Karachi, Pakistan » Entertainment » Attractions

Although Karachi is the commercial centre of Pakistan, it is also one of the most richly cultural regions of the world to visit for its impressive history, local traditions. The streets of the city are always filled with energetic people, colourful commotion, and relentless hustle. It offers several recreational spots and historical places where you will undoubtedly spend the best days of your tour.

Mazar-e-Quaid

Mazar-e-Quaid, also known as Jinnah Mausoleum or the National Mausoleum, is the final resting place of Quaid-e-Azam ("Great Leader") Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The construction was completed in 1971. Nearby the mausoleum are the graves of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah (sister of Mohammad Ali Jinnah) and Liaqat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Thatta

A historical city that served as the capital of Sindh for four centuries, Thatta is located 61 miles east of Karachi. Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Thatta instantly grabs attention with a vast old necropolis nearby the hills of Makli. All the monuments, shrines and mosques, including Jama Mosque, built by Shah Jahan and the tomb of Jam Nizamuddin, are grand in the true sense of the word.

Mohatta Palace

Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta built the Mohatta Palace in Karachi in 1925 as his summer residence. He was a Marwari businessman. He could use the palace only for a couple of decades as he had to abandon Karachi for India after the independence of Pakistan. The palace defining characteristic attributes of Rajasthani architecture is made from pink Jodhpur stone and local yellow stone from Gizri.

Frere Hall

Dating back to 1865, the Frere Hall building recalls the time when Pakistan was a part of the Indian British colony. Today, the building serves as a library and an art gallery. Designed by Henry Saint Clair Wilkins, Frere Hall is located in the Saddar district.

Ruins of Bhambore (Banbhore)

The city of Bhambore dated back to the 1st century BC and was constructed during the Scytho-Parthian era. Later, from the 8th to the 13th century, Muslims controlled it before being abandoned to date. The ruins and one of the earliest known mosques in the world, dating back to 727 AD, can still be found here.

Masjid-e-Tooba

Locally known as Gol Masjid or Tooba Mosque, Masjid-e-Tooba is situated in Defence Housing Society, Karachi. Built of pure white marble with a dome measuring 72 meters in diameter, the Tooba Mosque is the 18th largest mosque globally. The mosque attracts many tourists and locals alike to experience the unique echo when a person speaking from one end of the dome can be heard at the other end.

Wazir Mansion

Wazir Mansion, a protected national monument, is the birthplace of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. In Kharadar, thousands of devoted Pakistanis visit the mansion to pay homage to their leader on his birth and death anniversary. The mansion is now restored into a museum, displaying the life and work of the Pakistani leader.

Clifton Beach

The famous Clifton Beach in Karachi, with its golden sands, amusement park, and many food stalls, attract tourists like bees to honey. It is situated in Saddar Town. Nearby the beach is Funland amusement park with a bowling alley & aquarium, the Shrine of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi and a vantage point to view the Oyster Island.

Haleji Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

Haleji Lake in Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan, holds up a roof to Asia's largest bird sanctuary. Thousands of migrating birds flock to this wintering centre, especially the migratory waterfowl. The Haleji Lake was originally a tiny depression collecting seasonal water. But during the British regime, the canal's capacity was increased by introducing a feeder canal from the River Sindh.

The Tombs of Chaukundi

The Tombs of Chaukundi, located near Landhi town, east of Karachi, are renowned for their intricately carved sandstone tombs. Built by the Baluchi and Burpat tribes between the 15th and 19th centuries, these unique pyramid-shaped tombs are embellished with geometrical patterns, symbols, flowers, crosses, swastikas and diamonds. The architecture of these tombs is exclusive to the Sindh region and found nowhere around the world.

Haleji Lake

Haleji Lake is about 52 miles from Karachi. This Asia's most significant waterfowl reserve is a top-rated attraction of Karachi. The lake is home to hundreds of migrant birds from Siberia during the winter. More than 200 bird species include coots, ducks, purple moorhens, kingfishers, pigeons, white herons, teals, waders, mallards, flamingos, shovellers, pelicans, cormorants, egrets, black-headed gulls, pheasants, partridges, and storks can be found here. This lake is a paradise for bird-watcher.

Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim

Previously named Jehangir Kothari Park, Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim is the country's largest park situated along the Arabian Sea in Clifton, Karachi. The park covers an area of around 130 acres. It has an accommodation capacity of about 300,000 people at a time. It has hundreds of trees, stone benches, lighting towers and footlights for the visitor's convenience. It is open 24 hours a day.

Churna Island

Churna Island is a two-hour drive away from central Karachi. Here is where you can swim, snorkel, and scuba dive around the island's reef and gaze at a multitude of sea creatures, from fish to snakes and turtles that inhabit its warm waters.