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Kalan Kot Fort or Kalakot Fort

Posted in : Sindh, Thatta, Archaeological Sites, Forts / Palaces

(added few years ago!)

Kalan Kot Fort (Old name Tughlikabad) was built probably in 14th century along with Thatta. Sámúí deserves notice from the attempt which has been made to establish it as the celebrated Minnagara of the ancient geographers. It was the capital of the Jáms of the Samma Dynasty, and, according to the Tuhfatu-l Kirám, it was founded by Jám Pániya, under the Makli Hill, about three miles north-west of Thatta.

 

Subsequently, the fort of Tughlikábád was built by Jám Taghúr or Tughlik, on the site of the older Kalá-kot, about two miles south of Thatta; but that, as well as its predecessor, was left unfinished by its founder. By a strange vicissitude, the name of Tughlikábád is now comparatively forgotten, and that of Kalá-kot erroneously called Kalán-kot (the great fort), though for a time superseded, has restored the just claims of Rájá Kalá, and still attracts the attention of the traveller. Lt. Burton calls it Kallián-kot. I fear to differ from so good a local authority, but believe Kalá-kot to be more strictly correct.
 
The ruins of Sámúí, Samúiya, or Samma-nagar, “the city of the Sammas,” are to be traced near Thatta; and, under the wrong and deceptive spelling of Sa-minagar, have induced Col. Tod, Sir A. Burnes, and many who have too readily followed them—including even Ritter, who considers the question settled “incontestably,”— to recognise in that name the more ancient and more famous Minna-gara. The easy, but totally unwarrantable, elision of the first and only important syllable has led to this fanciful identification.
Location:
 
 

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Sassui Punhun

Posted in : Balochistan, Lasbela, Mosques / Tombs

(added few years ago!)

A famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan Sassui Punhun.

This tragic love story is woven around historically two neighboring regions i.e. Sindh and Balochistan which are now part of Pakistan.

 

Sassui
Sassui was the daughter of the King of Bhambour (a place whose ruins are near Thatta). Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Queen ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the river Indus. They did so; the wooden box landed with a local washerman who believed the child was a blessing from God and took her home. 
 
Punnun
Punnun / Panhu Khan was the son of King Mir Hoth Khan (Hoth, a famous Baluchi tribe in Makran (Balochistan). 
 
Sassui and Punnun meet
Sassui was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. When the stories of her beauty reached Punnun; he became desperate to meet her. The handsome young Prince of Makran travelled to Bhambour & devised a plan by sending his clothes to Sassui's father (the washerman) for cleaning. Later, he went there to collect the clothes & catch a glimpse of Sassui. That was love at first sight. Punnun asked washerman his duaghter’s hand but the washerman wanted to marry her daughter in his caste & no one else. 
Sassui's father asked Punnun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.
 
Punnun's brothers
Punnun’s father and brothers were against this marriage (Punnun being a prince and Sassui being a washerman's daughter), Punnun's brothers traveled to Bhambhor. First they threatened Punnun but when he didn't relent, they tried more devious methods & started supporting his marriage. On first night, they pretended to enjoy and participate in the marriage celebrations and forced Punnun to drink different types of wines. When he was intoxicated they carried him on a camel’s back andreturned to their hometown of Kicham.
 
The lovers meet their end
The next morning, when Sassui realized that she was cheated, she became mad with the grief of separation from her lover and ran barefoot towards the town of Kicham. To reach it, she had to cross miles of desert. Alone, she continued her journey until her feet were blistered and her lips were parched from crying "Punnun, Punnun!” The journey was full of dangerous hazards, which lead to her demise. Punnun’s name was on Sassui's lips throughout the journey. She was thirsty, there she saw a shepherd coming out of a hut. He gave her some water to drink. Seeing her incredible beauty, dirty lustful thoughts came into his mind, and he tried to force himself on Sassui. Sassui ran away and prayed to God to hide her and when God listened to her prayers, land shook and split and Sassui found herself buried in the valley of mountains. When Punnun woke he was himself in Makran he could not stop himself from running back to Bhambhor. On the way he called out "Sassui, Sassui!" to which the shepherd replied. The shepherd told Punnun the whole story. Then Punnun also lamented the same prayer, the land shook and split again and he was also buried in the same mountain valley as Sassui. The legendary grave still exists in this valley. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.
 
