The famous mountain range of Karoonjhar is located in Nagarparkar taluka, a south-eastern edge of district Tharparkar of province Sindh, Pakistan. This site of Karoonjhar mountains range is famous for its interesting natural landscapes and wonderful tour attractions.
The mountain range of Karoonjhar having the length of about 16 miles (26 kms) and spanning area of more than 400 kms is surrounded by Islamkot taluka of Tharparkar in west, sand dunes of Nagarparkar taluka in north, Rann of Kutch (Gujarat, India) in south & some in west and Rajasthan state (India) in east. The famous Nagarparkar town of Tharparkar is surrounded by the range of this mountain range.
The highest peak of Karoonjhar mountain range is Tyrwhitt Peak having height of about 1000 ft (305 m) above sea level.
Location: Nagarparkar at Southern-Eastern edge of Tharparkar district
GPS Coordinates: 24.3406° N, 70.7333° E
Etymology:
The term Karoonjhar is composite of two words from Sindhi language; "Karoon" and "Jhar", where "Karoon" means black and "Jhar" means dots. In ancient times, Karoonjhar was also once known by name Kinro.
Climate of Karoonjhar Mountains Range:
The climate of this mountain range is extreme due to rocky and hilly areas, which means this region faces very hot weather in summer and cold in winter. The average temperature can be observed as 33°C (90°F) and May is very hottest month for this region as temperature may reach up to 39°C during this month. Months of January and February are considered coldest months for this region since temperature may falls here to around 10°C.
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| View of Karoonjhar hills during monsoon season |
The Mountainous region of Karoonjhar receives monsoon rain mostly during the months of July to September. On average, annual rainfall in this area has been recorded about 356mm (14 inches). So this amount of rainfall is sufficient for ecological sustainability to cover the water needs of local people or soil and crop cultivation throughout whole year.
As per climate conditions, mostly tourists prefer to visit Karoonjhar mountains during and after monsoon season. For checking current and forecast weather of Nagarparkar, click here.
Economic Significance:
The Karoonjhar mountain range has very great economic significances in terms of natural resources such as water streams, honey farms, wood, minerals, medical herbs and plants etc..
Hilly and plain region of Nagarparkar is home to more than 200 species of plants and some of which different types of medicinal valued plants can be found here such as Khokhro, Gun wal, Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus) , Wild Onion (Allium), Shivjati, Uth-Kanthi (Alhagi Camelorum), Utangan or Bhangri (Blepharis scindica), Lajwanti (Mimosa pudica), Gugar or Guggal (Commiphora wightii), and others [1]. Local people of the area use those me
dicinal valued plants to treat various ailments.
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| Shatawari Plant with its roots |
.webp "Uth-Kanthi (Alhagi Camelorum) with branches, thorns and pinkish flowers")
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| Gugar or Guggal (Commiphora wightii) with resins |
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| Peacock of Karoonjhar (Tharparkar) |
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| Deer of Nagarparkar (Tharparkar) |
There is a famous local saying "Karoonjhar yields the 1.25 Ser of Gold daily", which reflects that this area is capable of producing yields in terms of minerals, medicinal plants, wood and others, which may equal to price of 1.25 Ser of Gold daily. So, Poor and local people of Nagarparkar used to collect those valuable things from mountains and sell them in market for their bread and butter. Ser which equals to 0.93310 kg, was a traditional unit in South Asia for measuring mass before Kilogram was introduced and made international standard.
Historical Importance:
According to the historical sources, the Karoonjhar mountains range hold traces of thousands year old civilization and history and cultural values. As per geologists, rock formations of Karoonjhar mountains dates back to around 3.5-5 billion years ago. The major part of this area was once under the sea and at that time Parinagar (near Nagarparkar town) was famous sea-port and economic hub in old times.
As per Vedic books of Hinduism, five Pandavas brothers namely, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva had settled in Karoonjhar mountains for some time when they were exiled for 13 years by their cousin (Kauravs). Still today, some sites of mountains are popularly known by Bheem Gaud, Bheem Pond, Arjun Baan.
This mountain range had been stronghold business and religious center for people of Jainism religion. They settled at most of the old towns of the region including Nagarparkar, Parinagar, Bhodesar and others and built a number of Jain temples there. Before the partition of India, a very large number of Jains and Hindus used to visit here for pilgrimage sites located at Karoonjhar hills. The famous researcher and author Mashkoor Fulkaro writes in his book 'Sarswati Tahzeeb ain Achhro Thar' that there are around 109 hills in Karoonjhar mountain range which houses more than 108 holy sites. This reference reflects how important hills of this mountain range are in terms of cultural and natural heritage sites.
