http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0001009S3U01454000[SVC2].jpg
Photograph of the Tomb of Makhdum Saheb at Hala in Sindh, taken by Henry Cousens in 1896

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Full-length standing studio portrait of a Muslim girl from Karachi in Sind, Pakistan, taken by Michie and Company in c. 1870

The girl in the photograph demonstrates the method of wearing ear and nose rings, necklace and anklets. She is also wearing ceremonial dress and has a lock of hair pulled down over her forehead.

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Photograph of the Shrine of Zind Pir at Sukkur in the Shikarpur District of Sindh in Pakistan, taken by Henry Cousens in 1896-7. This view looks across the causeway towards the entrance to the tomb.

Cousens wrote in the Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey of Sindh, 1897, "Upon the upper side of Bukkur, and joined to it at low water, is the compact little island upon which, under the cool shade of some large trees, is the famous shrine of Zinda or 'Jind' Pir. The island has been raised and protected against the corrosion of the river by retaining walls of strong rubble masonry all around. The great gateway facing Rohri is a far more imposing structure than the mean little domed shrine itself. The latter occupies the centre of the island, and is a remarkable plain small square building surmounted by a low dome..."

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0001009S3U01450000[SVC2].jpg

Photograph of Pir Rukan Shah's Tomb at Matiari in Sind. 1895
" "When I left Hyderabad for Hala via Shahdapur, I sent on a draftsman and photographic assistant direct by road, thirty miles, so as to visit and get photos of the mosque and tombs at Matiari on the way. These were found to be of no great interest, the oldest being about 130 years old". This is a general view of the tomb, a square domed building, built in 1764."Cousens

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0001009S4U01507000[SVC2].jpg

Photograph of Thul Rukan near Moro in Sind, Pakistan, taken by Henry Cousens in 1896-7

"The Buddhist tope [stupa] known as Thul Rukhan is nine miles east by south from Daulatpur and fifteen miles due east of Sehwan. It is built of brick, but is greatly dilapidated. It would appear to have been built in four tiers surmounted by a dome, each tier being smaller than that below it and separated from it by a string course of semicircular moulding. The face of each tier is ornamented by pilasters at intervals, each having its base and ornamental capital...There are the remains of several of these topes in Sind".

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000425U00025000[SVC2].jpg
Photograph with a view looking over the houses of the town towards the Baluch Lines of the Karachi Cantonment, taken by an unknown photographer, c.1900, from an album of 46 prints titled 'Karachi Views'. Views 21-32 from this album join together to form a 360 degree panorama of the city from the tower of Trinity Church. Karachi, one of the world's largest metropolises, was once the capital of Pakistan

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019WDZ000002080U00000000[SVC2].jpg
Map of Hyderabad and the neighbourhood executed in water-colour by Henry Francis Ainslie (c.1805-1879), January 1852. Inscribed on the front in pencil is: 'Fort of & station, with city of Hyderabad, Scinde. Jany 1852. HFA

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Water-colour painting of the Fort at Hyderabad (Sind) by Henry Francis Ainslie (c.1805-1879), December 1851. Inscribed on the front of the mount in red ink is: 'Sindh. Fort of Hyderabad, capital of Sindh, from the Belloochee lines. The tower contained the treasures of the Ameers of Sindh. Decr 1851. HFA.'

Very nice Pakia! :applause:

Thanks guys, but don't just applaud my effort, please contribute too whenever you can.

Its very sad when as Pakistanis, we don't appreciate the relevance of history to current conditions & issues.

There are tons of stuff rotting in museums, galleries and private collections that could help instill pride in people esp. young & a drive to improve the pathetic conditions of some of the country's historic places etc.

I'm trying to do my 2 cents to bring them out of the darkness.
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http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0000940S1U00036000[SVC2].jpg
Sukkur 1860s

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http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO001000S46U04659000[SVC2].jpg
check out the map on the wall

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This image of a line of carpet weavers seated at their looms in a shed was shown at the Vienna Exhibition of that year. In the 19th century a number of schemes for a carpet industry was developed in government jails in India partly in order to train convicts in a skill but also to provide a cheaper market for traditional patterns.

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO001000S46U04659000[SVC2].jpg
check out the map on the wall

Interesting Map! Shows Balochistan as a different state! And look at Arabia! Its United!

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000425U00025000[SVC2].jpg
Photograph with a view looking over the houses of the town towards the Baluch Lines of the Karachi Cantonment, taken by an unknown photographer, c.1900, from an album of 46 prints titled 'Karachi Views'. Views 21-32 from this album join together to form a 360 degree panorama of the city from the tower of Trinity Church. Karachi, one of the world's largest metropolises, was once the capital of Pakistan

Looks so, so much better than today.

No words to explain my feelings, I just can say thanks.

I'm learning new things everyday. Thank you very much Pakia for these threads.

Mirs of Khairpur throughout time

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Sorhrab.jpg

Sarkar Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur 1783 - 1830

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Rustam.jpg

Sarkar Mir Rustam 'Ali Khan Talpur 1830 - 1842

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Ali%20Murad%20I.jpg

Mir Sir 'Ali Murad Khan Talpur 1842 - 1894

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Faiz%20Muhammad%20I.jpg

Mir Sir Faiz Muhammad Khan I Talpur 1894 - 1909

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Imam%20Baksh.jpg

Nawab Mir Sir Imam Bakhsh Khan Talpur 1909 - 1921

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khaipur-Ali%20Nawaz.jpg

Mir 'Ali Nawaz Khan Talpur al-Haj 1921 - 1935

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Faiz%20Muhammad%20II.jpg

Major Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan II Talpur 1935 - 1947

http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/khairpur-Ali%20Murad%20II.jpg

Lieutenant-Colonel Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan II Talpur 1947 - todate

Thanks again guys. ^^ Kool duds on Kewler dudes.

