In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Pakistan
Thatta
ٹھٹہ
Spend one full day in Thatta to see Makli Necropolis and Shah Jahan Mosque; travel time from Karachi or Hyderabad ~2 h each way.
Thatta is a small historic town in southern Sindh, best explored on foot and by short rickshaw rides. Its main attractions – the Makli necropolis and the 17th‑century Shah Jahan Mosque – can be visited in a single day, with extra time for the Shahi Bazaar and a local meal.
- Country
- Pakistan
- Local name
- ٹھٹہ
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (cooler, less rain)
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (hot), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PKR
- Money
- Pakistani rupee (PKR, Rs) in cash for almost everything outside big-city hotels and malls; carry US dollars as backup.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 800–1 200 excl. bed · Mid Rs 1 200–2 000 excl. bed · High Rs 2 000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone sell SIMs with passport and biometric registration at franchise shops (not usually at the airport).
- Emergency
- Police 15 · Rescue 1122 · Edhi ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types C, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two- and three-pin sockets; power cuts (load-shedding) are common, especially in the north.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10%.; Driver / guide: Rs 1,000–3,000 a day.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug or hose elsewhere.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a basic restaurant | Rs 200–350 |
| Rabri cup | Rs 100 |
| Rickshaw ride | Rs 150–200 |
| Bus ticket (Karachi‑Thatta) | Rs 150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KHI · Jinnah International Airport
- about 100 km (62 mi) north of Thatta, ~2 h by busabout 62 mi (100 km) north of Thatta, ~2 h by bus
Typical fares
- Bus Karachi ↔ Thatta
- Rs 150, ~2 h (check)
- Rickshaw town centre
- Rs 150–200 for 5 km (3.1 mi) (check)Rs 150–200 for 3.1 mi (5 km) (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rickshaws are the main local transport, Rs 200 for short trips; most sites are within 30 min walk from the bus stop on N‑5.
See and do
Known for
- Makli Necropolis
- Shah Jahan Mosque
- Sindhi handicrafts
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Makli Necropolis | Rickshaw from town centre, ~10 min; walk inside site | ≈30 min total |
| Shah Jahan Mosque | Walk from N‑5 bus stop, ~15 min | ≈20 min total |
| Karachi | Bus on N‑5, ~2 h, Rs 150 | ≈2 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Jehanzaib Hotel
- Air‑conditioned rooms, Rs 600–2 200; central on N‑5.
- Darbar Hotel
- Basic rooms, Rs 400; on N‑5.
- Archaeological Rest‑house
- Book in advance via Sindh Archaeology Dept; near Makli entrance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | معاف ڪجوmaaf kajo |
| Thank you | شڪريوshukriyo |
| How much is this? | اهو ڪيترو آهي؟aho kitro aahe? |
| Where is the bathroom? | بٿ روم ڪٿي آهي؟bathroom kathe aahe? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Assalam o alaikum', right hand on heart; handshakes between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
- Hospitality: Accept tea; let hosts pay the first time; avoid: Refusing all offers
- Dress: Shalwar kameez is comfortable and appreciated; avoid: Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Shrines: Cover heads, shoes off, sit quietly at qawwali; avoid: Filming without permission
- Conversation: Cricket, food and family are safe topics; avoid: Religion, India and the army with strangers
Scams and watch-outs
- Makli gate may require a small tip (≈Rs 100) or written permission for large mausoleums.
- Roads can be dusty; keep to the right side of traffic when walking.
- Check bus schedules; non‑air‑conditioned buses are the most common service.
Thatta is generally safe for day visitors; keep valuables secure, use rickshaws in daylight, and respect local customs.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Thatta yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Makli Necropolis
- Shah Jahan Mosque
- Sindhi handicrafts
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Thatta: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Thatta, revision 5316234 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5316234
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/thatta). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.