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Shandur Polo Festival

Posted in : Festivals, Shandur Polo Festival, KPK, Chitral

(added few years ago!)

Shandur Polo is played at 3734m near Shandur Pass.  it is the world's highest polo field, set in a magnificent landscape of rolling pastures, crystalline azure lakes & Hindu-Raj Mountains.  it is just the setting for the clash of the local polo titans, Chitral and Gilgit. This contest is considered the toughest polo tournament in the world - with fraying tempers and passions running high, the strain of the high altitude and the ferocity of the game creates a drama in which horses die and players invariably suffer grievous injuries. Yet despite the hazards, the polo tradition continues unabated.

 

The first recorded polo tournament played at this ground was in 1936, since then every year in (July 7-9th) a grand polo tournament takes place at Shandur pass.

The distance from Chitral is 147 Km and Gilgit is about 211Km. 
 
Freestyled mountain polo is arguably polo in its purest form. This version of the game played at Shandur-Top has attained legendary status and is of great interest to international and domestic adventure tourists alike. There are no umpires and there are no holds barred.
The rules are: 
There are no rules! In "The Roof of the World"
 
Historically the game goes back many centuries when the local Mehtars, Mirs and Rajas were patrons of polo and it was played, not only for pleasure, but for celebratory and commemorative occasions. The Mehtar of Chitral would send a message to his relatives the Rajas of Ghizar , Yasin and Ishkuman and word would travel far down the valleys to Punial Gilgit and Chilas where the challenge would be taken up. But despite being dubbed 'the game of kings', in the Northern Areas, it is not an elitist sport, often played in village square on sorry nags or even on bicycles. “It is the local obsession along with music & dancing on Shandur. In recent years, the event has become something of a legend - the dramatic landscape, the local colour, the presence of international celebrities but above all the passion with which the game is played by the age-old rivals, make the Shandur Polo Festival an unforgettable occasion. A large tented village and bazaar is set up with thousands of people camping out.
 
The scheduled events are:
• Traditional dancing & singing and sitar music
• Para Gliding
• Rafting in the Shandur Lake
• Wild mountain polo , horse races and at times Buz Kashi
• Traditional tug of war
• Traditional handicrafts on display
 
Location:
 
 

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Nathia Gali

Posted in : KPK, Galiat, Hill Stations

(added few years ago!)

Nathia Gali is a mountain resort town or hill station in Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is a part of the Galiaath which are termed such due to several hill-stations in that area ending with the word "gali", most of which are connected to one other. Nathiagali is known for its scenic beauty, hiking tracks and pleasant weather, which is much cooler than the rest of the Galiaath due to it being at a greater altitude. It is situated one hour's drive away from both Murree and Abbottabad, it lies midway between the two. Drive time from Islamabad is usually about two hours, unless there is a lot of traffic.

 

History
 
During British rule Nathia Gali, then part of Abbottabad tehsil of Hazara District, served as the summer head-quarters of the Chief Commissioner. The town along with Dunga Gali constituted a notified area under the Punjab Municipalities Act, 1891. The income in 1903-4 was Rs. 3,000, chiefly derived from a house tax, whilst expenditure was Rs. 1,900
 
Tourism
 
Nathia Gali town also serves as the administrative centre of Nathia Gali Union Council. It is located in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At 2,500 m (8,200 ft), it is a popular tourist resort in the summer months. It is forested with pine,cedar,oak walnut and also oak and maple trees.
During the summer, Nathiagali is relatively popular amongst tourists, but due to its limited size and availability of property, it is not thronged by as many people as the hill-station Murree, which is only an hour away.but nathiagali is to much peaceful and attractive for tourists regardng its beauty as compare to murree.
Accommodations are excellent in Nathiagali; hotels and resorts provide excellent quality accommodations equipped with all facilities. The most popular hotels are Green Retreat, Elites Hotel, Amore Hotel and many other hotels and rest houses. In summer their rates become very high.
 
