Jamshoro (Sindh)
Jamshoro is located on the right bank of the Indus River on the Indus Highway M-55 at the distance of 150 km from Karachi. Jamshoro is the gateway to the Indus Valley Civilization and is famous for the historical site of Ranikot Fort, which is the largest fort in the world.
Jamshoro has common boundaries with Dadu, Hyderabad, Lasbela, Karachi, Thatta, Matiari, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts. The Indus Highway runs on the eastern side of the district along the Indus River to access all of the towns in the district. The Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway M-9 also touches the district on the southern side. It is also connected with railway line on the Karachi-Lahore main track. Sehwan Sharif Airport provides all type of local air services for the district.
Most of the land of the district is the hill torrents of the Kirthar Mountain Range extended toward the Indus River. Only two to six kilometers wide belt along the right bank of the Indus River is alluvial plains that is irrigated using canals from Sukkur and Kotri Barrages to cultivates and produces various crops such as cotton, wheat, sugarcane. etc. District is enriched with various minerals such as salika sand, limestone, silt, gravels, coal, and different varieties of marble.
Kirthar Mountain Range is a natural boundary between Sindh and Balochistan provinces. It starts from the Mula River in Sulaiman Mountain Range and stretches toward the Cape Monze on the Arabian Sea. Zardak Peak at an elevation of 9,498 feet is the highest peak in this mountain range. It consists of a series of parallel rock hill ridges with alluvial plains located between ridges with dry riverbeds. The Khasa Hills and Mulri Hill near the Arabia Sea are the sub-ranges of the Kirthar Mountains. The Gaj River and the Hub River are the main rivers flow these mountain ranges.
Manchar Lake is a largest natural freshwater lake in Pakistan. It is located near on the western side of the Indus River at a distance of 18 km from Sehwan Sharif. The main sources of its water are numerous small streams coming from the Kirthar Mountain Range, then its water discharges into the Indus River. It was created due to a branch of the Indus River flowed from Kashmore. Its water level depends mostly on the rainfalls in the surrounding hills. If there are heavy rainfalls, then its size extends to 500 square kilometers. Overflow of the Manchar Lake becomes main cause of flood in the Dadu and Jamshoro districts.
The Kirthar National Park is situated in the Jamshoro district in the Kirthar Mountain Range. It covers an area of 3,087 square kilometers to preserve wildlife in the area, including Persian leopards, Indian wolves, striped hyenas, ratels, chinkara, urials, Sindh wild goats, and Blackbuck antelopes. There are more than 150 species of birds in the Kirthar National Park in which bearded vulture, Bonells eagle, golden eagle, desert lark, red-necked falcon, and Sindh woodpecker are common. More than twenty different species of reptiles are also found there in which Indian python, Ressels viper, Indian cobra, and Mugger crocodile are important. There is no proper road to access inside of the park, only four-wheel can be used to access it. There are few rest housed for tourists manged by Sindh Wildlife Department.
Ranikot Fort, also known as Rannikot, is a historical Talpur fort near the town of Sann at a distance of 80 km from Hyderabad on the Indus Highway in the Jamshoro district. From the Sann town on Indus Highway, it is about 21 km on a narrow road to reach the eastern gate of the fort, also known as Sann Gate. The fort is basically inside the Kirthar National Park. Fort construction was held in various dynasties of that time such as the Talpurs, the Sassanians, the Bactrian Greeks, and the Parthians. Fort was originally built under the Talpurs in 17th century and constructed by Nawab Wali Muhammad Leghari, who was the prime minister of Sindh during the Talpur dynasty. It is also known as the Great Wall of Sindh and one of the world's largest fort having a circumference of 32 km. It is very large size fort that connects several mountains of the Kirthar Mountain Range. The fort wall has several semi-circular shaped bastions. The norther side is the high hilly mountains, whereas other three sides are covered with fort walls. There is a small fort known as Miri Fort inside the fort at a distance of three kilometers from the Sann Gate, that is basically private residence of the Royal families. Fort walls are structued with stone and lime mortar. Fort has four gates, Sann Gate, Amri Gate, Mohan Gate, and Shah-Pere Gate. Sann Gate is used to access the top section of the fort to get scenic view of the fort as well as the Kirthar Mountain Range.
Gobindram Darbar, also known as Shiva Temple, is located at a distance of 7 km from town of Manjhand in the Jamshoro district. It was built by Gobindram. It is a squared building with large size dome on its roof. Most of the parts of the building are now in ruin and the overall condition of the temple is not good.
Gur Balpuri Ashram is a Hindu temple located in the town of Thana Bulla Khan in the Jamshoro district.
The shrine of Lal Shabaz Qalandar is located in the town of Sehwan Sharif in the Jamshoro district. It is a shrine of the 13th century Muslim and Sufi saint known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Millions of followers visit the shrine annually. The shrine was constructed under the reign of Shah Tughluq in 1356. Ibn Battuta mentions the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar during his visit to the region in mid of 14th century. Its front is covered with marble, mirror work, and glazed titles. It main door is gold plated that was donated by the last shah of Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi. The main tomb is under the central dome. The shrine is considered as a shrine of qalandars or malangs that is a distinct Sufi order. Dhamaal ceremonies, a kind of dance, with rhythmic drum beating is one of the unique culture of the shrine. The shrine has equal importance for Hindus as well as Muslims. The name of Sindhi Hindu Jhulelal, known as the god of water, is prominently displayed in the shrine. The annual celebrations are conducted on 18 Shaaban every year.
Sehwan is a historical town located on the right bank of the Indus River. Some historians believe it was an ancient town in the time of Prophet Shees, a son of Adam. Due to his name it was called Sheestan, and then Sehwan. Few historians also believe that Sehwan was the name of grandson of Ham, a son of Noah. William Dairymple says its name is due to Shivistan after Shiva. There this town has equal importance for Hindus and Muslims.
Kotri Barrage, also known as Ghulam Muhammad Barrage, is lies on the Indus River between Jamshoro and Hyderabad. Its purpose is to control the flood as well as to irrigate the surrounding areas in the Sindh province. Three canals are originated from the barrage including Pinyari, Fulleli, and Kalri Baghar canals.
Jamshoro Power Station is an active thermal power plant fueled by coal, natural gas, and oil in the Jamshoro district. It has an overall capacity to produce 850 MW electricity.
The weather of Jamshoro is extreme hot in the summer season, but it becomes pleasant in the winter season. It also receives negligible amount of rainfalls in the monsoon period, but if unexpected rainfalls occur in the district as well as in the surrounding areas, then that becomes the major cause of flood in the district.