The Tharparkar desert in Sindh boasts an area of 22,000 square kilometres and is host to a population of over 1.6 million inhabitants, most of which reside in 2,880 villages which fall under seven talukas or tehsils, namely Mithi, Diplo, Chachro, Islamkot, Nangarparkar, Dahli and Kaloi. The expanse is divided into 64 union councils. District Tharparkar was separated from district Mirpurkhas in the year 1990 and Mithi was designated as the region’s headquarters. It has the lowest Human Development Index of all the districts in Sindh with water issues as its main problem. District Tharparker is situated in the province Sindh of Pakistan at the south east border of the country. It is sand’ desert as a part and parcel of the great desert of south Asia named Thar. Tharparkar is the 18th largest desert in the world and is considered to be the only fertile desert. However, the limited period of rainfall in the area results in a shortage of water even for the basic needs. Hence, the inhabitants are not able to fully benefit of the fertility of the land. But the fertility has increased the beauty of the desert with naturally grown trees. The area becomes mesmerising in the rainy season that it attracts tourists mostly from the Sindh province and some from other provinces as well.
That desert is exceeding its limit over in the Sindh (eastern part) and Punjab (southern part) provinces of Pakistan, and Gujarat and Rajasthan provinces of India. From southern Punjab it pass in the eastern part of northern Sindh, at where it is called Achhro (white) desert because at that part the color of the sand is whitish, and at the same time is more barren than the desert of Tharparker at where it is expanded in the area of the southern Sindh. One can find there numerous kinds of flora and fauna and other species, so is the thicker population in divergence to the desert in northern Sindh. In the past that part of the desert was the great route of the caravans of camels were laden with the business items to be get hold of the Gujarat and then onwards, and subsequently that caravan were coming back laden with other trade substances in Sindh and onward. But after the freedom of the Pakistan and India that route of trade was closed down, though over and done with smuggling many substances laden on camels were crossing over the border up till the wiring fences were raised between the borders to cut down the route till these times. If we would penetrate in the oral history of it in the near times, we can find the two immense happenings in the Tharparker, are following. 1. From 1891 to 1898 a traumatic drought took place and not a single drop of rain fell in those years, all of the years south-western vigorous breeze was continuing till the year 1998. That drought was named ‘Karo-dukar’, a blackened drought. 2. During the year 1918 yellow cholera took place in China, then moved to westward and reached in the Thar desert without any stoppage, and was called ‘Loos’, a fire in the dried reeds. At that time castes were divided in three sections. Most dominant caste was Hindu and Muslim Rajput, financially sound trader Hindus and oppressed Dalits from centuries. Rajput and Dalit were in habit to had everybody’ own pot to eat and crock to drink, and were wont of to get intake the milk of camels, a most worthwhile for the health. But it was norm only in Hindu trades to stretch out over and done to eat with each other and both of times of partake of the meal to send each other foodstuff prepared in their homes,in result of it yellow cholera spread only in traders and they were dying like locusts, anyhow some of them scape from death. After those times there was nothing like blackened drought and cholera have been seen in Thar Desert, but it became great hub of migratory birds from Siberian areas and various sorts of deer from nearby regions. Its main causes were following:
Ecology was tremendous of Tharparker, of which main cause was continuous and dense rain in monsoon. Because of thousands of species of trees, plants and foliage were growing in the area and were surviving up to coming year and even afterwards. Because of that dense jungle of bushes and trees, it was lot of food for the cattle, animals and migratory birds and various sorts of deer to get. 2. Though monsoon was only for four months; second half of May, June, July, August and first half of the September, but the water was bring into being in various lakes kinds of basins for the whole year and was clean as well for the cattle, animals, birds and migratory birds and deer. It was strange fact that without hawk, there was not a single wild killeranimal was found, who can make danger for other unruffled animals and birds might be locals or migratory. 3. For the people of Tharparker it was sin as their faith to cut down the green tree or even branch lets of the tree, because of it the trees were safe as houses of the birds and shelter for animals to get at ease. Not only this but the trees and plants were main foodstuff for animals and birds, so were the bushes, shrubberies and grass. 4. Though some of the castes of Rajput oriented and Dalit were meat eaters, but for that purpose they were cutting down the goats to get the meat for eating, but they were not wont of hunt the animals or birds because they were thinking the hunting is sin. There were so many deer in the area; some of them came in the houses to snatch the pieces of meal from the crying kids to get eat. Birds were not scared of the people. Mentioned above the causes the ecosystem was unique and was attractive for the animals and birds.Topography Being a unique, sundry faced and barren district, Tharparker of Sindh province of Pakistan has some of the appearances is reckoned and known as with the following segments:
MOHRANU It begins from the green belt at the extreme north of the desert on the brink of ancient and nowadays dead river Hakra/Hakro, which touches the district Badin, an agricultural area, at westward, and to the desert of districtUmarkot at eastward. It is long strip of the desert stretched over near about 100 Kilo meters, whenever its breadth is near about 15 Kilo meters from north to south. At extreme north strip of one and half Kilo meters of the Mohranu is cultivated by Mithrao canal of the Sukkur barrage, and left over place at southbe subject to pouring spell of the monsoon. In this part of the desert dunes are taller and at the same time are closer with each other also. Rainy rivers are wilder because they begin to flow from upper southern part of the area slants toward north. In divergence of other desert, the greenery is denser as well. During the rainfall the abundant sorts of greenery grow up fast and dense because of underneath water is nearer to the surface of the land, and land is richer also. Because of these facts the population of that area was and still is thicker than other parts of the desert in the district Tharparker, so are the cattle. Density of the rain during the monsoon is at lower level, but other sorts of toil are more operational as well as the grazing of the cattle as being nearer green belt of the Sindh.