Won't it be wonderful if some of the old styles in building architecture & clothing is revived with modern twists in Pakistan.

Covered Bazar in Shikarpur, Sindh ( don't u love the interesting roof covering?)
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Photograph of the bazaar street at Shikarpur in the Sindh province now in Pakistan, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1890s.

The mud daub roof, supported on a wooden framework, is largely collapsed. The historic town of Shikarpur, founded in the 17th century, was once an important trading centre.

Due to its strategic location on the caravan routes of the 17th century, Shikarpur became the greatest commercial city in Sindh, Pakistan. Its merchants and bankers held commercial relations with all the principal markets of Central Asia, including Khorasan, Bukhara and Samarkand. Commercial cities of the Muslim world were known for their central covered bazaars and Shikarpur was no exception, its bazaar, lined with shops mostly run by Hindu merchants, ran through the centre of the old city, which is now much decayed.

The Persian ruler Nadir Shah (1688-1747) is said to have stayed in Shikarpur on his march through Sindh while returning from invading India in 1739. This photograph is from an album of 91 prints apparently compiled by P. J. Corbett, a PWD engineer involved in irrigation work at the famine relief camp at Shetpal Tank in 1897, and in canal construction in Sindh in the early 1900s.

Looks so, so much better than today.

Looks so peaceful and tranquil...........like something out of a dream. I wish I could go back to such a simpler time! :(

Thankyou Pakia! :happy:

hey pakia I am really into Maharajas etc.. I was wondering what is the current states of the nawabs? as in what position in society do they hold? are they known socialites? do they still own their palaces if yes what is the state of their properties? and if not did they sign an agreement to give their property to the govt ( if that's the case) it would be good if you or any other pakistani former can provide a bit of info in the form of a short biography.. thanks. Also, especially have you got any information about the Nawab of Junagadh? as in what happened after he reached pakistan and if he has any children,grandchildren or any grand property ?

hey pakia I am really into Maharajas etc.. I was wondering what is the current states of the nawabs? as in what position in society do they hold? are they known socialites? do they still own their palaces if yes what is the state of their properties? and if not did they sign an agreement to give their property to the govt ( if that's the case) it would be good if you or any other pakistani former can provide a bit of info in the form of a short biography.. thanks. Also, especially have you got any information about the Nawab of Junagadh? as in what happened after he reached pakistan and if he has any children,grandchildren or any grand property ?

Wow! Funny you ask, the Khanjees of Junagadh are family friends of mine. The current Nawab is Jehangir Khanjee. He currently resides in Karachi. His Haweli (and it really is a freakin Haweli) is behind Frere Hall in Karachi by the Old American Embassy. He is also an advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh. The current Nawab's nephew is my best friend. I visited their Haweli on my recent trip to Karachi but I cant post pictures of it here as I was requested not to. The Khanjee's of Junagadh have a long and troubled history, they were deceived and most of their wealth was looted by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Father Shahnawaz Bhutto who was the Prime Minister of the Princely State of Junagadh and was entrusted with transporting as much of the treasury to Pakistan during partition by Nawab Khanjee of Junagadh. He instead siphoned off a very large sum which was originally meant to be handed over to Jinnah to be used to run the state of Pakistan.

If you go to the Bhutto Family home in Garhi Khuda Baksh, its called Al-Zulfikar, you can still find treasures with the Junagadh state monogram on them which were looted at the time of partition.

Jodhpur, I neither know nor care for any nawab, sardar, waderas, jageerdars or anyother uloo kay pathays. They should have been all taken down from their "thrones" in Pakistan, just as India did there. They all did us in.

Back to rehashing history :)
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Christ church
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Church of Holy Trinity
Completed in 1855, Holy Trinity was the first major church to be built in Karachi. Although it was designed by Captain John Hill, changes were made by John Brunton during its construction. The church is built in local, buff colour Gizri stone. This view of the exterior of the church shows the tower and roof in its original state. The tower has five storeys above the buttressed entranceway of the tower and the roof is pitched. Two stories of the tower were removed for safety in 1904 and a new barrel vaulted roof was was put in place in the 1970s.
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Saint Paul Church
St Paul's Church is situated on Manora island, which was first occupied by the British in 1839. This view shows the exterior of St Paul's, a simple five bay structure.
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St, Andrew's church
The Anglican St. Andrew's Church or Scotch Church was completed in 1868. The designer of St. Andrew's was T.G. Newnham, a Chief Resident Engineer of the Sindh Railway. The architecture of St Andrew's seen in this view shows a blend of the Romanesque and Gothic styles. The entrance of the church by means of the octagonal porch shown on the left of this photograph is unusual in its design.

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Photograph showing four men fishing for palla at the water's edge, with nets and earthernware floats, near Kotri in Sindh province, Pakistan, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1890s. Sindh encompasses the Lower Indus Basin with its delta, and is edged by the Arabian Sea on the south-west. The palla (tenualosa ilisha), a type of shad, is the most important variety of freshwater fish caught in Sindh. In February and March the fish ascend the Indus River in large numbers for spawning. The most common method of fishing for palla is to use a bag net attached to a long pole forked at the end. The limbs of the fork are about five feet in length and keep the net open as long as a double cord which runs along them is kept taut. The fisherman floats downstream on a chatty or earthen pot such as the ones seen in this view. His stomach forms a stopper over the mouth of the chatty while he is in the water. The fish are caught in the net then stabbed with an iron spike and placed into the chatty. The waters of the Indus provided rich fisheries, but in modern times these are under threat from over-fishing, abandoning of traditional methods, and reduction of freshwater by the increase of dams, barrages and reservoirs. This photograph is from an album of 91 prints apparently compiled by P. J. Corbett, a PWD engineer involved in irrigation work at the famine relief camp at Shetpal Tank in 1897, and in canal construction in Sindh in the early 1900s