In the mountains of Karoonjhar, two of springs namely Sardharo and Anchelshwar are most popular which hold famous old myths and stories that make them having religious importance for the followers of Hinduism and Jainism.
Old myths and stories of Parasar, Odho Jam, Sadwant-Saranga, Hothal Pari, Bhario Garori are also associated to this area of Karoonjhar mountain range. These myths and stories are very famous and folktales sung in the areas of Thar, Runn of Kuch and Marwar. The renowned Sufi poet of Sindh Shah Abdul Lateef Bhitai also visited Karoonjhar mountains region of Nagarparkar after returning back from Rann of Kutch and Jaisalmer (India). Here, Shah Abdul Lateef Bhitai got inspired by the story and folktales of Umar-Marvi as Marvi was native girl of Bhalva village of Nagarparkar, and composed verses on this story which are mentioned in Chapter "Sur Marvi" in book Shah Jo Rasalo.
As Mangha Ram Oojha writes in his book that there was a Chabootra (Terrace or house for birds) on Karoonjhar hills which is known by Sahib Chango or Sahib Achhe as it was made by British Col. George Tyrwhitt during the British control over Nagarparkar.
This is place, where famous freedom fighter Rooplo Kolhi was arrested and hanged near the bank of Ghordaro river on 22th August 1858 by British rulers. British Government fought three wars here against the army of Parkar led by Rajputs and Rooplo Kolhi between 1843 to 1859 after British annexed Sindh and its capital. Those heroic fights of local Rajputs and Kolhi, took British army 16 years in conquering the south-eastern part of Sindh i.e. Tharparkar.
Birds and Animals of Karoonjhar Mountains Range:
The range of Karoonjhar mountains is a home for a large number of beautiful birds, reptiles and animals including some endangered animals such as deer, peacock, sughri, vulture, jackal, wolf and others.
Water Streams & Dams of Karoonjhar Mountains:
During the monsoon season, rainwater pours and flows down the Karoonjhar Hills through more than 20 rain-water streams popular by different names as mentioned below;
- Gordhro
- Bhatyani
- Ghatiari
- Sukhpur
- Moondaro
- Madanwah
- Ranaser
- Bhodesar
- Maoo
- Lolrai
- Drah
- Puranwah
- and Others
In order to store the water of streams and solving the issues of water wastage & irrigation, provincial Government of Sindh launched different projects for constructing dams or water tanks over water streams of Nagarparkar under the projects of Small Dam Organization. Construction of more than 20 dams out of 36 announced dams have been completed for ensuring access of drinking water to the local population for whole year and irrigating the barren land of Nagarparkar. Names of some constructed and repaired dams or water storage tanks/ponds in Nagarparkar are;
- Malji Dam
- Chanida Dam
- Ghartiari Dam
- Rinmalsar Dam
- Ranpur Dam
- Khararo Dam
- Tobirio Tank
- Bhodesar Dam
- Adhigam Dam
- Lakar Kandio Dam
- Koowara Dam
- Saroochand Dam
- Barlao Dam
- Ranasar Dam
- Habasar Dam
- Miskeen JKK Dam
- Naryasar Dam
- Jhanjhasar Dam
- Lahy-Jo-Wandio Dam
- Kalidas Dam
- Umendika Dam
- Khani-Jo-Wandio Dam
Famous Hills & Peaks of Karoonjhar Mountains range:
- Doongri Hill
- Deti Hill
- Raanipur Hill
- Choorio Hill
Important Notice for Travellers or Foreigners:
Taking cameras to some historical sites or border areas may not be allowed by local authorities. Anybody who wishes to visit tourists sites of Nagarparkar or Karoonjhar Hills including the Hindu or Jain temples, you must have to follow the SOPs, guidelines and instructions of local government and security authorities and cooperate to them accordingly.
Whereas, for foreigners NOC is necessary as required from Ministry of Interiors, Govt. of Pakistan. With NOC, foreigners may visit Jain temples near Nagarparkar but they are not allowed to visit areas close to border.
Hunting of birds or animals including deer, peacocks is strongly prohibited and punishable under 'Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act 2020'.
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