BHAMBORE
Unclear status as it is a Sassi’s lost city or Dahir’s conquered fort
In 1929 Henry Cousens, a 75-year-old retired British scholar of antiquities, arrived at a site known as Sassi jo takar (Sassi’s hill) or Bhambore believed to be Sassi`s lost city. He found some archaeological artefact on a vast barren stretch of desert land about 65 kms south-east of Karachi.
Frescoed love tale of Sassui Punhoon in Love tale of Sassui Punhoon frescoed on wall of tomb, Tilla Shah Graveyard
Site was excavated between 1958 and 1966 by F A Khan and concluded that it was not Banbhore but Daybul or Debal, the fort where the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim had defeated Raja Dahir, a local Hindu ruler, in the year 711. Based on his finding (may be misconception) Sassi jo Takar became Bhambore and then it became Daybul or Debal.
Daybul – derived from the Sanskrit word devalaya (meaning “abode of God”) – was an ancient harbour city in the Indus delta. It was described in the journals of Arab and Persian travellers of the 10th century for its fishing vessels, thriving commerce, flourishing centres of Islamic learning and arid landscape.
In 2004, the pots recovered from the site were found to be inaccurately dated, casting doubt on the findings that could have led Khan to declare the site to be Daybul. A team comprising Pakistani, French and Italian researchers and archaeologists started exploring it in 2010, under a license from the Sindh antiquities department.
The word Bhambore might be derived from the Kings name or local name of Lady fish also known as silver sillago which is the crispiest frying fish with chewable bones and white flaky meat.
Getting Around:
The site consists of an enclosed area fortified by a wall made of stone and mud and suggests that its builders or residents had a reasonably sound sense of municipal zoning.
Fortified Bhamboor Fort
Artefacts from Banbhore displayed at the museum
An eighth century mosque - Banbhore
Tour guide: Available
Clean Washrooms: Available
Drinking water: Available
Restaurant: Not Available
Nearby Market: Gharoo
