PixistanPixistan
Camel herders in the Cholistan desert

Desert · Punjab

Cholistan Desert

Cholistan is a desert of about 26,000 square kilometres in southern Punjab, extending from Bahawalpur towards the Indian border, where it continues as the Thar. It follows the dry bed of the Hakra river and holds a chain of medieval mud and brick forts, of which Derawar, with walls about 30 metres high, is the best preserved.

Read the story Photos of Cholistan Desert

The story of Cholistan Desert

Local people call the desert Rohi. Settlement depends on tobas, shallow rainwater ponds, and on herding camels, cattle and sheep; the region supplies a large share of Punjab's camel population. Around 400 archaeological sites along the Hakra course record settlement contemporary with the Indus Valley Civilisation. The Cholistan Jeep Rally, held near Derawar each February, is the largest motorsport event in Pakistan.

What to see in Cholistan Desert

  • Derawar Fort

    Square fort with forty bastions, visible for kilometres.

  • Abbasi Mosque

    White marble mosque beside Derawar, built 1849.

  • Desert forts chain

    Islamgarh, Mirgarh, Jamgarh and others along the Hakra.

  • Tobas

    Rainwater ponds that determine where herders camp.

Landscape of Cholistan Desert

The dunes — Cholistan Desert

The dunes

26,300 km² of sand running into India's Thar.

Hakra bed — Cholistan Desert

Hakra bed

The dry channel of the ancient Hakra river.

Rivers and lakes of Cholistan Desert

Ravi — Cholistan Desert

Ravi

Lahore's river, and the boundary of the old Mughal city.

Chenab — Cholistan Desert

Chenab

The river of the Heer Ranjha and Sohni Mahiwal folk tales.

Head works — Cholistan Desert

Head works

Barrages at Marala, Trimmu and Panjnad steer the canal system.

Food of Cholistan Desert

Nihari — Cholistan Desert

Nihari

Simmered overnight; a Lahore breakfast with naan and ginger.

Lahore street food — Cholistan Desert

Lahore street food

Phajja's paye, Gawalmandi chaat and charcoal-grilled kebabs.

Sohan halwa — Cholistan Desert

Sohan halwa

Multan's dense saffron and nut sweet, sold in tins.

Heritage of Cholistan Desert

Badshahi Mosque — Cholistan Desert

Badshahi Mosque

Completed 1673; its courtyard holds about 100,000 people.

Lahore Fort — Cholistan Desert

Lahore Fort

UNESCO listed, with the Sheesh Mahal and Alamgiri Gate.

Rohtas Fort — Cholistan Desert

Rohtas Fort

Built 1541–1548 by Sher Shah Suri on the Grand Trunk Road.

Culture and crafts of Cholistan Desert

Jeep rally — Cholistan Desert

Jeep rally

The Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally each February.

Camel herders — Cholistan Desert

Camel herders

Nomadic families moving between tobas, or rain ponds.

Wildlife of Cholistan Desert

Houbara bustard — Cholistan Desert

Houbara bustard

Wintering birds and the chinkara gazelle of the desert.

Read more about this place

Best time to visit

November to February; summer temperatures exceed 45°C.

Getting there

About 2 hours by road from Bahawalpur to Derawar, partly on desert track.

Nearby places

Questions about Cholistan Desert

How big is the Cholistan desert?+

About 26,000 square kilometres, continuing across the border as the Thar desert.

What is Derawar Fort?+

A large square fort near Bahawalpur with forty bastions and walls about 30 metres high, held by the Abbasi Nawabs.

Photographs of Cholistan Desert

The photo archive is a separate part of Pixistan. Browse images shot in this area once you have read the reference page.

Open the photo archive