A few hours from Hub-Chowki in Balochistan is Hazrat Baba Shah Noorani's Shrine which is more than 500 years old. It is surrounded by a striking mountain range where one can find a diversity of animal life. A mela (fair) also takes place every year on the 9th and 10th of Muharram adding vibrant colours to the area inviting crowds. - Photos by Raheel Qureshi/Dawn.com
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SK
Dec 23, 2010 04:44pm
I feel thrilled simply to see someone mention Shah Noorani. The pictures are fantastic - but of course the place within its context is far more beautiful than what just visual images can possibly describe. I have visited Shah Noorani and nearby Shah Lahoot twice with my brother and our group of friends - back in the early 1980s. We went on motorcycles from Karachi - fully equipped with gasoline, repair kits and a few great mechanics amongst us - for the bikes. Back then, there were no facilities once we left Hub Chowki area and hit the dirt tracks. It took us the best part of the day - traversing through harsh and rugged, mostly barren landscape - with its own stark beauty. We had high adventure riding through some shallow but rocky creeks. Only occasionally we found a structure of sorts manned by a local who sold us black tea - and if lucky - tea with goat milk. We wondered how and why a person would man such an outpost in the middle of nowhere - with no vegetation in sight. The transformation we felt when reaching the destination was unbelievable - a cool lush green valley inhabited by friendly locals, with peacocks walking around. It was a heavenly experience. As I had never before seen a cave till then - entering the Shah Lahoot cave was a jaw-dropping experience. I also loved the myths associated with the site (especially the one about Noah`s Arc). Back then we seemed to be the only ones amongst our crowd to have even heard of these places - let alone contemplate venturing out to those locations. Having endured the trek we often wondered how the pilgrims made it to there each year. we also found out that that there was an annual (?) bus service to Shah Noorani during the mela. With haviing to cross the creeks/ shallow rivers, we wondered how the buses ever made it. But for each one of us who went there- it has been a life-long memory to cherish.
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Ali Ahmed
Dec 24, 2010 09:53am
Whats in the circle? Which bird is it?
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Sharjeel
Dec 24, 2010 12:37pm
Sorrounding photos of SHAH NOORANI Rehmatullahe Allahe are stunning. Its gives an immense pleasure to show our heritage & spirtuall sites as we are a civilized nation. Really a good job done by the whole team. Hope to see more sites such as Ziarat & other Sufi Shrines.
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Raheel
Dec 24, 2010 05:18pm
It's actually two people who got stuck on the mountain
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Absar
Dec 29, 2010 11:16pm
Wonderful!
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ahmed
Jan 03, 2011 08:10pm
more of teaching of such men be spread among the mass throught the mass media so we learn to live in peace and be content with our resources.
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