Moehnjodero:
On the west bank of the Indus, 350 miles from Karachi lies
Moenjodaro (Mound of the Dead), an archaeological site which
has been rated amongst the most spectacular of the world's
ancient cities. Considered one of the earliest and most
developed of urban civilizations, Moenjodaro flourished from
the third to the middle of the second millennium B.C., when
it vanished, leaving only traces of its culture. Moenjodaro,
along with Harappa - some 800 miles away - formed part of
the Indus valley civilizations and it is now generally
believed that these were the cities, referred to in the
Rigveda, that were destroyed by Aryan invaders.
The urban planning at Moenjodaro was pragmatic and at a high
level. Its main thoroughfares were some 300 feet wide and
were crossed by straight streets that formed blocks 400
yards in length and 200/300 yards in width. The walls of the
city's mud-brick and baked-brick houses were designed to
ensure the safety of its occupants so that in times of
earthquakes the structures collapsed outwards. It had an
elaborate covered drainage system, soak pits for disposal
bins, a state granary, a large and imposing building that
could have been a palace, and a citadel mound with solid
burnt-brick towers on its margin. Judging from the remains,
the Great Hall was probably the most striking of its
structures, comprising an open quadrangle with verandahs of
four sides, galleries and rooms at the back, a number of
halls and a large bathing pool perhaps used for religious or
ceremonial bathing.
Sukkur:
In upper Sindh, this is the most important town. More than
2000 years ago the town was at Armor, nine kms (6 miles)
east of the present site, but was relocated in 962 A.D.,
when owing to an earthquake, the Indus diverted its course
to its present channel. By the 13th century the twin towns
of Sukkur and Rohri were bustling river ports that reached
their zenith in the 17th century.
Worth visiting here is the Minaret of Masum Shah. This light
house shaped brick minaret was built by Mir Muhammad Masum,
a local soldier appointed Nawab of Sukkur by the Emperor
Akbar. The tower is slightly tilted and is 84 ft. in height,
84 ft. in circumference with an equivalent number of steps
leading up to its top. Masum Shah is buried, along with
other family members, in a pavilion near the minaret.
Thar:
The Thar desert is located in the Tharparkar District and is
continuation of the Rajasthan arid zone. The District
derives its name from the desert it houses. Of a total area
of 28,170 sq. kms. (11,404 sq. miles) most is arid except
for the coastal belt on the south. The desert area has a
colorful heritage with its own distinct folklore, culture,
flora and fauna. Some of the major towns bordering the
desert are Naukot, Mithi, Nagar Parkar, Chachro and Islamkot
that are market centers, situated amidst mud-and-brick
houses, narrow lanes and bazaars, where good buys are items
such as tribal embroidery and silver jewellery.
Accommodation available in the town is not recommended but
the rest-houses there is a suitable alternative, though some
lack basic facilities such as running water. August and
September are the best months for a visit as precipitation
is then highest and the area at its greenest. Also
recommended is the period from December to February when day
time temperatures are cool and the nights cold.
Rohri:
This old town is on the other side of the Indus, opposite
Sukkur. The ancient city of Aror is a few miles to the east,
its ruins lying on the edges of a low limestone range. Of
its historical past, not much remains. Places to visit in
Rohri are : The shrine of War Mubarak (1545) built by Mir
Muhammad Kalhora. A gold and jewel encrusted casket
enshrines the hair of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.), that is
displayed to the faithful for general viewing annually on
the 2nd of March. On the outskirts of Rohri is the
SATHBHAINASTAN, the Tomb of the seven Virgin Sisters.
According to legend, vowed not to ever show themselves to
any man and had themselves locked in rooms. When a
licentious Nawab decreed that all beautiful girls be sent to
him, one legend has it, that the sisters were swallowed up
by the ground in a minor quake. Close to the War Mubarak is
the Jamia (Akbari) Mosque (1584) built by an officer of
Emperor Akbar. Having been frequently damaged and undergone
repeated repairs, little of the original wall-tiles remain.
Gujranwala:
Gujranwala is a relatively recent creation in history. Other
now smaller town in the vicinity for example Sohdara Amin
Abad Wazir Abad and Ghakkar have older anticident than
Gujranwala itself . At the time Ahmad Shah Abdali Invaded
India in 1774 .To engage the Marhata's he traveled from
Lahore northwards to town of Shahdara,Sirai,Fazal Abad,Pul
Shahdola,Amin Abad,Sirai Kachi, Ghakkar,Nazim Abad. Qazir
Abad onward. Any setlement at or near Gujranwala's present
site would be between Amin Abad and Ghakkar.
HISTORY
The first name of the setlement according to the compliers
of the first edition of the district Gazzette was khanpur
Shansi after an individual of the JAT cast called Khan
Shansi.The Compilers of the district Gazetter date this name
to " Approximately 300 years. Giving us a rough estimate of
the middle of the 16th century . In this indispensable 1969
Essay " Gujranwala ; past and present " .
Dr.Waheed Quereshi names four villages in the Vacinity at
the time of Abdalies invasion i.e in the late18th century.
1. Sirai Kachi: A european
merchant in the area in 1608 ad.and mentioned in his memoir
a place he calls Coojes Serai .before finch there is a very
little evidence in history of Sirai Kachi . by the late 18th
century it was a wagon stop village an inn and a graveyard.
Probably the antecedent of Chaman Shah garavyard in
existance today.
2.Sirai Gujran : This village
existed in the area inside the current Khiyaaly Gate in the
city. Hafiz Abdul haq in his " Tareekh-e-Gujranwala" and "
Molvi Adbul Malik in his " Shahan-e-Gujran" mention Sirai
Gujran.
3.Sirai Kambohaan: Charat Singh
a sikh leader built a Mud Forte here in 1758 .
4. Thatta : This village
existed between the current railway line and the G.T.Road
.Charat Singh son Mahaan Singh develop this village
NAME HISTORY :
The origin of the name Gujranwala is shrouded in mists of
time and one is forced to reffer again to the first
gazetteer 1874. for some reason the Jaat Tribe Gujar
occuipied the land. They reach such dominance that the town
came to be known as Gujranwala is majority of the Sahnsi
people continued to cultivate the land but were weak.
Dr.Qureshi cites oral evidence from a resident and also
cites inflection of the word Gujjar to support his
conclusion " we , the inhabitant of Gujranwala " have two
sounds of the letter Gaf- the soft letter and the hard
leter. We pronounced Gujranwal with the soft one .The word
Gujar " milkman " is pronounced with the hard Gaf and Gujrar
Jaat with the soft Gaf therefore it is not unreasonable to
accept the view that it is from Gujjars(milkman) that the
citi got its name.
INDUSTRY
Gujranwala is playing a major roll to support the economy of
Pakistan.Gujranwala has a biggest production of electric
water pumps in Pakistan.The other major business are
knitwear and clothing(ladies fabrics)manufacturing,house
hold cutlry,steel utensils and plasticware.
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