Sehwan, Pakistan

Welcome to Sehwan, a historic city located in Jamshoro District of Sindh province in Pakistan and on the west bank of the Indus 80 miles (130 km) north-west of Hyderabad. This enchanting destination is renowned for being home to one of Pakistan’s most important Sufi shrines, the Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Sehwan is one of Pakistan’s most important spiritual centres, along with other shrines such as the Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Data Durbar Complex in Lahore, Bari Imam in Noorpur Shehan near Islamabad, and the lustrous tombs of the Suhrawardi Sufis in Multan.

History:
Sehwan is one of the most ancient places in Sindh. Some historians say that this town is as ancient as the period of Prophet Shees, son of Adam, hence it was named as Sheestan, Sewistan and then Sehwan. A large tell called Kafir Qila (castle of the pagans) is located at the centre of the city. Sehwan was conquered by Muhammad bin Qasim in 711 from son of the King Dahir, and three centuries later by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026. In all the subsequent dynastic struggles of Sindh, Sehwan continued to feature prominently. It was held successively by the Sumrahs, the Summas, the Arghuns and the Tarkhans. It was the capital of Thatta Kingdom when an abortive attempt was made by the Mughal emperor Humayun to capture it on his way to Umarkot in 1542, but it finally fell to his son Akbar in 1590s. After the Mughals, it was ruled by Kalhoras and Talpurs.

Attractions:
Sehwan is best known for the Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The Shrine of Murshid Nadir Ali Shah, a notable spiritual descendant of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is also located in Sehwan, where large number of people are served free meals round the clock. Another famous place is the inverted city. Manchar Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan, which is at a short distance from Sehwan Sharif.

Incident:
On 16 February 2017, a suicide bomber triggered an explosion at the Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, killing at least 83 people and injuring almost 250. The attack occurred during a praying session. The bombing took place at an 800-year-old Shrine. Later the ISIS claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack stating that their martyr had detonated a vest at the popular Shia gathering at the shrine.

Sehwan is a city rich in history and culture, and a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Pakistan. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore this hidden gem and discover the many wonders it has to offer.