Thatta = An Ancient Town

Ninety-eight kms (60 miles) to the east of Karachi, on the National Highway,lies the ancient town of Thatta. Once called the EI Dorado of the east. This busy river river port of yore-before the Indus moved off to the east is now famous for some of the most picturesque and interesting specimens of Muslim architecture. Although the vestiges of past glories are of past glories are of comparatively recent origin, dating mainly to the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the history of Thatta goes back some two thousand years.

The palaces and pleasure houses have become one with dust, but many of the tombs, mausoleums and mosques remain, some of them in a fairly good state of preservation. Prominent among the town's present-day brick and above structures are the wind-catchers that top them- a cooling device that serves well during the long blistering summers. Amidst Thatta`s narrow alleys and lanes are quaint bazaars that offer unexpected bargains in hand-blocked and hand-dyed fabrics, embroidery work and bead necklaces.