# Sindh: places and tours

> Sindh is where the Indus meets the sea. It has Mohenjo-daro, the great city of the Indus civilisation, the tombs of Makli, the Sufi shrines of the interior, the Thar desert, and Karachi, the country's biggest city.

- **Page:** https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh
- **Best time to visit:** November to February
- **Main city:** Karachi
- **Landscape:** River delta, flat plains, the Thar desert, a long coastline
- **UNESCO sites:** Mohenjo-daro, Makli Necropolis
- **How you arrive:** Flights to Karachi, Sukkur and Hyderabad; roads and trains inland

## The oldest layer

Sindh's story starts with the Indus. Mohenjo-daro, built around 2500 BCE, had straight streets, brick houses with drains, and a large public bath, and it was abandoned long before written history began. Much later, the Sama, Arghun and Tarkhan dynasties left their tombs on the hills of Makli near Thatta, one of the largest necropolises in the world. The province also has the Jain temples of Nagarparkar and the fort of Ranikot, with walls that run for more than 25 kilometres.

## Sufi Sindh

Sindh has always been a land of saints and poets. Shrines such as Sehwan Sharif, Bhit Shah and Sachal Sarmast draw crowds for their annual urs, with drums, dhamal dancing and singing that can go through the night. These are places of worship, so we go with a local guide, dress modestly and ask before taking photographs.

## Karachi and the coast

Karachi is huge, hot, and generous. Its food, from biryani to nihari, is a reason to come by itself. The city also has colonial-era buildings, the Mohatta Palace and a long working harbour. West of the city, the Makran Coastal Highway starts, and east of it the creeks of the Indus delta stretch towards India.

## When to go

November to February is cool enough for the archaeological sites and the desert. Summers are extremely hot. After the monsoon, in August and September, the Thar turns green for a few weeks and Nagarparkar is at its best.

## Places in Sindh

- [Karachi](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh/karachi.md): Pakistan's largest city, a port and a food capital
- [Mohenjo-daro](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh/mohenjo-daro.md): A city of the Indus civilisation, built around 2500 BCE
- [Thatta and Makli](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh/thatta-makli.md): A hill of tombs and a mosque with ninety-three domes
- [Sehwan Sharif](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh/sehwan-sharif.md): The shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, with its night-long music
- [Thar and Nagarparkar](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh/thar-nagarparkar.md): A desert with Jain temples and a green season after the rains
- [Ranikot Fort](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/sindh/ranikot-fort.md): The Great Wall of Sindh, with walls over 25 kilometres long

## Tours in Sindh

- [Mohenjo Daro Heritage Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/mohenjodaro-heritage-site-tour.md): 6 days, Heritage Tours
- [Karachi City Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/karachi-city-tour.md): 1 days, City Tours

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mohenjo-daro worth the trip?

Yes, if you take a guide. The site is quiet and the layout of streets, wells and the Great Bath is easy to read once it is explained. Go in the morning in winter; there is very little shade.

### What is the best way to see the Makli Necropolis?

It is a day trip from Karachi, about two hours each way. Combine it with the Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta and, if time allows, with a stop on the Indus.

### Are Sufi shrines open to visitors?

Most are open to everyone, but they are working places of worship. Women should cover their heads, shoes are removed, and photography is not always welcome. We tell you what to expect at each one.