Sehwan, Ulta Qila and Sann

We set off to sehwan by bus. We took the A-3 bus to Sohrab Goth. Sohrab Goth is a legendary bus stand on the outskirts of Karachi at Super Highway where one can find any bus to reach any place in Pakistan. For travelers like us Sohrab Goth is a perfect solution as it enables us to travel on a budget. We then took a bus for Sehwan Shareef. The fare varies from 350 to 500 rupees, depending on the type of bus and passenger traffic (the fares increase during the holiday season such as Eid).

Sehwan Shareef is a beautiful rustic city. It is famous mainly because it has the tomb of the great Sufi Saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The atmosphere at the tomb is full of reverence and tolerance. Throngs of people come throughout the year to pay homage to Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

When we reached there we were taken aback by the sheer spirituality of the place and started taking pictures right away. As far as photography is concerned, Sehwan Shareef was a bit tricky as it required some low light shots which can cause noise issues. We realized the meaning of the word serenity when we went inside the tomb.

Moreover, the age old concept of not dying even after death suddenly became evident to us. We were forced to contemplate the greatness of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar that even after so much time people still visit his tomb. The tomb also has a beautiful gate constructed by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

We then walked to the Bazaar in Sehwan, which is a ten minute walk from the Mazaar of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The Bazaar seems like a shot from some old movie. Beautifully lined old streets where vendors sell various items is a lovely experience. It is an excellent place to stop over and enjoy tea and other refreshments.

After stopping over for tea we set out to Ulta Qila also known as the inverted city. One can either reach the inverted city by foot or take a rickshaw up to its top. Legend has it that Ulta Qila was a city which was inverted by Lal Shehbaz Qalandar himself. It was an overwhelming experience as I saw an inverted fort with its foundations in the air. The rest is then a matter of faith i.e. whether one wishes to dispel this is a matter of his faith and choice.

We then left Ulta Qila by Rickshaw and took a bus back to our next destination. However, travelling remains a heartwarming experience as we realize the sensational culture of Pakistan and the beauty it holds.

After Sehwan on our way back we set off for Sann which has the last resting place for G M Syed. On the way back after much difficulty of taxis, getting stranded on the highway and finding a bus for Quaidabad did we reach Karachi.

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Sehwan and Ulta Qila

Sann