Wow! Funny you ask, the Khanjees of Junagadh are family friends of mine. The current Nawab is Jehangir Khanjee. He currently resides in Karachi. His Haweli (and it really is a freakin Haweli) is behind Frere Hall in Karachi by the Old American Embassy. He is also an advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh. The current Nawab's nephew is my best friend. I visited their Haweli on my recent trip to Karachi but I cant post pictures of it here as I was requested not to. The Khanjee's of Junagadh have a long and troubled history, they were deceived and most of their wealth was looted by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Father Shahnawaz Bhutto who was the Prime Minister of the Princely State of Junagadh and was entrusted with transporting as much of the treasury to Pakistan during partition by Nawab Khanjee of Junagadh. He instead siphoned off a very large sum which was originally meant to be handed over to Jinnah to be used to run the state of Pakistan.

If you go to the Bhutto Family home in Garhi Khuda Baksh, its called Al-Zulfikar, you can still find treasures with the Junagadh state monogram on them which were looted at the time of partition.

Actually! My dad knows the grandson of the last Nawab of Junagarth! He was such a drunk! Funny how he was in the Air force at the same time!


hey pakia I am really into Maharajas etc.. I was wondering what is the current states of the nawabs? as in what position in society do they hold? are they known socialites? do they still own their palaces if yes what is the state of their properties? and if not did they sign an agreement to give their property to the govt ( if that's the case) it would be good if you or any other pakistani former can provide a bit of info in the form of a short biography.. thanks. Also, especially have you got any information about the Nawab of Junagadh? as in what happened after he reached pakistan and if he has any children,grandchildren or any grand property ?

Currently in Pakistan, the nawabs have been limited thier power. For ex, the Govt has taken most of the palaces in Bahawalpur, and let the nawabs keep one! And a lot of Mirs Nawabs even Maharajas have gone into politics. For ex. the Maharaja of Umarkot in sindh, Rana Chandra Singh was a member of parliment!

First Governor of Sindh - Sir Lancelot Graham

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/536041556_881d0c0db8.jpg

When Sindh a part of the Bombay Presidency became a province in April 1936, Sir Lancelot Graham became the first Governor of Sindh. He appointed my grandfather Khan Bahadur Ghulam Nabi Kazi as first Director of Public Instructions Sindh or the head of education in 1937.

Sir Charles Napier who had Sin(ne)d

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1066/1168005812_e855f7a1c5.jpg

He conquered Scinde in 1843 in the Battle of Miani and sent Queen Victoria a cryptic one word message "Peccavi" meaning I have Sin(ne)d.

Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagaro

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1251/1071216428_ef330ab841.jpg

Unlike popular belief Pagaro is not the name of a place but literally means the tribal chieftain's turban. Sibghatullah Shah was arrested on the orders of Sir Hugh Dow the Governor of Sind in 1941 who had told him to remain in Karachi. His leaving Karachi infuriated the Governor who ordered Police Superintendent Ridley to arrest him from Khairpur. He was taken for lunch to the Regent Khan Bahadur Syed Aijaz Ali OBE (father-in-law of Mr A G N Kazi) and later transferred to Karachi. He was later hanged after a summary trial and his 'gaddi' or seat was abolished. His son was sent ot England for education. Mr Allah Bux Soomro was the Chief Minister of Sindh at the time of the arrest and was assassinated

The inauguration of the Sukkur Barrage is celebrated

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1080205768_c5dad7aa3d_m.jpg

75 years ago in Karachi Gymkhana, 1932

Click here for a larger Image (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1080205768/in/set-72157600713391148/)

Thanks oogabooga you hottie :hug: and you too James Bond... One or two more question: so in general are these former rulers fairly well off or is it that the rulers of the big states are well off and smaller ones have run into financial difficulty? also like in india are there any who have turned their residences into hotels? I have heard a bit about Bhawalpur ( hope that's spelt correctly) as they were part of the Maharajas exhibition last year at Victoria and Albert Museum in london...


pakia: love them or hate them you can't ignore them. They are a an important part in subcontinent history. I'm more into them as I am fascinated by their lifestyles but that doesn't mean I don't know the brutalities they committed while living the their life of luxury. I think we should look for the best in everyone and they were the patrons of some amazing art and architecture.

Hottie? :laugh:


Wait! HOLDON JUST A SECOND! :shifty:..............are you trying to tell me that you are a ..................:shifty:.............girl?


Because Booga likes girls! :happy:

Hottie? :laugh:


Wait! HOLDON JUST A SECOND! :shifty:..............are you trying to tell me that you are a ..................:shifty:.............girl?


Because Booga likes girls! :happy:

No. I was being affectionate to get more answers from you but I guess it din't work in your case! now answer my questions other wise you're not going to get your shawrma :laugh:

DAMNYOU! DAMNYOU TO HELL! >(


THIS DECEPTION SHALL NOT SOON BE FORGOTTEN!


*plots Jodhpurs violent assassination*


:laugh: What was the question again?

post #30... actually you know what pm me the answer.. otherwise your fellow countrymen will accuse me of derailing the thread.

post #30... actually you know what pm me the answer.. otherwise your fellow countrymen will accuse me of derailing the thread.

Actually Jodhpur you got a good point, we don't need to be too bitter about aristocrat folks as they did contribute a lot to culture, cuisine, architecture (even if they were meant for self-indulgence).

