Pakistan is a land of rich history and culture. It is an abode of two of the world’s oldest civilization. The ruins of the Gandhara-Buddhist civilization lie in Taxila. Swat valley also has Buddhist monuments and statues of Buddha.
The remains of Moen Jo Daro in Sindh tells the tales of the Indus Valley Civilization. Moen Jo Daro was one of the earliest settlements of the world. Located on the banks of River Indus, it was one of the earliest planned cities of the world. It dates back around 2600 BCE. It was discovered by the archeologists in 1930.
The remains of Moen Jo Daro are carefully preserved by the government. Harappa is another specimen of Indus Valley Civilization belonging to the same era 2600 BC. It is located in west Punjab. Its ruins were excavated in 1920 and depict the lifestyle and culture of the people of that time. The ruins are well preserved and a haven for all those interested in archeology and history.
Two other special places in Sindh worth mentioning are the Chaukhandi Tombs. Chaukhandi Tombs lie 29 km East of Karachi. There are around 100 tombs in an area of 2 km built by the Balochi and Baurpat times. Chaukhandi tombs are famous for their unique style of construction. The architecture is dissimilar to the Islamic architecture.
The graves are made of buff sandstone and exist as either a single grave or in clusters. They are rectangular in shape and have unique patterns, motifs, crosses, geometrical designs on them. Makli Hill Tombs in Thatta are another historical place worth visiting.
Makli Hills are one of the largest necropolises of the world with a diameter of 8 km. They are the final abode of around 125,000 Sufi saints and rulers of Sindh dating back from 13th to 15th century. The grandeur of the tombs is amazing and predicts the glory of that period. A host of buildings built by the Mughals all over the country also add to the historical significance of the country.
