The northern areas of Pakistan are known for their enchanting natural topography. However, the unexplored beauty of the country’s southern regions, such as Sindh, will also leave you spellbound. Sindh, a province located in the south of Pakistan, is the land of one of the oldest civilisations in the world.
Many of you might not know that Sindh has many eye-catching tourist attractions, one of which is the Keenjhar Lake. Graana.com, Pakistan’s smartest property portal, has come up with a complete tour guide to it.
An Overview of Keenjhar Jheel
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°57′N 68°03′E |
| Names | Keenjhar Lake (official), Kalri Lake (commonly known) |
| Type | Natural freshwater lake |
| Distance from Thatta | Approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi) |
| Surface Area | 13,468 hectares (33,280 acres) |
| Max. Length | 24 km (15 mi) |
| Max. Width | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Average Depth | 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) |
| Max. Depth | 7.9 meters (26 ft) |
| Water Volume | 0.53×10^6 acre⋅ft (650 hm³) |
| Surface Elevation | 15 meters (49 ft) |
| Ramsar Wetland Designation | Yes (Designated on 23 July 1976) |
| Wildlife | Winter migratory birds including ducks, geese, flamingos, herons, etc. |
| Tourist Activities | Picnics, swimming, fishing, boating |
| Notable Feature | Shrine marking the grave of Noori Jam Tamachi, a famous folklore figure |
| Importance | Important source of drinking water for Thatta District and Karachi city |
| Protection Status | Ramsar site and wildlife sanctuary |
Keenjhar Lake Location
This Lake is also known as “Keenjhar Jheel” and “Keenjhar Dhand.” Located in the heart of district Thatta of Sindh, Keenjhar Lake is an artificial water reservoir. Among the locals, it is known as “Karli Jheel.”
The lake is situated at a distance of 36 km (half an hour’s drive) from Thatta.
It is famous for a lot of reasons, and one of them is the fact that this lake is the second-largest freshwater reservoir in the country. Keenjhar Lake depth is about 7.92m.
Importance of this Lake
The importance of this lake can not be denied, since it is a major source of drinking water for the metropolitan city of Karachi and its surrounding areas.
The lake is frequently visited by a huge number of people on public holidays and weekends for fishing, swimming, and boating in a peaceful and natural environment.
In addition, it has historical importance as well. According to a famous legend about Keenjhar lake, the grave of Noori is located in the middle of it
Furthermore, the lake serves as a habitat for regional birds and winter migratory birds such as ducks, herons, egrets, ibises, terns, coots, geese, flamingos, and cormorants, waders, and gulls.
The lake has also been given the designation of a wildlife park. Moreover, you can also find crocodiles at Keenjhar Lake.
How to Get to Keenjhar Lake?
The lake is situated on National Highway N-5, halfway between Thatta and Hyderabad. From Karachi to Keenjhar Lake, the total distance is more than 100 km; if you drive at a speed of 80-90 km/hr, it takes around two hours to reach there. Other than that, most people travel to the lake in their private cars.
Keenjhar Lake Rest House
If you are searching for spaces to stay near the Lake, you must have come across the name Keenjhar Lake Resort. This resort is one of the recent projects of the Sindh government.
Moreover, the resort’s construction has immensely increased the number of tourists to the lake, hence turning it into a full-fledged tourist spot. The resort is directly administered by the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC). Tourists can book a one-day stay. The price of Keenjhar Lake Resort starts at Rs 8k and goes up to Rs 15k.
Booking can also be done manually or online. The resort’s check-in time is 4:00 p.m., and the check-out time is 3:00 p.m. In case you plan to stay at the rest house there, the Keenjhar Lake Hut booking contact number is as follows:
+923112020252
For further information, you can visit the official website of STDC.
Eateries Near Keenjhar Lake
Most of the time, people bring food with them when they visit the lake. However, some restaurants are also located nearby. You can find tea, drinks, and some simple snacks at these restaurants.
One thing you should know about these restaurants is that they are only functional on weekends, and during the working days, they do not prepare meals due to the fewer visitors. However, if you order beforehand, they can prepare a meal for you.
Inside STDC Keenjhar Lake Rest House, you can find a really good restaurant—“Keenjhar Lake Noori Restaurant.” It was named after Jam Tamachgi’s beloved Noori. This restaurant also serves food to outside guests.
Things You Can do at Keenjhar Lake
The list of things to do at this pretty lake includes boating, fishing, jet-skiing, bird watching, and swimming.
Fishing
When it comes to fishing, Kenjhar Lake, Karachi, is considered one of the top spots in the city. In addition, the minister of Livestock and fishing in Sindh led a project last year to promote fishing in the lake.
During the first six months of 2019, approximately 60,000 fish seeds were thrown in the lake.
Swimming
It is a reservoir of clean water, which makes it suitable for swimming. The seawater is salty and polluted which is why people avoid swimming there. This is why many people visit the lake to swim. Moreover, swimmers can rent an inner tube for Rs 100 only.
Boating
Along with other things, tourists can also enjoy motorboat rides. These boats have a seating capacity of 8-10 people. In case you don’t want to share the ride, you can privately hire the boat for one hour. The charges for hiring the boat start from Rs 500 and go up to Rs 2000. The prices depend upon the time you hire the boat.
Shrine of Jam Tamachi
Besides all these recreational activities, you can also visit the Keenjhar Lake Mazar of Jam Tamachi, which is situated in the middle of it.
Many devotees visit the shrine of the late prince every day. However, you can only access the shrine via motorboat. For just Rs 500, you can hire a boat to and from the shrine.
Keenjhar Lake Huts
Along the shoreline of the Lake, cabana-style huts can be found. During working days, the per-day rent for Keenjhar Lake hut booking is just Rs 100. During holidays and weekends, it rises to Rs 500.
You can spend quality time with your friends and family inside these huts, and enjoy the eye-catching view of the lake. However, you can only hire these huts during the daytime.
Tourist Attractions Near Keenjhar Lake
As the lake is located close to the historical city of Thatta, it is adjoined by many prominent prehistoric landmarks. Hence, if you are planning to visit the lake, you should definitely pay a visit to those places. Some of the most visited tourist attractions near the lake are as follows:
- Old Jamia Masjid Thatta
- Soonda Graveyard
- Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim
- Nawab Ameer Khani Mosque
- Maqam Qadam Shah Graveyard
- Dabgir Mosque
- Shahjahan Mosque
- Kalan Kot Fort
Keenjhar Lake is one of the prominent tourist attractions of Sindh. It has gained a lot of attraction from tourists in recent years, and this number will continue to grow.
For more information regarding tourist attractions in Pakistan, visit the Graana blog.