So don't worry about derailing as I'm all for a good debate. thanks 4 ur interest.

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Cousens wrote in 'The Antiquities of Sind' of 1890, "The brickwork...is very superior, the bricks, or, at least, those on the surface, being made of the best pottery clay, perfectly formed and dense, having cleanly-cut sharp edges, and of a rich dark red. The enamelled bricks are glazed, upon their outer surfaces, in light and dark blue and white...The coloured dadoes are an especially fine feature...A single design, without duplication, will sometimes cover several square yards of surface...Then, again, some tiles are as small as half an inch square, and over a hundred are used in a square foot, of mixed sizes, forming a perfect mosaic..."

Check out the old Sindhi cap on the guy, how it has evolved.

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Owner or the same fella?

great pictures. Am loving them. Loving all 4 threads :)

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Beautiful pic! It looks like a typical desert from the islamic world!

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Inauguration of a bridge near Sukkur, 1895

Looks so peaceful and tranquil...........like something out of a dream. I wish I could go back to such a simpler time! :(

Thankyou Pakia! :happy:

Believe me or not I have the same feeling too, such a nice simple and peaceful time it looks in pictures.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3067168547_8dc6d00b93.jpg

Prominent Citizens of Karachi, 1911

Mir Ayub Khan, Jamhed Mehta, Osman Dossalani, and Abdullah Haroon honour Hakim Ajmal Khan (center)

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Mr Khuhro receiving Sir Frederick Sykes at Karachi Club

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A view of Larkana Madressah, 1912

Some of the prominent students include Mr M A Khuhro, Sardar Wahid Bakhsh Bhutto, G S Kehar and Dr U M Daudpota

Sindh Madressa

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/3800498360_b8809e5591.jpg

Teachers in 1935

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The school building in 1890; capital cost Rs 197,188

Nice find 007^^:cheers:

I wonder if that club & school bldg are still standing & being used?

I am happy that atleast some of you are liking these threads, so I'll keeping fueling your interest as long as there is one.:)

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000425U00006000[SVC2].jpg
Karachi Landing Pier 1860
It looks so eerily similar to the existing one, I bet its the same. (I was there on a boat trip to Maora only few months ago.)
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Photograph of the fountain constructed in 1883 in the Government Garden, Karachi, in memory of Bombay philanthropist Cowasjee Jehangir Readymoney, taken by an unknown photographer, c.1900.
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Birds eye view of KHI 1900
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Photograph of the D.J. Sind Arts College (now known as the D. J. Government Science College) of Karachi, taken by an unknown photographer

Nice find 007^^:cheers:

I wonder if that club & school bldg are still standing & being used?

A lot of these clubs are still alive today! A place for bigshots of Pakistan.

Oh and there are more pics to come!

thx for these amazing pics feels like a time machine seeing these images looks better than it does today more organised and less polluted and congested.

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Photograph of the interior of Jam Nizam-Ud-Din's Tomb at Thatta in the Karachi District of Sindh., taken by Henry Cousens in 1896
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Photograph of one of the Chhatris near Sayyad Ali Shah Shirazi's Tomb at Thatta in the Karachi District of Sind. Taken in 1896
Some where between Tatta & Kurrachee, 1853
http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019WDZ000002085U00000000[SVC2].jpg
Water-colour drawing of Watoji (Sind) by Henry Francis Ainslie (c.1805-1879), 12 February 1853. Inscribed on the front of the mount in red ink is: 'Sindh, Wuttogee, a halting place about halfway between Tatta & Kurrachee, here is one well, a native rest-house, and a ruined musjeed or mosque.

http://sites.google.com/site/talpurs/_/rsrc/1232684056207/introduction/charyar_talpurmirs-2.jpg.jpg

The Charyar (four brother) Talpur Rulers of Hyderabad Sindh

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Mir_Muhammad_Naseer_Khan_Talpur.png/230px-Mir_Muhammad_Naseer_Khan_Talpur.png

An artist's interpretation of his highness Mir Muhammad Naseer Khan Talpur, the last ruler of the fortified town.

http://drfarrukhmalik.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/mir-sohrab-khan.jpg

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019WDZ000004203U00000000[SVC2].jpg
Water-colour painting of a hill near Sukkur Cantonment (Sind) by Thomas Studdert (1812-1855), 15th December 1840.

Sukkur is situated in the centre of Sind province, Pakistan on the west bank of the River Indus opposite its twin town of Rohri. The town has traditionally been of military importance due its location at a strategic crossing point of the river. It was occupied by the British in the 19th century as it was part of their route to the Bolan Pass in Baluchistan. In 1845 however an outbreak of ‘jungle fever’ among the 78th Highlanders killed 500 men, women and children and the town was abandoned.

I believe one of the structure is surprisingly still standing. I posted it here on another thread.

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000394U00138000[SVC2].jpg
Kurrachee [Karachi], Harbor in 1860
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Passenger Landing Pier [Karachi].1900
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Part of the town of Karachi (Sind), with mud houses; camels and villagers in foreground. April 1851
Water-colour of Karachi (Sind) by Henry Francis Ainslie (c.1805-1879), April 1851. Inscribed on the front of the mount in red ink is: 'Sindh, part of the native town of Kurrachee, 1851.'

