Road Trip Across Sindh & South Punjab (December 2014) - [KTG]

[Xoofi]

By exact 12 PM, we reached Derawar Fort. It was full shiny day but due to winter season, it was very pleasant weather. In fact it was a perfect weather to visit a desert.

Trees cover the Derawar Fort road..

First look of Derawar Fort

[Xoofi]

I had been to Derawar Fort before. That was in 2013 during Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally (Thread URL) but I was not able to see Derawar fort from inside as at that time it was sealed by Army people as their families had to visit it.. (wah re Pakistan)

But this was a great chance to visit Derawar fort in full detail. Last time when I visited this place, it was flooded with people, cars, tents and noise but right now it was dead calm in the desert and fort. We all parked our car and walked toward the fort...

Sansani

The first gate before fort.

The masjid's structure in front of fort first gate.

[Xoofi]

There was a visible similarity between gate of Derawar fort and the gate we saw at Kot Diji Fort (couple days back). The pointed arrows were same which we were told that are built to stop elephants crushing the gate. But the gate of Derawar Fort was looking totally rusted and in bad condition.. on the other side, Kot Diji Fort gate was definitely renovated.

[versitian]

shukar.

[Xoofi]

As we were walking towards main fort, we saw this boy coming with his camel. Mansoor and me immediately decided to take on this Camel Safari. The other members were least interested in this camel safari thing.

We talked to this boy that how much he will charge for a full round of the fort. He asked for just 50 Rs. We both sat on the camel while others went inside the fort.

It was a little tough experience because the foot holdings were a bit lose

[Xoofi]

The camel safari was indeed a fun experience. I never took camel ride this long in my entire life. At Karachi seasides, the camel ride lasts for just a couple of minutes while walking on sand but here it was different. At some places the camel had to cross small ridges also.

The kid knew the right places for taking photographs. He would stop the camel at specific points and say.. bhai yahan se tasveer nikalo achi aay gi..

[smileb4u]

Excellent.

[Xoofi]

The camel safari continued. Many times my foot would dislocate from stirrups so we ask kid to stop and fix the foot. Sometimes the kid would stop after every few minutes and would ask us to take picture but it was tough job to handle camera on a camel

The side facing road

The back side of the fort

One of the pillar is totally deteriorated.

A vendor approaching village on his motorcycle shop

[Xoofi]

Here is one of the picture which the camel kid took through Mansoor's mobile camera. Before taking this picture, this kid moved here and there and finally adjusted at one place and here is the end result.

As you can see it is perfect framing showing the fort at correct height and both of us having camel ride. He was indeed a smart kid.

[COOLTAHIR]

Nicely going

[Xoofi]

After about 15 minutes we covered the 3 sides of fort. The kid told that the 4th side (the front) is not feasible for camel ride as it was in depth and then rise. It was also riddled with thorny bushes. So we returned via same route. So in total we had covered 3 sides of fort two times. After we reached the stop point, we got off the camel. Paid the kid much extra than his innocent demand of 50 Rs. and then headed towards the fort entry..

The Safari continues

We came till this point

After our ride, both brothers fixing the camel accessories.

[Xoofi]

Now me and Mansoor entered the fort by paying the entry fee (in reality there is no entry fee so its basically chai pani for the caretaker). After the gate, there is a small tunnel which opens to the inside of the fort. This fort is also not in very good condition and needs a serious renovation.

We looked here and there to find our remaining friends who entered the fort first and soon we spotted them at the southern edge and then decided to join them there..

[versitian]

Bht Alaa going sufian.. yadain taza ho gaeen is trip ki..

[Xoofi]

There is this cannon placed inside the fort. We took its picture while walking towards our friends..

Looks like a shoe pair.

[Xoofi]

While walking we passed through different rooms/portions of the fort which were totally deserted. I tried to imagine how they looked during their era.. a distorted royal look came up in mind with royal men taking elephant ride in the ground but this deserted reality soon overtook the distorted royal look..

Unnamed graves

@versition (Mansoor) trying to walk fast

[Xoofi]

More view and structures while me and Mansoor were walking towards our remaining friends. It was a walk of 5 minutes only put in the meantime we experienced many views and structures thats why several posts and pictures

This pillar is totally deteriorated. However it still stands firm.. Great civil engineering

[Xoofi]

Finally reached the southern ridge to meet the remaining friends. Here we stopped for 15 minutes, enjoyed the views. Ate the snacks and cold drinks which we brought from DUA restaurant (Ahmedpur East). We all were talking about how good our trip was so far and how everything went according to our favor.. MashaALLAH

My DSLR Selfie at Derawar Fort

@aks_e_ahmed WIN

[Xoofi]

After snack time, the jump time started.. We tried the jumps here too as we did at the Kot Diji Fort. This time Adeel ( @aks_e_ahmed ) was also with us.. After so many tries these are the worth sharing poses I got. Look at the lively expressions of everyone when in the air

Ye Sheikh sahab hawa mai mualliq huay way @aks_e_ahmed

@versitian Mansoor bhai hawai jahaz banay huay

@mdani Danish ammi ki chappal se bachtay huay

Adeel (Mani) waiting for his broom stick

[aghaabbas]

Welcome Back Sufain Bhai after a long days....... with Nice picture's....

[versitian]

hahhahahahhahah.. very nice hawaiii pics xoofi..