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SAMROTI This multifarious area of the desert is spread over in the vast area of the central desert of district Tharparker. From north to south its length is near about 120 Kilo meters, and its breadth from the east toward the west is near about 100 Kilo meters. The wholearea is crammed with dunes are dense in build. In the extreme of east of it wells are near about 300 feet deep and at the extreme west wells are 10- 70 feet deep, and in all of the wells water is briny. According to cultivation one can find hundreds of terrain and trenches between the dunes, be subjected to pouring spell of monsoon. Thispart of the desert can be called central Thar Desert. Main towns like Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot and Chelhar are located in this part of the Thar Desert.
WANGO Word Wango means turning territory. Actually at the extreme west of Mohranu it turns southward near to the Arabian Sea in the long strip of the desert from north to south and ended up the western part of the Run of Kutch. In that strip of the desertwater in wells is briny, and lot of the heaps and dunes of the sand are founded. In ancient time Ali Bandar at the brink of district Badin and district Tharparker Desert and Rahumkee Bazar in the Tharparker were hectic seaports. Anyhow its northern area is well-to-do area from point of view of cultivation and as well as cattle grazing in the north as being near to barrage area, like Mohranu is. But its central area is barren area of the dunes and heaps of sand, and in the south there are some of the mines of adequate salt is provided to the country. In this area of the desert according the cultivation are many of the terrains and trenches are subjected to rain. The depth of the wells is varieties in this area; at the north depth is near about 8 feet and at the south depth is near about 4o feet with briny water.
PARKAR Word Parker means cross end to end. It is located at the southern of Samroti and at the border of Pakistan, is carve up in three different sorts of the settings. At north it is strip of plain desert of Run of Kutch from west to east. In the south-west is Karoonjhar, a blackish mountain and at the east is sands desert in form is like other desert of Tharparker. In the part of plain desert nothing grows even in the rain, but during that time of season if water in it rises up to the sand desert, then ruin downs even that part. In the sand desert some of the spots of land grow various sorts of grain. The mountainous area is lush green with trees, shrubs, shrubberies and foliage. At the southern slope of the mountain is found granite stone is counted costly, and onward to the south is agricultural land as well, that place is called Kasbo. During the late night the mountain roars with intervals up to the dawn, which shows that mountain is the one of the source of seismic activity. At this area rainy river flows wildly because they drop from the mountain toward the lower areas of Parker.
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WAT This area of the Tharparker in the shape of strip is located to eastward of Karaunghar Mountain and connected with the Run of Kutch at south. One can find here the dunes and plain of sand. Though that area is of sand, but it receives more rain than other desert in the season of monsoon, because of it is more greenish and well-to-do area, even in the other seasons dried grass is used as the foodstuff for the cattle. Not only this but some of the mines of salt also supply the first-rate salt to the country. In result of that the population is denser like it is in Mohranu, so are the cattle. Water in the wells is briny at some extent but at somewhere water of wells is normal in the sense of taste.