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000394U00134000[SVC2].jpg

Ah, my beautiful Sindh, circa 1860

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99444759@N00/3943481417/in/photostream/

http://www.antiquemapsandprints.com/scansr/P-5-15558b.jpg
Cows-looting,frontier of Sindh,old print,1864

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Gandhi Gardens
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Beggar
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Directing traffic in downtown Karachi
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Local train in station
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Karachi train station
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http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p20.jpg

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Not sure why there is US flag flying
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p23.jpg
Chanan Lal Dentist
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p24.jpg
Karachi cinema
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p25.jpg
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p26.jpg
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p27.jpghttp://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p28.jpg
Burning ghat
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p18.jpg

http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p31.jpg

http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p37.jpg
Entrance to Gandhi Gardens, Karachi

Pics taken by American sailor, Glen Garrelts
http://cbi-theater-10.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-10/glenn/p01.jpg

http://www.mylifedump.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/napier-mole-bridge-to-kemari.jpg
Photograph taken by an unknown photographer in Karachi, c.1900, with a general view along the iron Napier Mole bridge connecting Karachi with Kemari.

SOOMRA DYNASTY (1011- 1351 AD)

Http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Pacco_Qillo_Round_Tower.png
The Soomras originally were a local Hindu tribe. Some influential members of it had accepted Islam soon after the Arab conquest of Sindh. Even after conversion they retained their old Hindu names and customs. They had intermarried with local Arab landowners and thus had acquired great influence and power.

They were not Qarmatis. Muqtana of Syria had been inviting Shaikh Ibn Soomar Raja Bal of Multan to accept Druzism. It is, therefore, apparent that they belonged to the Ismaili sect organised by the Fatmid Khalifas of Egypt, Imam Zahir and Mustansir. The Qarmati descendent movement or the early Ismaili sect had never gained ground in Sindh, but somehow most of the early Sunni writers considered Ismailis as Qarmatis. The Soomras practised a lot of Hindu customs even until 1471 AD when Mahmud Begra tried to suppress them and convert them to his sect of Islam i.e., Sunnism. Raja Bal or Rajpal could have been son of Soomar Soomro who ruled Sindh at that time. (A very common Sindhi surname)

The early Soomra rulers were ‘Fatmid’ Ismailis, owed allegiance to Fatmid Khalifas of Cairo, sent them presents and read their names in the Friday Khutba. On the death of Imam Mustansir at Cairo in 487 AH (1094 AD), the Fatmid Dawa had been divided in two sections. The first one Mustalian Dawa with headquarters at Yemen in the beginning and later on in Gujarat; the other one called Nizari Ismaili Dawa with headquarters at Almut in Persia under Hasan bin Sabbah and supported the cause of Imam Nizar bin Mustansir and his descendants. The Soomras drifted away from these two rival Dawas. Ismailis got great setback between 1171-1187 AD starting with the fall of their Khilafat in Cairo at the hands of Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi, then in Iraq at the hands of Seljuki Turks and in Multan by Muhammad Ghori’s campaigns.

Yemeni or Gujarati Dawa exercised heavy Arab influence, which is apparent in the names of people as well as Arabic literature. The Soomras in general had local Sindhi names and therefore they could not have originally belonged to this sect of Ismailis. The Ismailis of Gujarat, who attached themselves to Yemeni or Gujarati Dawa, are known as Bohris.
..
http://anthrocivitas.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4539

^^ The Soomros still exist in Sarikistan and Sindh today. They can be found as mostly Landlords. Good example would be Muhammad Mian Soomro, the Acting Prime Minister and later President.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5472142006_dfc4314419_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5472141794_032647be6c_z.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/CheetahHunt.jpg/800px-CheetahHunt.jpg
Mirza Ghazi Beg was the famous Mughal administrator of Sindh and a renowned historical figure in Sindhi folklore.

Painting by James Forbes of Mirza Beg hunting a Blackbuck, around "Morontobara" (todays Manora Island in Karachi), with the help of a Cheetah in 1812.

(Note the subtle view of palm trees in the background & the hawk held by a fella.)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/KhiairportWW2.jpg

See the round roof in the middle? I had breakfast under that roof as a kid!

I had breakfast under that roof as a kid!

rrrrrrreeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy? you're the coolest person eeeeevvvvvvveeeerrrrrrr...

http://www.bvsvirbaijeeites.com/images/galleries/enlarged/2605.JPG
Photograph of the exterior of the Parsi Virbaiji School in Karachi taken from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections: India Office Series (Volume 46), taken by Michie and Company in 1873. This image was exhibited at the Vienna Universal Exhibition of that year. This building was donated by the Founder and was part of his house, that was turned into a school. This building was located in Saddar. Credits: The British Library

I wish such old pics were exhibited in city galleries so locals and esp. young students can have access to them.

Bringing past to present could even tame the fundamentalist tendencies IMO.

http://www.bvsvirbaijeeites.com/images/galleries/enlarged/2114.jpg
This photo was taken during the eve of the separation of the boys and girls school. This is the time when Mama Parsi Girls School was created.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1363/1427170667_12904881a6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1427170667/)
Veterans of pre-Partition Sindh: Pir Sibghatullah Pagaro (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1427170667/) by Doc Kazi (http://www.flickr.com/people/pimu/), on Flickr
Pir Sibghatullah Pagaro: led the revolt against British Rule until his hanging and abolition of his 'gaddi'

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1251/1071216428_ef330ab841_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1071216428/)
Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagaro (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1071216428/) by Doc Kazi (http://www.flickr.com/people/pimu/), on Flickr
Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagaro: Unlike popular belief Pagaro is not the name of a place but literally means the tribal chieftain's turban. Sibghatullah Shah was arrested on the orders of Sir Hugh Dow the Governor of Sind in 1941 who had told him to remain in Karachi. His leaving Karachi infuriated the Governor who ordered Police Superintendent Ridley to arrest him from Khairpur. He was taken for lunch to the Regent Khan Bahadur Syed Aijaz Ali OBE (father-in-law of Mr A G N Kazi) and later transferred to Karachi. He was later hanged after a summary trial and his 'gaddi' or seat was abolished. His son was sent ot England for education. Mr Allah Bux Soomro was the Chief Minister of Sindh at the time of the arrest and was assassinated

