Hyderabad = The Old Capital of Sindh

Hyderabad once the capital of Sindh and now the third largest city of Pakistan is one of the oldest cities of the sub-continent. Its history dates back to pre-islamic times. When Ganjo Takan (barren), a nearby hilly tract, was used as a place of worship. The city traces its early history to Neroon, a Hindu ruler of the area from whom the derived its previous name. “Nerron Kot” (Fort of Neroon). The next important phase of its history began when the Indus changed its course from Khudabad, the then capital of Sindh, to its present position. As a result the Kalhora rulers (1700-1782) decided to shift he capital to the present location, than a small settlement on the left bank of the indus. The construction of a fort was then also undertaken, which dominated the skyline of old city, but of which little is extant.

The monuments of the Kalhora and Talpur rulers and the bazaars of the city are worth visiting. Stretching from Hyderabad Fort to the Market To\wer is Shahi Bazaar, where well-stocked shops are housed on both sides of a winding street and alongside a maze of tiny lanes that run off it. Good buys are calico embroidery, bracelets, lacquered wood furniture, hand-loom cloth, “sousi” and “ajrak” rilli”, block printed colourful “chadars” (shawls) bangles shoes andglazed tiles. Hyderabad is connected with the main cities of the country by road, rail and air links.