Ancient Sindh, 12, 2012-13: 101-116 ISHTIAQ ANSARI ECO TOURISM IN SINDH: GORAKH HILL AND OTHER RESORTS ABSTRACT: - The paper focuses on Ecotourism in Sindh. Sindh is a resource rich region and t has quite a large number of attractive places. These places could be developed as hill stations and resorts. The Khirthar range dividing Sindh and Baluchistan is rich archaeologically. As it’s a sanctuary of wildlife, tombs of saints and abounds in rock art. This region has great potential for ecotourism. The Gorakh Hill station together with outer peaks where hill resorts could be developed are ideal places and once accomplished this region would thrive economically. INTRODUCTION Eco tourism involves travels to destination, where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are of prime attractions. In fact it is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people" (TIES, 1990). This type of tourism is built on some clearly defined principles, few are reflected below: 1. Minimize impact. 2. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect. 3. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts. 4. Provide direct financial benefits for conservation. 5. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people. Keeping these parameters in mind, the Gorakh hill resort and other possible resorts in Sindh were studied and analyzed from ecotourism point of view. BACKGROUND The Efforts for the Establishment of Khirthar Hill Station began in the colonial period, when the British conquered Sindh and stayed here. They strived to explore some cold places in Sindh, where one could take refuge from tropical weather and scorching beams of the Sun in summer, they enjoyed the weather of Jhirrik, near Thatta. Besides, they also liked the scenery of "Bhago Thorho" (broken and bald) at lucky. They were impressed by that place and established a railway station there. In monsoon season, the scenes of the striking waves of Mehran at the foot of Bhago Thorho were ideal and they enjoyed this monsoon scenery. Centre for Documentation & Conservation Hyderabad (SINDH-PK) 101 Plate 1: Khirthar range in western Sindh In addition to the above places in Sindh, they found attraction in the Khirthar Range and they started to explore the peaks of Khirthar. It was 1860 that Dr. Lakor and Captain McDonald visited the Khirthar peaks and after that many British Officers visited those places and stayed during the monsoonal showers. The Government of Sindh sent the author and Dr. Kaleem Lashari to survey Gorakh, Kachrak and Darrhyaro. During that expedition, we observed a big Rock, down to "Kute ji Qabar" (dog's grave) on Darrhyaro. People had carved their names on it, it was just like a visitor's book, and possessed hundred years of old history of the establishment of the hill station on that cold strip. Some of the important inscribed were of: Georgei Handerson 1861 W.H. Bolton 1862 A.W Baknari 1880 Mirza Qaleech Baig 1885 H.E. Watson C.A. Lucas 1916 R.H.W Daries Baloch 1925 Traces of water pond and a rest house was noticed at Darrhyaro. Khudadad Khan and S. Minefields also stayed for five months at Darrhyaro. Khudadad Khan 102 writes, “Honorable Commissioner kept with him Assistants and the scribe, he pegged tents and set camp there. It is the highest mountain as it has been whispering to skies. It is very dry and cold. It feels like Simla resort. Always it rains and hail storming occurs too. Many people live in the vicinity of the mountain. They belong to Chuto tribe. There is no other population. However, wild fruits such as fig, mulberry and Lohri (a local fruit) grow there in abundance and the taste of those fruits is like the taste of the fruits of Khorasan and Yaghistan. The Khahoo trees (Olea ferruginea) are strong and heavy with precious wood and local people use it as firewood. The Commissioner Sahib spent lavishly that summer by enjoying hunting. The people of this area were dependant on rain for their livelihood. When there had been rained, the people of the area collected/ stored that rain water in pitchers and other domestic utensils to utilize it in need. Therefore, the scribe with the help of Honorable Commissioner constructed a vast and broad water pond with the cost of Rs.1000/- as the local people as well as travelers are benefited”. It is said that the material for the rest house was brought there on camel’s backs. The tin was used for roofs of the buildings which were joined through nut bolts. The local people are of the view that, the rest house was built by "Tipparr Sahib" (Trevor). The people call him "Tipparr" Sahib. Trevor was the Commissioner of Karachi around 1887. Many other officers also visited peaks of Khirthar is documented in the book "Northern Kachho of Sindh" as under: 1887 – Sir Roberts Sandeeman, Governor General of Baluchistan visited Khirthar including Kute Ji Qabar and Gorakh. 