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1410/1071200544_90dd8ecf6e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1071200544/)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad with Allah Bux Soomro (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1071200544/) by Doc Kazi (http://www.flickr.com/people/pimu/), on Flickr
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad with Allah Bux Soomro: The Sindh prime minister with sympathy for the Congress was assassinated while going in his horse driven carriage in Shikarpur on 14 May 1944. Mr Khuhro was briefly arrested for the murder but there was substantial evidence that he had other poweful enemies

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1139/1080205768_38c223e335_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1080205768/)
The inauguration of the Sukkur Barrage is celebrated (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimu/1080205768/) by Doc Kazi (http://www.flickr.com/people/pimu/), on Flickr
The inauguration of the Sukkur Barrage is celebrated: 75 years ago in Karachi Gymkhana, 1932

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UqN2eeNLGhU/Ts9DBSSfQhI/AAAAAAAAAH0/fIX7PLL2QaI/w221-h133-n-k/Manora.jpg
Manora in late 19th century.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aWl4oLUb2kE/Ts9CyJ8ol3I/AAAAAAAAAFE/BQmZwiTKJ9M/w212-h168-k/180734_1562866033616_1294302635_31250899_1372792_n.jpg
Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mazar in 1875

(No bigger size or better quality available.):ohno:

Wish there was a gallery in Karachi to display all these historiacal and rare pics and work on restoring & preserving them.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2358/2164970974_d1b2b015e0_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2032/2164974564_309a22251f_b.jpg
British soldiers enjoying beer outside Gandhi Gardens, Karachi. Early 1940s.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2410/2164967682_78a9449007_b.jpg
Car leaving Gandhi gardens, carrying WWII soldiers

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407174_363615260330613_198199843538823_1510653_1459567467_n.jpg
Bristol Hotel in 1905

Source (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=363615260330613&set=a.268044399887700.85828.198199843538823&type=1&ref=nf)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2748/4435716938_131534a06f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/48374174@N05/4435716938/)
Battle of Miani(The war between British and Sindhi Warriors) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/48374174@N05/4435716938/) by syed Ali Irfan Shah (http://www.flickr.com/people/48374174@N05/), on Flickr

The Battle of Miani (February 17, 1843) was a battle between British forces under Sir Charles Napier and the Talpur Amirs of Sindh, Pakistan. After the victory of this battle, Sir Napier wrote "I have sinned".

59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)

The 59 Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force) was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army.The regiment is one of the most reputed outfits of British Indian Army. It was raised in 1843, as the Scinde Camel Corps. In 1856, it was incorporated into the Punjab Irregular Force (PIF). It was designated as the 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force) in 1904 and became 6th Royal Battalion (Scinde) 13th Frontier Force Rifles in 1922. In 1947, it was allocated to the Pakistan Army, where it continues to exist as 1st Battalion The Frontier Force Regiment.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/6th_Punjab_Regt_PFF_1886._R_Simkin.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/59th_Scinde_Rifles_%281FF%29_1918._William_Luker_Jr.jpg
Havildar of 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force). Painting by William Luker Jr, 1918.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/03/29/world/asia/29-Bnei-Historical-IndiaInk/29-Bnei-Historical-IndiaInk-blog480.jpg

The First All India Israelite League meeting held in Karachi in 1918. The league provided support to 650 B’nei Israel Jews living in the Pakistani province of Sind.

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/saris-and-chuppahs-for-the-bnei-israel-jews-of-india/?scp=1&sq=pakistani%20jews&st=cse

^^ WOW

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5160/5911582122_8081db2833_b.jpg

Entrance to Sehwan

1844,
Lithograph by Charles Haghe, based upon a Sketch by William Edwards, 1844; Published in Sketches of Scinde, London 1846

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6060/5911582538_b569b9581b_b.jpg

Main Gateway, Hyderabad Fort

1844,
Lithograph by Charles Haghe, based upon a Sketch by William Edwards, 1844; Published in Sketches of Scinde, London 1846

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6005/5911582374_80e2d99eaa_b.jpg

The Round Tower of Hyderabad Fort


http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6013/5911582836_c055ef5387_b.jpg

Postcard, The Empress Market, Karachi

Eastern Electric & Trading Co Advertisement 1918 - Karachi, Lahore, Amritsar
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6918581316_4d9c6c2d1c_s.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59036290@N07/6918581316/sizes/l/in/photostream/

These kind of things should be in museum somewhere in Pakistan!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fNeesYGnSGk/RsWb_SZnsmI/AAAAAAAANlw/9RNS30Nk5X4/s625/The+Church%2C+Kurrachee+%5BKarachi%2C+Pakistan%5D..jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HmIcwnmtENY/RsWXvSZnr2I/AAAAAAAANlw/CRLe4t5bAiA/s517/Trinity+Church.jpg

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/8746/oldgardenjkzi7.jpg
Karachi's Ismailies old Jamat Khana.
The old Garden JK was built and donated by Aetmadi Bhula-ali Khimani officially but actually his son Aetmadi Bana Bhula-ali was the donor. The construction work started in autumn of 1918 and inaugurated in Spring of 1920 with Sagridham for whole of Karachi Ismailis in its compound and diamond ring.
Y.A.M from A. Sultan. (Nanabapa)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-platlFmTuYk/RsWcCSZnsnI/AAAAAAAANlw/MNUiitMo4_k/s609/Frere+Hall%2C+Kurrachee..jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LWKrBV8jioc/RsWd_SZntBI/AAAAAAAANlw/weYH7sSo1Eg/s646/General+view+of+the+Anglo-Vernacular+School%2C+Karachi.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6703518505_4d493f1f2a_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6703825071_d78e008c9a_b.jpg
Unloading a British Army horse from a ship in Karachi, British India circa 1919 - 1920.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6703518511_45c0d27271_b.jpg
Mama Mansion, Karachi

