Trip to Derawar Fort
The Cholistan desert locally known as Rohi sprawls thirty kilometers from Bahawalpur and covers an area of 26,300 square kilometers (10,200 sq mi). It adjoins the Thar Desert, extending over to Sindh and into India. The word the Cholistan is derived from the Turkish word chol, which means “desert”. The Cholistan thus means Land of the Desert. The people of Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. The dry bed of the Hakra River runs through the area, along which many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found.
Derawar Fort is a large square fortress in Pakistan near Bahawalpur. The forty bastions of Derawar are visible for many miles in the Cholistan Desert. The walls have a circumference of 1500 meters and stand up to thirty meters high. The first fort on the site was built by Hindu Rajput, Rai Jajja Bhati of Jaisalmer. It remained in the hands of the royal family of Jaisalmer until captured by the Nawabs of Bahawalpur in 1733. In 1747, the fort slipped from the hands of the Abbasis owing to Bahawal Khan’s preoccupations Hoshiarpur. Nawab Mubarak Khan took the stronghold back in 1804.
Recommended Gear:
- Trekking boots/Joggers/Comfortable Shoes/Slippers
- Back Pack
- Torches with extra batteries
- Waterproof lower and Jacket
- Thermals (both upper and lower)
- Fleece/Sweaters
- T shirts for day trekking
- Water bottle
- Socks, preferably woolen (4-6 pairs)
- Gloves (highly recommended)
- Muffler (highly recommended)
- Beanie (highly recommended)
- Hand wash/soap/sanitizer, wipes, tooth paste and all other necessities
- Sun Block and Sun glasses
Facilities
- Camps (3 persons sharing)
- Sleeping Mattress
- Sleeping Bag
- Transport Standard
- Meals
- Guide Basic
- First Aid Kit
- Bonfire
- Sightseeing
- Camping
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
07:00 pm Departure from Islamabad / Lahore to Bahawalpur.
Dinner on way
Overnight in traveling. (Pickup of Lahore Participants on way)
Breakfast at Multan / Bahawalpur
Visit Multan Shrine of Shah Ruknealam
Drive to Bahawalpur.
Visit Noor Mehal and Bahawalpur Bazar
Lunch at Bahawalpur city
Drive to Lal Sunehra National Park.
Visit Lalsunehra national park famous for wildlife
Dinner & Overnight stay at TDCP LalSunehra national park resort.
Day 2
Early Morning Breakfast at resort
Drive to Darawar.
Enjoy the jeep rally thrill and race.
Visit Darawar Fort & Camel rides
Lunch
Dinner/Bonfire/Local folk music
Overnight stay in camps & local arrangements.
Day 3
Breakfast
Drive back to Islamabad
Lunch on the way
The drop of Lahore Members.
Dinner at Motorway
Drop in Islamabad
