Hyderabad, the third largest city of Pakistan and once the capital of Sindh, is also one of Pakistan’s oldest cities. Marking its antiquity to well before the Islamic period, the city stands on the northern hill of the Ganjo Takkar (barren hill) ridge.  Nestling on the left bank of the Indus and named after the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed, Hyderabad changed hands from Hindu to Muslim rulers, and then to the British in 1843. Today, this city of 7,95,000 people is a bustling commercial and industrial centre.

Visit the Hyderabad Fort, built in 1768 over just two months.  Older and in a state of disrepair is the mud-walled Shaikh Makai Fort. It was built by Ghulam Shah Kalhora to protect the monuments of the Sindhi saint Shaikh Syed Muhammad Makai. Other Kalhora monuments include the tombs of Ghulam Shah Kalhora and Ghulam Nabi Kalhora. The Talpur rulers who came after the Kalhoras also left some monuments in the city. Mir Muhammad Khan Talpur’s tomb, besides those of other rulers can be seen around the city. The Municipal Garden and Zoo on Tandi Sarak is a good nature spot within the city. The garden also has an open-air theatre and a sports stadium.  A unique feature of the old city buildings is the badgirs or wind-catchers. These structures fixed to rooftops help trap cool sea breeze during the hot summer season.  

5 km from the city is the Kotri Barrage on the Indus. The barrage is a popular picnic spot with boating and fishing facilities and several restaurants lining the riverside. 9 km from Hyderabad is the Miani Forest, an area that is historically significant as the battlefield of the Talpur and British armies in 1843. This natural reserve has now been developed as a recreational centre with some wildlife also visible.  Around Hyderabad there are several important historical sites. Bhit Shah is 48 km northeast of the city and houses the tomb of Shah Abdul Latif, the great Sindhi Sufi saint. The complex has a rest house, a library, conference hall and a museum.  Bhit Shah also has an ancient Buddhist stupa. 56 km from Hyderabad is the town of Hala on the banks of the Indus. The town is famed for its handicrafts including lacquer work, glazed pottery, sousi and ajrak cloth and embroidery. New Hala has the tomb of Sindhi saint Makhdoom Nooh.  About 150 km from Hyderabad is Sehwan Sharif, one of the oldest settlements in Sindh. Once an important town under Hindu rulers around the 4^th century AD, Sehwan has the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. You can also see the remains of an ancient fort said to have been built by Alexander the Great.

30 km away from Hyderabad is Nasarpur, the oldest inhabited town of Sindh that lay along the old course of the Indus. It has some ancient tombs and is renowned for its handicrafts including lacquer work, khes (shawl) weaving and glazed pottery. Umarkot, on the edge of the great Tharparkar desert has an old Rajput fort. Significant as the birthplace of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the town is famous for its intricate embroidery work and reflects a unique desert lifestyle. Kot Diji is another significant historical site with an 18^th century Talpur Fort straddling a steep hill. Besides this monument, archaeological finds at Kot Diji have revealed pre-historic remains dated earlier than the Indus Valley sites of Harappa and Moenjodaro.  The remains show mud-brick houses on well-laid out stone foundations and artefacts including sophisticated pottery items.The Manchar Lake, west of Sehwan Sharif is spread over 24 sq kms and believed to be one of the largest natural lakes in Asia. Inhabited by traditional fisherfolk called Mohanna or Mirbhars (lords of the sea), the lake is an ideal picnic spot. The fishermen live in traditional wooden boats and still practice age-old methods of fishing. In winter the lake gets large flocks of migratory birds. There is a rest house at Bubak that can be booked through the PWD at Dadu.  Just 18 kms from Hyderabad is another picnic spot called Kisano Mori. Lined with small cafes it is a quiet getaway with facilities for swimming.

Hyderabad is well connected by road, rail and air to the rest of Pakistan. There is a flight to Karachi besides railway links and the Super Highway.  A good railway network and the National Highway connect other cities. Industries in the city include textile mills, sugar and cement factories and units producing glassware, soap, paper and plastics. There are also tanneries and sawmills.

Hyderabad is well known for its intricately crafted jewellery, silver and gold work, lacquered wooden furniture, embroidered silks, the traditional sousi and ajrak cloth, block printed chadars (shawls), shoes, glazed pottery and tiles. The road leading from Hyderabad Fort to Market Tower has the Shahi Bazaar, a long-winding avenue with tiny alleys leading off. Shops line the streets and beckon visitors to the wide range of handicraft items that are produced in the city.The local people speak Sindhi and Urdu. English is also widely understood. Food in Hyderabad follows the tradition of spicy, fragrant Muslim cuisine of the country. A speciality of the city is the fresh water palla fish cooked in typical Sindhi style. You can also savour the famous roasted leg of mutton called sajji and roast chicken at roadside cafes. 

For detailed country information, see Pakistan.