Sindh

A Province With Great Cultural History

Discover Amazing Sindh with iTrip

Explore the Heritage and Culture

Discover Amazing Sindh with iTrip

Sindh - Land of Sufi’s and Saints

Land of Sufi’s and Saints

History and Geography of Sindh:

Sindh - Center of the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization

Sindh is a province in southeastern Pakistan. Sindh is essentially a part of the Indus River delta and has derived its name from that river, which in Pakistan is known as the Sindhu. Arguably the history of Sindh is as old as the history of the civilized world, rivaling Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. The present-day area of the province of Sindh was the center of the ancient Indus valley civilization as represented by the sites of Mohenjo-daro, Amre, and Kot Diji.

This early civilization existed from about 2300 to 1750 BCE. There is then a gap of more than a millennium before the historical record is renewed with Sindh’s annexation to the (Persian) Achaemenid empire under Darius I, in the late 6th century BCE.

Religion(Shrines, temples, and gurdwara.):

Respect to Different Cultures and Religions

Hinduism, as in other areas of the subcontinent, was the earliest religion predominantely practised in the region of Sindh. The land, its ruler and people play a major part in the Hindu epic of Mahabharta. With the arrival and conquest of Sindh by Muhammad Bin Qasim in 712 AD Islam has become the predominant religion of the region. But Sindh still is land which is revered by many religions and it is the most religiously diverse province of Pakistan, a fact evident by many shrines and temples as a way to give honor and respect to those different cultures and religions within it.

Some Shrines and Temples:

Harmony of Shrines

1. Shrine of Sachal Sarmast in Khairpur
2. Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai in Bhitshah, Matiari
3. Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan
4. Shrine of Laki Shah Sader in Jamshoro
5. Temples (two) on the banks of hot cold springs in Jamshoro
6. Kalka Cave Temple in Sukkur
7. Hindu Temple in Sadh Belo Island
8. Shiv Mandir in Umerkort
9. Shrine of Pir Hadi, Hassan Bux, and Shah Jilani in Sanghar
10. Masjid Muhammad Bin Qasim in Sukkur

Heritage, Ancient Civilization in Sindh:

Home to Many Religions

Sindh was a cradle of civilization as the center of the ancient Indus Valley civilization, and through its long history was the seat of several dynasties that helped shape its identity. The history of Sindh dates back to 3300 BC with the beginning of Indus Valley Civilization. Since then the region has witnessed different eras of control and influence such as the Achaemenid Empire, Greek during the Hellenistic Era, much celebrated Mauryan Empire, Buddhist during the Kushan Era, Persian control in the time Sassanian Empire and then multiple Hindu Dynasties such as Rai, Gupta and Brahman. Each leaving its mark on the culture, identity and architecture of the land.

Architectural Landmarks in Sindh

Diverse, Rich and Tolerant picture of Sindh

Just like its history, culture and religion the architectural landmarks of Sindh paints a diverse, rich and tolerant picture, which stands out not only for its beauty but also for its ingenuity and adaptiveness to climate and resources of the region. Going through different cultural and monumental sites of the region one can appreciate the subtle evolution of architectural style and use of modern methods of construction but at the same time keeping its unique identity and exhibiting the richness of its culture.

Some famous architectural sites in Sindh:
1. Moen Jo Daro
2. Banbhore
3. Ranikot Fort
4. Chaukhandi Metropolis
5. Makli Hill
6. Shah Jahan Mosque
7. Empress Market
8. Sukkur Barrage
9. Frere Hall
10.Mazar e Quaid
And many more…

Nature and Landscape of Sindh

Borough Hill and Gorakh Hill Station Highest Peaks

Except for the irrigated Indus River valley, it is arid and has scant vegetation. The dwarf palm kher (Acacia rupestris), and lohirro (Tecoma undulata) are trees which have characteristics of the western hill region. In the central valley, the babul tree is the most common and occurs in thick forests that run along the river
banks of the Indus. Mango, date palm, banana, guava, and orange are the typical fruit containing trees. Agriculture is the basis of the economy which centres around the Indus River Basin. The landscape of Sindh can be divided into four major types:

1. Mountains – Mostly to the west of the Province the hilly tract consists of ranges of Kirthar, Pab & Kohistan. Borough Hill and Gorakh Hill Station are two of the highest peaks in Sindh.

2. Central Plains – The central plains are vast and fertile alluvial plains constituting the valley of Indus River which is about 51,000 square km in area.

3. Eastern Desert Belt – This region includes low dunes and flats in the north, white sand desert to the south and Thar Desert to the Southeast which extends all the way to Bahawalpur in the north.

4. Indus Delta – The deltaic plains of Sindh lie in the lower Indus Valley. The chief characteristic of the region are creeks and tributaries which serve as the outlets for Indus and as inlets for the sea.