The Cholistan Desert is the largest desert on the Indian subcontinent, covering over 25,000 square kilometers.
It extends south into the Thar Desert in Sind, and east into India’s Rajasthan Desert. Its name is said to derive from the Urdu verb Cholna – to walk – although it’s not clear whether this refers to the shifting sand dunes or the semi-nomadic people who roam the desert in search of water and pasture.
The Hakra River (known in the Vedas as the River Sarasvati, and more recently as the Ghaggar) once flowed through the region, supporting a civilization contemporary with Meonjodaro and Harappa. Over 400 archeological sites have been uncovered along the dried up bed of the Hakra, in addition to evidence of numerous Stone Age settlement at the lower levels. A series of desert forts have been built to guard the trade route across the Cholistan, the best preserved of which is Derawar Fort. This unique trip takes you to Bahawalpur – Yazman and Chanan Pir while we on a camel ride, we spend 2-4 nights camping en route visiting nomad settlements and witness camel drivers dance, the local jhumar around a warm campfire.