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6703518519_7ff913eb6b_b.jpg
Lyari nadi ?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6703643175_f91c8c7d46_b.jpg
Sindh Club

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6822292629_62d94c07b2_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6703643187_9576a32e01_b.jpg
Polo Match, Karachi, Sindh, British India

http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/pakistan/images/large/elphinstone-street.jpg
Elphinstone Street, KARACHI, 1910

http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/pakistan/images/large/karachi-bazaar.jpg
1910

http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/pakistan/images/large/crocodile-tank.jpg
Veneration of Animals The Sacred Crocodile Tank, Karachi, 1908 (Now known as Mangow Pir)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pCG_c3Rq788/Seq1onFKMQI/AAAAAAAAFVs/a8UfzfOIu4I/s400/Sind+Police+1857.jpg
Sind Police 1857

photograph by: Beato, Felice, Italian (1825-1903)

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/paklove1/lyari_zps2edd4ce5.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/paklove1/k3_zps7ea7c50b.jpg

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http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q733/paklove1/k6_zps8424ca25.jpg

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lookandlearn-preview/XD/XD133/XD133976.jpg
Derives of Sind, in Quetta?

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lookandlearn-preview/XB/XB394/XB394719.jpg
Plan of the Battle of Dubba (Hyderabad) 24th March 1843, illustration from 'Cassell's Illustrated History of England'.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/734261_575201755827248_1164949538_n.jpg
Street scene in Hyderabad, Sindh 1930s

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/215112_559240780756679_293443687_n.jpg
Biloch Tumandars Leghari, Muzari and Mari at Biloch Races, Jacobabad, Sind January 1936

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/37084_559554607391963_1421194380_n.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ltceASYvkc/TtMmY0JjStI/AAAAAAAABF8/ah-njAbQqsk/s1600/Photograph+of+a+Class+in+the+Parsi+Virbaiji+School+at+Karachi+in+Sind+-+1873.jpg
Photograph of a Class in the Parsi Virbaiji School at Karachi in Sind - 1873

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMynCtny7NM/TtMmXDUHatI/AAAAAAAABF0/2_s1pXwSRU0/s1600/Group+portait+of+female+pupils%252C+with+their+teacher%252C+in+the+European+and+Indo-European+School+at+Karachi+in+Sind+-+1873.jpg
Group portait of female pupils, with their teacher, in the European and Indo-European School at Karachi in Sind - 1873

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXzVxI6n6vw/TtMmVsYfAzI/AAAAAAAABFs/CiESSrTtl7E/s1600/Girls%2527+Class+at+St+Patrick%2527s+School+in+Karachi+in+Sind+-+1873.jpg
Girls' Class at St Patrick's School in Karachi in Sind - 1873

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z9I7Yx24_w/TtMmhaZMlII/AAAAAAAABGk/VOQxji13Oqk/s1600/Pupils+in+classroom+in+the+Anglo-Vernacular+School%252C+Karachi+-+1873.jpg
Pupils in classroom in the Anglo-Vernacular School, Karachi - 1873

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmfhAt3S2B0/TtMmijRMieI/AAAAAAAABGo/wVa60VqfdFc/s1600/Students+taking+lesson+in+a+classroom+in+the+Anglo-Vernacular+School+-+Karachi+1873.jpg
Students taking lesson in a classroom in the Anglo-Vernacular School - Karachi 1873

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LvCDuUTMs_k/TtMmQUwkVAI/AAAAAAAABFc/CW3DNO5vlBs/s1600/Exterior+of+the+Parsi+Virbaiji+School%252C+Karachi+-+1873.jpg
Exterior of the Parsi Virbaiji School, Karachi - 1873

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hh35f-jivc/TtMmO25zlmI/AAAAAAAABFQ/F4VO7NBtksE/s1600/Exterior+of+St+Patrick%2527s+School%252C+Karachi+in+Sind+-+1873.jpg
Exterior of St Patrick's School, Karachi in Sindh - 1873

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4QS1rKqfcZU/TtMmLx2ULbI/AAAAAAAABFE/H7SqAjJefV0/s1600/Anglo-Vernacular+School%252C+Karachi+-+1873.jpg
Anglo-Vernacular School, Karachi - 1873

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/485247_10151307904563137_758200308_n.jpg

Star Cinema, Karachi - 1918

Karachi 1893
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~poyntz/India/images/Karachi1893.jpg

http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/535779_10151311145373137_1446242939_n.jpg

Wharf, Karachi - 1930

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/studdert1840.jpg
*'A hill on the right of the Sukur Cantonment. 15 Dec. 1840', a watercolor by Thomas Studdert* (BL)

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/photo1860s.jpg
*"Scinde [Sind]. Sukkur on the Indus," a photo from the 1860's* (BL)

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/houghton1879.jpg
*Sukkur, looking towards the fort; a watercolor by William Robert Houghton, 1879* (BL)

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/cousens1896.jpg
*"Sakar, Shikarpur District, Sindh. Mir Masum's minar," a photo by Henry Cousens, 1896* (BL):

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/photo1890s.jpg
*"Boat builders at Sukhur," a photo from the 1890's* (BL);

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/namaz.jpg
*"Sukkur: Mohammedans at prayer after the fast of Ramadan"* 1892

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00glossarydata/places/sukkur/tobaccowork.jpg
*"Sukkur: men and women screening tobacco for snuff"*; 1890

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019WDZ000002079U00000000[SVC2].jpg
View of the Fort, Hyderabad (Sind). December 1851

Artist: Ainslie, Henry Francis (c.1805-1879)

Medium: Watercolour

Date: 1851

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0000940S1U00037000[SVC2].jpg
Hyderabad, Sind.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1890

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000425U00046000[SVC2].jpg
'Cubbas' (Tombs of the Mirs), Hyderabad, Sind.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1900
http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000425U00045000[SVC2].jpg
Shah Makaee Fort, Hyderabad, Sind.

