Cholistan Desert

Posted on Posted in Great Places

Desert (Urdu: صحرائے چولستان, also locally known as Rohi) sprawls thirty kilometers from Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan and covers an area of 26,300 km². It adjoins the Thar Desert extending over to Sindh and into India.

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The word Cholistan is derived from the Turkish word Chol, which means Desert. Cholistan thus means Land of the Desert. The people of Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. The dry bed of the Hakra Riverruns through the area, along which many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found.

The Desert also has an Annual Jeep Rally, known as Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally. It is the biggest motor sports event in Pakistan.

Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally is a jeep rally held in Cholistan Desert every year in Pakistan. It was introduced in 2005 by Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP).

How to get there?

By Plane

Bahawalpur is one of the safest cities in Punjab. It has its own airport which connect all major cities in Pakistan. PIA operate in Bahawalpur to Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. A new airport is also built near the old airport and it is expected that international flights will operate at the new airport.

By train

Bahawalpur is connected with all major cities of Pakistan by train.

By Car

From Lahore you can travel on KLP road.

By Bus

Bus services are available throughout Pakistan. Bahawalpur has a very beautiful Daewoo Bus Terminal. You can catch a daewoo bus, from any big city like Karachi, Rawalpindi or Lahore and come to Bahawalpur directly.

Renting a car with driver (for about 30$ per day) is the best way to move around though you can use local transport as well. But to see things around Bahawalpur you will need a car.

Hotels:

Panda Hotel (Fiver Star) Station Road Ph# 062-88888

Four Seasons Hotel (Fiver Star) Station Road Ph# 062-88888

La Taska Hotel (Fiver Star) Station Road Ph# 062-88888

Zanzibar Bar (Fast Food) Circular Road Ph# 062-88888

Al Maida (Fast Food) Circular Road Ph# 062-88888

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