1893 – Mr. H. M. James, Commissioner of Sindh, (along With his Assistant Mr. Lucas and District police of Tipper Sindh (Jacobabad) and Khan Bahadur Khudadad Khan) visited the entire range, from Kute Ji Qabar to .Jammoro. 1906 - Mr. Lucas visited Gorakh and other places. 1912 - Mr. Morton, Collector of Larkana visited Kute Ji Qabar and Gorakh. 1917 - His Highness Mir Abdul Hussain "Sangi" visited Kute Ji Qabar. 1927- Mr. Gorwala, the Collector, visited Khirthar from Ghaibi Dero including Kute Ji Qabar, Harbab, Gorakh and Jammuro Mr. G. M Syed visited Khirthar for four times during, 1928,1937,1940,1953. The people of the area remembered that Ms. Fatima Jinnah came here accompanied with G. M Syed, the camp was set at Shakloi, few miles before Gorakh. The tents were pegged out and blown by severe winds at night and Ms. Fatima Jinnah left for Karachi early in the morning. The efforts for the establishment of hill station continued even after partition. In 1954, Mir Ghulam Hussain gave Rs: l Lac to Sindh Government for the development of the hill station. Sindh Government wanted to shift some of its offices there. Later on, that money was utilized on flood emergency. In 1955, M.H. Panhwar visited this area. Abdul Hafiz Pirzado also explored the site by jeep for the hill station and then Zulfiqar Ali 103 Bhutto came there by helicopter. Ms. Benazir Bhutto also landed on "Mamthal" peak by helicopter. Nawaz Sharif also visited the Gorakh. In 1990, Kaleem Lashari, and the writer surveyed Kute Ji Qabar, Darrhyaro, Kachark, Harar and the Gorakh on foot and submitted a report to Sindh Government about the paths, water reservoirs and springs of Khirthar. Dr. Muhammad Hussain Magsi also struggled for the establishment of the hill station. Besides, Abdullah Shah and Liaqat Ali Jatoi also visited to built and upgrade the resort. Plate.2: Peaks of Kirthar. Visits different peaks of Khirthar was aimed to select the suitable place for the establishment of the hill station. THE KHIRTHAR RANGE AND ITS VARIOUS PEAKS Khirthar Range, starting from Baluchistan, stretched to the sea, and this mountain is also called "The Plateau of Sindh". There are few higher peaks which are distinct from each other and vary in size and elevation. Some of them are about 7000 feet high and some nearly 5000 feet. The major sites for resorts in Khirthar are, Kute ji Qabar, Darrhyaro, Barigh, Kakryo, Karo, Damryo, Hararr, Kachark, Wango, Daphrro, Bhago Thorrho, Halar, Bado, Dunbar, Mubahi, Kanbho, Sorjano, Sambak, Garror, Larrho, Horho, Mamthal, Shakloi, Gorakh, and Bhit etc. 104 Plate.3: Kute ji Qabar (Dog’s Grave) the highest mountain peak of Khirthar range The efforts have been taken since long to establish the hill stations there. The important peaks are; Kute Ji Qabar 7200 feet, Darrhyaro 6500 feet, Kachrak 5200 feet, Bado 3000 feet and Gorakh 4750 feet. GORAKH AS A FAVORABLE SPOT FOR HILL STATION After a diversified study of those peaks, the experts were of the opinion that Hill station should be established at Gorakh because of the following reasons: • There is a vast flat area on top of the peak whereas no other peaks of Khirthar are as Gorakh. • There is plentiful water at Gorakh. Plate.4: Sindh point Gorakh: where we can observe major part Kachho 105 It is easy to reach at Gorakh then the other peaks. The number of local people on Gorakh is higher than the other peaks. Gorakh remains cool even in the months of June and July. Mostly, clouds remain over Gorakh. Greenery prevails on Gorakh, even in dry season. The nearby spring of Heengan is beneficial for the development of a hill station. Local people can be good hosts and facilitators to the visitors, and tourists. The construction material is available sufficiently to establish the hill station. The fish of rare kind can be brought up in the water of springs and hill torrents. It is easy to rehabilitate the communication system here. The management of law and order is easy because of rehabilitation of the communication system and availability of the transportation facilities. Most important thing is that all the hill stations of world remains opened for only few months in summer but Gorakh Hill station would be the place of interest and attraction for tourist and visitors throughout the year because of its pleasant and moderate weather. Considering the above points, the experts proposed Gorakh for hill station Plate.5: Snow fall at Gorakh 106 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF GORAKH The Gorakh hill in Khirthar Ranges is situated in Johi taluka of district Dadu. It forms border of Sindh Baluchistan and survey of Pakistan has fixed posts there.