DHAT It is located in the eastern end of Tharparker in vast area, and near to the border of Pakistan. At here dunes of sand are smaller, and are at longer distance from each other. Because of it one can find longer plains of the sand including grain lands subjected to the rain. Trees are higher, but it is shortage of bushes in divergence to other parts of desert. In the monsoon that area receives more rain like in Wat, and at the same time vast area of this part is cultivated during the season of rain. It is the great hub of the more worthwhile and fast running camels. 3. Breeds of animals and cattle In the whole desert of Tharparker cattle is more valued than the seasonal grain grown in the land. Most valued and worthwhile breeds of Tharparker are female camels and cows; milk of them is intake of the people. Milk of the camel is used as only for drinking, which is most useful for health, because there is nothing like fat in the milk and at the same time she eats near about 36 shrubberies, because of it many vitamins found in their milk. Female camels are used for riding also. As well as the milk of cows’ produces butter, was income for the people in the shape of cooking oil. Other useful cattle are goats, buffaloes, lambs, horses and donkeys. But in main stream goats are more profitable to be sold for its meat furthermore. In the sort of animals are found; jackal, fox, antelope called ‘Rojh’, deer, red deer, swamp deer, black buck, hawk deer , rabbit, dog, cat and wild cat.
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WANGO Word Wango means turning territory. Actually at the extreme west of Mohranu it turns southward near to the Arabian Sea in the long strip of the desert from north to south and ended up the western part of the Run of Kutch. In that strip of the desertwater in wells is briny, and lot of the heaps and dunes of the sand are founded. In ancient time Ali Bandar at the brink of district Badin and district Tharparker Desert and Rahumkee Bazar in the Tharparker were hectic seaports. Anyhow its northern area is well-to-do area from point of view of cultivation and as well as cattle grazing in the north as being near to barrage area, like Mohranu is. But its central area is barren area of the dunes and heaps of sand, and in the south there are some of the mines of adequate salt is provided to the country. In this area of the desert according the cultivation are many of the terrains and trenches are subjected to rain. The depth of the wells is varieties in this area; at the north depth is near about 8 feet and at the south depth is near about 4o feet with briny water.
PARKAR Word Parker means cross end to end. It is located at the southern of Samroti and at the border of Pakistan, is carve up in three different sorts of the settings. At north it is strip of plain desert of Run of Kutch from west to east. In the south-west is Karoonjhar, a blackish mountain and at the east is sands desert in form is like other desert of Tharparker. In the part of plain desert nothing grows even in the rain, but during that time of season if water in it rises up to the sand desert, then ruin downs even that part. In the sand desert some of the spots of land grow various sorts of grain. The mountainous area is lush green with trees, shrubs, shrubberies and foliage. At the southern slope of the mountain is found granite stone is counted costly, and onward to the south is agricultural land as well, that place is called Kasbo. During the late night the mountain roars with intervals up to the dawn, which shows that mountain is the one of the source of seismic activity. At this area rainy river flows wildly because they drop from the mountain toward the lower areas of Parker.
WAT This area of the Tharparker in the shape of strip is located to eastward of Karaunghar Mountain and connected with the Run of Kutch at south. One can find here the dunes and plain of sand. Though that area is of sand, but it receives more rain than other desert in the season of monsoon, because of it is more greenish and well-to-do area, even in the other seasons dried grass is used as the foodstuff for the cattle. Not only this but some of the mines of salt also supply the first-rate salt to the country. In result of that the population is denser like it is in Mohranu, so are the cattle. Water in the wells is briny at some extent but at somewhere water of wells is normal in the sense of taste.
DHAT It is located in the eastern end of Tharparker in vast area, and near to the border of Pakistan. At here dunes of sand are smaller, and are at longer distance from each other. Because of it one can find longer plains of the sand including grain lands subjected to the rain. Trees are higher, but it is shortage of bushes in divergence to other parts of desert. In the monsoon that area receives more rain like in Wat, and at the same time vast area of this part is cultivated during the season of rain. It is the great hub of the more worthwhile and fast running camels. 3. Breeds of animals and cattle In the whole desert of Tharparker cattle is more valued than the seasonal grain grown in the land. Most valued and worthwhile breeds of Tharparker are female camels and cows; milk of them is intake of the people. Milk of the camel is used as only for drinking, which is most useful for health, because there is nothing like fat in the milk and at the same time she eats near about 36 shrubberies, because of it many vitamins found in their milk. Female camels are used for riding also. As well as the milk of cows’ produces butter, was income for the people in the shape of cooking oil. Other useful cattle are goats, buffaloes, lambs, horses and donkeys. But in main stream goats are more profitable to be sold for its meat furthermore. In the sort of animals are found; jackal, fox, antelope called ‘Rojh’, deer, red deer, swamp deer, black buck, hawk deer , rabbit, dog, cat and wild cat.
