat ride. Some of these islands are populated and hold immense potential as tourist islands with water sport facilities.

One such island in Baqar Lake has the remains of the Junejo ki Haveli (Palace). An old structure is accessible after a 15 to 20 minutes boat ride. Locals say the palace belonged to the wealthy Junejo tribe that migrated from Rajputana. The palace was built in 1937.

The palace was destroyed by the owner Faiz Muhammad Junejo when the British decided to make it their headquarters. The ruined palace standing on an island in the middle of the lake lends a captivating sight.

Another attraction for history lovers is the famous Makhi Forest situated on the bank of Baqar Lake. Here the famous Hurs established their base against the British colonials in Sindh. It was used as a hideout for the Hurs while they were persecuted. The tomb of Hur Movement’s leader Shah Mardan Shah is also situated near Baqar Lake. Historical Makhi Forest is named after small bees which make their honeycombs in the trees inside the forest. The forest is valued for its rich honey, medicinal plants and woods.

A Comfortable Stay

The Sindh tourism Department has established a resort to facilitate the tourists at Baqar Lake. The resort is furnished and has air-conditioned bedrooms with a view of the lake, luxury suites, a terrace, parking and a dining room.

Eating Out and Local Delicacy

Sanghar is famous for the freshwater Rohu, locally known as Kuriro, that is farmed from Chotiari Dam. Sumptuous fish Sajji is a delicacy of this place. This is the famous dish of Sanghar that attracts travelers and tourists from across Pakistan. Sajji, a way of slow roasting meat which is popular in the Sanghar district of Sindh and neighbouring Balochistan, is traditionally reserved for lamb and goat dishes, but Abdul Jabbar Allah, a local chef tried it on Rohu, a freshwater fish species common to the region only to become a food writer, vloggers and culinary adventurists magnet.

Other much liked local dishes are Fish curry, Sindhi Briyani, Sindhi Curry, Sabu Dal Chawar (yellow daal with rice), and Bhee (simply means ‘lotus root’ in English). A high-quality lotus root is grown in the north of Sindh which is then cooked in clay-pot using various spices, which then results in an excellent delicacy that is famous all over Pakistan.

Activities at the Lake

A speedboat facility is also arranged for the tourists and visitors. It is a wonderful experience when you are sailing on the lake and have the visual sight of Achro Desert (White Sand Desert) surrounding the lake. Here, the crystal-clear water of the lake meets with the white sand of Thar.

About the Author

Asif Ali is an explorer and an enthusiastic traveler with a keen interest to promote railway tourism in Pakistan. Heritage of Pakistan is his prime focus. He is currently exploring and visiting places in Sindh and Balochistan.