Top 5 Famous Deserts of Pakistan

Abdullah Khan

Traveling in deserts is more of an adventure and challenging task. Unlike other tourist locations, you won’t get to stay at a luxurious residence or find a restaurant with fine dining. But, many among us are fascinated by the vastness of deserts and the history they hold. For those of you, roaming the deserts of Pakistan and exploring the rich culture and customs must sound exciting.

Following are the top 5 famous deserts of Pakistan:

Thar Desert
Thal Desert
Cholistan Desert
Katpana Desert (Cold Desert)
Kharan Desert

1) Thar Desert

Thar desert is the biggest desert of Pakistan. It is also known as the Great Indian Desert and is one of the largest deserts on earth. The biggest desert of Pakistan covers an area of 175,000 square kilometers and spans over India and Pakistan. It is the only subtropical desert in Asia. 85% of the desert area is in India, and the rest is in Pakistan.

Many incredible features make it the unique biggest desert of Pakistan. More than 30 million people inhabit Thar, making it one of the most populated deserts. The barren lands are known for their harsh climate and surviving elements. Still, with such a large number of inhabitants, the desert is easily accessible and also known as the friendly desert of Pakistan.

The land’s inhabitants are practitioners of Islam and Hinduism, which offers the area a diverse, colorful culture, and many colorful events are celebrated throughout the year. Primarily Thar is based on nomads, and the primary source of livelihood is animal farming and agriculture.

2) Thal Desert

The Thal desert is situated in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Located near the Pothohar Plateau, the area falls under the Indomalayan biogeographic realm and stretches for a length of approximately 190 miles (306 km) with a maximum breadth of 70 miles (113 km). It is bound by the piedmont of the northern Salt Range, the Indus River flood plains in the west and the Jhelum and Chenab River floodplains in the east.

It is a subtropical sandy desert that resembles the deserts of Cholistan and Thar geographically. The region is characterized by sand dunes, prone to massive shifting and rolling, as well as scanty rainfall, high diurnal variation of temperature and high wind velocity. Aridity is a common feature and perennial grasses make up much of the vegetation. Agriculture and livestock rearing form the main sources of livelihood for the population, who live in small scattered settlements throughout the desert.

3) Cholistan Desert

The Cholistan Desert, also known as the Rohi Desert among the locals, is located in the southern region of Pakistan. The name is derived from the Turkic word chol, meaning “sands”, and istan, a Persian suffix meaning “land of”.

Cholistan covers an area of 25,800 km2 (10,000 sq mi) in the Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Rahim Yar Khan districts of southern Punjab. The nearest major city is Bahawalpur city, 30 km (19 mi) from the edge of the desert.

The desert is about 480 kilometers in length, with a width varying between 32 and 192 kilometers. 81% of the desert is sandy, while 19% is characterized by alluvial flats and small sandy dunes.

4) Katpana Desert - Cold Desert

Katpana desert is one of the marvelous deserts in Pakistan. Katpana is also known as the Cold Desert of the country with its high altitude. Cold Desert is located in the renowned tourist point Skardu, northern Gilgit Balochistan. The desert is full of surprises as it comprises sand’s giant dunes covered in snow in winters.

Cold Desert is one of its kind deserts of Pakistan map. It is located at 7,303 feet (2,226 meters) above sea level. It is one of the highest deserts in Pakistan. The desert area is between Skardu and Shigar Valley, easily accessible from the airport.

5) Kharan Desert

The Kharan Desert is a sandy and mountainous desert situated in Balochistan province in south-western Pakistan.

This desert was the site of Pakistan's second nuclear test, Chagai-II, which was carried out on 30 May 1998.

The land is not fit for agriculture due to low irrigation. The occupation is mainly agriculture and farming. The terrain is mainly dry, gray-brown sand that stretches out.

Alexander the Great travelled through this region. He had entered the region of India from the historic Khyber Pass and after defeating king Porus, in the fourth century BC, he made his way back to Babylonia and passed through the Kharan desert, in an attempt to compare himself against Cyrus the Great who had once passed through the desert.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) How many deserts are there in Pakistan?

Pakistan hosts five deserts which were historically forests.

2) Which is the hottest desert of Pakistan?

The Cholistan desert is among the hottest deserts of Pakistan.

3) Which is the largest desert in Pakistan?

Thar desert is the hottest desert in Pakistan.

4) Which is the largest desert in Asia?

The Arabian desert is the largest desert in Asia.

5) Which is the largest desert in the world?

Antarctica desert is the largest desert in the world.

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Top 5 Famous Deserts of Pakistan