Birds In this sort of breed more birds are counted; peacock, sparrow of many kinds, dove, ‘kabar’, crow, partridge, ‘batebar’, cock, kite and vulture. But the lesser in numbers are founded; hawk, sparrow hawk, local white crane called ‘Toor’, pheasant, parrot, owl, woodpecker, cuckoo, tit, hauberk, sunbird, ‘taloor’, ‘babeeho’ and ‘taro’, a singing colorful bird in during the rainfall and ‘Hurio’ a little bit heavier sparrow. 5. Insects Actually over and above breed in Tharparker is of the insects or one can say the desert is hub of many species of creepy-crawlies, in particular various sort of ants, snakes, geckos and lizards. In the course of the season of rain many of the flying insects get habitation in the Thar Desert, but after the monsoon many of them turn out to be out of sight. Even in the winter creepy-crawlies get to go in their burrows. At here we can mention main breeds of them. Creepy- crawlies: yellowish colored Gecko, lengthy but thin in the body ‘Sandi’, grey colored dumpy ‘Sando’, dumpy but green colored ‘SauSando’, dumpy and lengthy ‘Goh’, and black colored and dumpy ‘Jaho’. They are all no-poison creepy- crawlies. But the Thar Desert is famous for snakes.
In the poisonous snakes main breeds are: ‘Lundi’; offensive, fastidious and tricky sort of snake, Cobra, ‘Garho’ looking like a Cobra but red colored, ‘Gado’ looking like Cobra but brown colored with grey spots, ‘Khapur’, ‘Sangchoor’ means stone crusher, a utmost poisonous snake and thinner than cobra, ‘Peean’ a rare snake, ‘Hankhan’ hit and get away sort of snake looking like gecko but greenish colored, from poisonous point of view it is surpassing but rare also, black colored Scorpio and brown colored Scorpio. No-poison snakes are: ‘Bimunheen’ has mouths on both sides, ‘Taklo’ fast runner dreading thinner snake, Khirkhiryo and Dhaman. Main flying insects are: Fly, ‘SanheenMakh’ a tiny fly, Mosquito, ‘Kut’ a tiny mosquito, Bee, Bumblebee, Yellow jacket, reddish colored ‘Khakhar’, Wasp, Leafhopper, ‘Suro’ a tiny black insect,cleanser ‘Gingho’ and various sort of butterflies. 6. Trees & Shrubs Main trees of Tharparker are: ‘Kunbhat’ with strong kinds of trunks and roots, andover and above numbers of trees in Thar desert, ‘Khabar’ a tree densely jam- packed with leaves and without any thorns, ‘Kandi’ with tiny thorns and distinctive nutrients for cattle, ‘Roheero’ tot up precious for its durable wood but rare and the ‘Neem’ found in the villages as a part and parcel with vast and soothing shadow. Plants & Shrubs Main plants are:
In the poisonous snakes main breeds are: ‘Lundi’; offensive, fastidious and tricky sort of snake, Cobra, ‘Garho’ looking like a Cobra but red colored, ‘Gado’ looking like Cobra but brown colored with grey spots, ‘Khapur’, ‘Sangchoor’ means stone crusher, a utmost poisonous snake and thinner than cobra, ‘Peean’ a rare snake, ‘Hankhan’ hit and get away sort of snake looking like gecko but greenish colored, from poisonous point of view it is surpassing but rare also, black colored Scorpio and brown colored Scorpio. No-poison snakes are: ‘Bimunheen’ has mouths on both sides, ‘Taklo’ fast runner dreading thinner snake, Khirkhiryo and Dhaman. Main flying insects are: Fly, ‘SanheenMakh’ a tiny fly, Mosquito, ‘Kut’ a tiny mosquito, Bee, Bumblebee, Yellow jacket, reddish colored ‘Khakhar’, Wasp, Leafhopper, ‘Suro’ a tiny black insect,cleanser ‘Gingho’ and various sort of butterflies. 6. Trees & Shrubs Main trees of Tharparker are: ‘Kunbhat’ with strong kinds of trunks and roots, andover and above numbers of trees in Thar desert, ‘Khabar’ a tree densely jam- packed with leaves and without any thorns, ‘Kandi’ with tiny thorns and distinctive nutrients for cattle, ‘Roheero’ tot up precious for its durable wood but rare and the ‘Neem’ found in the villages as a part and parcel with vast and soothing shadow. Plants & Shrubs Main plants are:
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