Location:
 
 

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Thandiani

Posted in : KPK, Galiat, Hill Stations

(added few years ago!)

Thandiani (literally meaning 'Very Cold') is a hill station in the Galyat area of Pakistan.

 
Thandiani was established as a Sanatorium during British rule, for the convenience of officers stationed at the neighbouring cantonment of Abbottabad, it contained some European houses and a small bazaar, which were occupied only during the summer months.
 
Most of local population belongs to the Sarrara tribe.
 
 
Tourism
 
Thandiani charactersize excellent weather and greenery in summer and snow land in winter.Many people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and all over Pakistan visit it especially in summer season.Being high altitude , its senery looks very attractive.
 
Wild life
 
The mountains around it are thickly forested. Local wildlife include leopards, monkeys, pheasants and the flying squirrel, to name a few.
 
Location
 
Thandiani is located in the south of Abbottabad District at 34°13'60N 73°22'0E and is about 31 kilometres from Abbottabad city at the foothills of the Himalayas. To the east beyond the Kunhar River lie the snow covered mountain ranges of Kashmir. Visible to the north and northeast are the mountains of Kohistan and Kaghan. To the northwest are snowy ranges of Swat and Chitral. The hills of Thandiani are about 9,000 feet (2,750 m) above sea level. Most of the people of residing here belonge to(Qureshi), Gujjars, and Sardars (Karlals). The nearest villages are Inderseri, Chattri, and Sialkot.Mohallah jabbri of lal and Haweli.
 
 
 

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Ziarat - Balochistan

Posted in : Balochistan, Ziarat, Hill Stations

(added few years ago!)

Ziarat is the capital of Ziarat District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located at 30°22'47N 67°43'38E with an altitude of 2543 metres (8346 ft) and is a famous holiday resort of Balochistan and nearly every trip from Karachi to Quetta stops at Ziarat. Ziarat (literally ziarat is an Islamic shrine) was the summer residence of the chief commissioner of Baluchistan, and sanatorium for the European troops at Quetta: 8,850 ft (2,700 m). above the sea and 33 m. by cart-road from the railway. There is a good water supply, and the hills around are well-wooded and picturesque.

 

Tourist areas
 
Snow Camping by Chiltan Adventurers Juniper Defenders in Ziarat 2003.
Ziarat is the location of the Ziarat residency where Jinnah lived and spent his last days of life, Ziarat is a famous tourist site. There is a small dam and the valley is full of fruits in summer and winter cherry in summer and apple in winter. The honey of Ziarat is very famous.
 
The Residency was constructed in 1892. It is an important building, the whole building is actually a wooden structure beautifully designed and has great architectural importance. It was originally meant to be a sanatorium, and it was converted into the summer residence of the Agent of the Governor General. It is now a national monument. The residency catches the tourists' attention due to its unique location and the wonderful hilly surroundings. The weather is really pleasant during summer time and the local people are hospitable, but in winter the weather is severe and it is more difficult to survive. During summer time the apple and cherry gardens provide a pleasant view for tourists.
 
THE GORGES: Balochistan is an arid land which receives very low rainfall annually. But innumerable natural springs known as KAREZ and streams are found in most of the areas. There are more than a half dozen gorges around Ziarat formed by natrul karez spring water falling through narrow opening amongst the mountain rocks producing a dramatic effect. The famous gorges along the road to Ziarat are Chutair Tangi, Kahn Tangi, Kawas Tangi, Faran Tangi and the Sandman Tangi.
 