Photographer: Unknown

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1900

Great last two posts Pakia! Thanks for sharing! :)

^^ Thanks

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0001009S3U01463000[SVC2].jpg
Thatta, Karachi District, Sindh. Jam Nizam-Ud-Din's Tomb - carved work upon

Photographer: Cousens, Henry

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1896
http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0001009S3U01473000[SVC2].jpg
Thatta, Karachi District, Sindh. Isa Khan's Zanana Tomb in front of Isa Khan's Tomb, front of mihrab

Photographer: Cousens, Henry

Medium: Photographic print

Date: 1896

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO000000425U00030000[SVC2].jpg
Bird's eye view (with Clifton Road) [Karachi].
Photographer: Unknown
Medium: Photographic print
Date: 1900

Photograph with a view looking south across the Clifton Road in Karachi, with Frere Hall at the extreme left, taken by an unknown photographer, c.1900, from an album of 46 prints titled 'Karachi Views'. Views 21-32 from this album join together to form a 360 degree panorama of the city from the tower of Trinity Church. Clifton is now an exclusive residential district of Karachi, one of the world's largest metropolises, once the capital of Pakistan. It is now the capital of the Sindh province in the lower Indus valley, and is the financial and commercial centre of Pakistan. This huge city was however developed only in the mid-19th century after the British conquest of Sindh. Karachi is built around a bay which is a natural harbour protected from storms by a group of small islands. Its history prior to the 18th century is sketchy but it is believed to be the ancient port of Krokala on the Arabian Sea, visited by Alexander's admirals in 326 BC. The small fishing village

was known as Kolachi-jo-Goth in the 18th century, and then became a trading post under the Kalhoras and the Talpur rulers of Sindh, but the port remained small. With the British development of its harbour it grew into the large city of Karachi and an important centre of trade, particularly of cotton and wheat.

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019WDZ000000247U00026VR0[SVC2].jpg

Pencil map of country between Sehwan and Karachi (Pakistan) by George Boyd (1800-1850), dated circa 1840. This is one of 95 drawings (90 folios), chiefly of landscapes and monuments in the Deccan, West India and Afghanistan made between 1821 and 1844. Boyd served in the Bombay Infantry from 1820 to 1850 and was mainly employed in survey work. From 1822 to 1831 he was in the Deccan and Satara; in 1835 he was on survey in Kathiawar; and in 1839 he was making road surveys in Sind. He was mentioned in dispatches during the war in Afghanistan in 1840 and in 1842 he worked on a survey between Quetta and Kalat.

The Province of Sind is located in Pakistan on the Lower Indus plain between the state of Baluchistan and neighbouring India. The name Sind is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu meaning ‘the divider’ as the River Indus divides the province in two. At 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) the Indus is the third longest river in Asia after the Yangzi and Yellow Rivers. Sehwan, formerly known as Siwistan, is thought to be one of the oldest continuously occupied towns in Sind. It is situated in a strategically important position at the head of the Lakhi Pass, a traditional route for all invaders to the region. The town is said to have associations with Alexander the Great who occupied the nearby fort known locally as ‘Kafir Qila’. In the 4th century the town was the capital of the Buddhist ascetic brother of Chandagupta II and was conquered in the 8th century by Muhammad bin Qasim.

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019WDZ000001599U00000000[SVC2].jpg
Artist: Simpson, William (1823-1899)

Medium: Watercolour

Date: 1860

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0000940S1U00034000[SVC2].jpg
Bridge over Indus at Kotri. Unknown, 1900

http://ogimages.bl.uk/images/019/019PHO0000940S1U00036000[SVC2].jpg
Photograph with a view across the Indus towards the Lansdowne Railway Bridge, 1890 (note the island fort)

near Sukkur in the Sindh province now in Pakistan, with the fort on the left, and a local boat moored in the foreground, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1890s. Sukkur is one of the oldest towns of the Lower Indus Basin, located on the west bank, with its 'twin' town of Rohri on the opposite bank. At Sukkur and Rohri, the Indus cuts through a final limestone outcrop before proceeding to the Arabian Sea. The channel here is bisected by the Bukkur Island. After the British conquered Sindh in 1843, they proceeded to develop the strategically located towns along the Indus, in order to promote trade and industry and facilitate movement of commodities. The Lansdowne Bridge, built to support heavy steam locomotives,

was one of the great British engineering feats of the 19th century, at the time of its construction it had the largest cantilever span of bridges in the world. The bridge crosses the channel from Rohri to Bukkur Island. Surveys were made between 1872 and 1874, then several years were spent in considering different proposals for the plan of the bridge and the most suitable point of crossing. Finally the design by Sir Alexander Rendel on the cantilever principle was accepted. Work commenced at the end of 1883 but was stopped in March 1885 as the iron for the big span had not arrived. Work resumed in September 1887 and was completed by the end of 1888; it was inaugurated on 27th March 1889 and named in honour of the Marquess of Lansdowne, Viceroy of India, 1888-1894. This photograph is from an album of 91 prints apparently compiled by P. J. Corbett, a PWD engineer involved in irrigation work at the famine relief camp at Shetpal Tank in 1897, and in canal construction in Sindh in the early 1900s.