Sukkur

Sukkur stands on the western bank of the Indus opposite Rohri, where the river passes through a gap in low limestone hills. The island of Bukkur divides the stream between the towns, and its fort guarded the crossing. Boats carried travellers and goods along the river, while shrines on its islands drew worshippers from across Sindh.

The towns and island fortress passed among the rulers of upper Sindh as control of the river changed. In the eighteenth century Sukkur benefited from connections with Shikarpur and the trade routes through the Bolan Pass towards Afghanistan. The shrine of Khwaja Khizr, on a small island upstream of Bukkur, was revered by both Muslims and Hindus. Together the crossing, fort and sacred places made this narrow reach of the Indus an important centre in the river’s history.