Location:
 
 

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Noor Mahal - Bahawalpur.

Posted in : Punjab, Bahawalpur, Forts / Palaces

(added few years ago!)

The Noor Mahal is a palace in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. It was built in 1872 like an Italian chateau on neoclassical lines, at a time when modernism had set in. It belonged to the Nawab of Bahawalpur princely state, during British Raj.

History

There are various stories regarding its construction. According to one legend, Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV had the palace made for his wife; however, she was only there for one night, as she happened to see the adjoining graveyard from her balcony, and refused to spend another night there, and so it remained unused during his reign.
Noor Mehal is one of the hidden gems of Bahawalpur, since not many know about it.The palace is open to public. It is currently in possession of the army and is used as state guest house and for holding state durbars and meetings with foreign delegations.
 
Architecture
 
Interior of Noor Mahal (Palace) in Bahwalpur.
The construction of Noor palace was undertaken by Nawab Subah Sadiq the fourth, who was also known as the Shan Jahan of Bahawalpur for his passion of constructing beautiful buildings. Mr. Hennan, an Englishman who was the state engineer, designed the building. The foundation of Noor Palace was laid in 1872. A map and coins of the state were buried in its foundation as a good omen. Most of the palace's materials and furniture were imported from England and Italy. The construction of the palace was completed in 1875 at a cost of Rs. 1.2 million. Noor Palace covers an area of 44,600 square feet (4,140 m2). It has 32 rooms including 14 in the basement, 6 verandas and 5 domes.
The design encompasses features of Corinthian and Islamic styles of architecture with a tinge of subcontinental style. The Corinthian touch is visible in the columns, balustrade, pediments and the vaulted ceiling of Durbar Hall. The Islamic style is evident in the five domes, whereas the angular elliptical shapes are a stroke of subcontinent style. Nawab Muhammad Behawal Khan the fifth added a mosque to the palace in 1906 at the cost of Rs. 20,000. The design is based on the mosque of Aitchison College.
In 1956, when Bahawalpur State was merged into Pakistan, the building was taken over by the Auqaf department. The palace was leased to the army in 1971; in 1997 the army purchased it for the sum of 119 million.
 
The building was declared a “protected monument” in September 2001 by the Government of Pakistan's Department of Archeology, and it is now open for general visitors, students trips and other interested persons.
 
Location:
 

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Changa Manga - N-5 Highway.

Posted in : Punjab, Lahore, National Parks

(added few years ago!)

Changa Manga - N-5 Highway.

The Changa Manga is a planted forest and a wildlife park in Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan.
 
 
Changa Manga Forest is 70 kilometers from Lahore when travelling through the Lahore-Chunian road.
 
A famous picinc spot for people all over Pakistan, particularly Lahore division;It is the one of the largest irrigated and planned forests of the world.
 
The forest is a valuable treasure of Shisham, Mulberry, Bakaian, Simbal, Caster, Frash, Berry and Eucalyptus trees.
 
A portion of the forest has been converted into a park with a rail road which gives the visitors a 5 kilometres ride on a miniature train through the forest. 
 
There is also a lake called Lunar Lake where boating is possible.
 
The Changa Managa forest has facilities for Swimming, boating, fishing, watching wildlife.
 
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Gurudwara Panja Sahib

Posted in : KPK, Temples / Churches / Gurdwaras

(added few years ago!)

Gurudwara Panja Sahib is situated at Hasan Abdal, 48 km from Rawalpindi in Pakistan. This is one of the most holy places of Sikhism because of the presence of a rock believed to have the hand print of Guru Nanak imprinted on it. Twice a year, Sikhs visit this Gurdwara from all over the world.

 

History
 
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with Bhai Mardana Ji reached Hasan Abdal in Baisakh Samwat 1578 B.K. corresponding to 1521 ACE in the summer season. Under a shady cool tree, Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana started reciting Kirtan and their devotees gathered around. This annoyed Wali Qandhari but he was helpless.
 
According to legend, Bhai Mardana was sent three times to Wali Qandhari by (Guru Nanak) so that he would provide him with some water to quench his thirst. Wali Qandhari refused his request and was rude to him. In spite of this, Mardana still very politely stuck to his demand. The Wali ironically remarked : Why don't you ask your Master whom you serve?
Mardana went back to the Guru in a miserable state and said "Oh lord! I prefer death to thirst but will not approach Wali the egoist."
The Guru replied " Oh Bhai Mardana ! Repeat the Name of God, the Almighty; and drink the water to your heart's content."
 
The Guru put aside a big rock lying nearby and a pure fountain of water sprang up and began to flow endlessly. Bhai Mardana quenched his thirst and felt grateful to the Guru.
On the other hand, the fountain of Wali Qandhari dried up. On witnessing this, the Wali in his rage threw a part of a mountain towards the Guru from the top of the hill. The Guru stopped the hurled rock with his hand leaving his hand print in the rock.
 
Observing that miracle, Wali became the Guru's devotee.
This holy and revered place was named Panja Sahib by Hari Singh Nalwa, the most famous general of the Kingdom of the Sikhs. He is credited with having built the first gurdwara at this place.
During the British Rule in the Punjab They Management of Panja Sahib Went in to Hindu hands, and later In 1920 Sardar Kartar Singh Virk of Jhabbar Village in Sheikhupura District along with Sikhs Traveled To Panja Sahib and Took The Control of Panja Sahib from Hindu Mahant Mitha.
 
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Bibi Jawindi, Uch Sharif

Posted in : Punjab, Mosques / Tombs

(added few years ago!)

Bibi Jawindi, Uch Sharif.

Bibi Jawindi, the great granddaughter of the saint Jahaniyan Jahangasht, was known for her piety. Her tomb is considered one of the most important, and the most ornate, sites in the town of Uch, which was the centre of Sufism under the Delhi sultanate. In plan it is octagonal on the exterior, with the interior walls angled to form a circle. The thick walls rise to two stories, transforming by way of squinches into a sixteen-sided drum upon which a dome sits, supported by bell-shaped brackets. Both the interior and exterior walls are decorated with a profusion of faience revetment. The tomb is in poor condition. 
 

 

Uch or Uch Sharif is located in 75 km from Bahawalpur in Bahawalpur District, South Punjab, Pakistan Uch is an important historical city, being founded by Alexander the Great. Formerly located at the confluence of the Indus and Chenab rivers, it is now removed to Mithankot, some 100 km from that confluence. It was an important center in medieval India, as an early stronghold of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century during the Muslim conquest. Uch Sharif contains the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha'al-Halim and Jalaluddin Bukhari, which are considered master pieces of Islamic architecture and are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.
 
Flooding in the early 19th century caused serious damage to the tombs, including structural problems and the deterioration of masonry and finishes.
 
History
 
It is believed that in 325 BCE Alexander the Great founded a city called Alexandria on the Indus at the site of the last confluence of Punjab rivers with the Indus. Nevertheless, some historians believe that Uch predates the advent of Bikramjit when Jains and Buddhists ruled over the area, and that Mithankot or Chacharan Sharif was the true settlement of Alexandria. In AD 712, Muhammad bin Qasim conquered the city and during the Muslim period Uch was one of the centres of Islamic studies of South Asia. There are several tombs of famous mystics (Sufis) in Uch, notably the tombs of Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari and his family. These structures were joined by a series of domed tombs; the first is said to have been built for Baha’ al-Halim by his pupil, the Suharwardiya Sufi saint Jahaniyan Jahangasht (1307–1383), the second for the latter’s great grant daughter, Bibi Jawindi, in 1494, and the third forthe latter’s architect. 
 
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