Cholistan Jeep rally is an annual 3-day even of fun and adventure which takes place in choilstan (also called Rohi) desert of Pakistan. Every year an increasing number of participants have been taking part in the event with their numbers reaching 80 in the 2008 edition of the race. So far four editions of this annual events have been organized by the Tourist Development Corporation of Punjab(PTDC).
Following photo is credied to Mr. Yasir Nisar and was taken on March 9, 2008 .
I like the above photo because it has captured every flying grain of sand and stone around the participating jeep of Cholistan Rally in a time-frozen space.
The rally is 218 km long and makes a loop along the famous Derawar Fort.
The photo above has been referenced from the Cholistan Jeep Rally page at Pakwheels.com.
Twelve checkposts are establised along the route of this rally.
1. First CP is set up at Qasaiwala at Km 9.7 from the opening point near Derawar Fort.
2. Jamoon Wala CP is set up at 25.9 km,
3. Nawan Kot at 50 km,
4. Gandawala at 70 km,
5. Bijnot at 97km,
6. Bandhal at 124.4 km,
7. Rasool at 132 km. There is a refueling facility available at Rasool.
8. Khangarh mor at 144km,
9. Khangarh Fort at 156 km,
10. Hangola at 169.3 km,
11. Bharoon Wala at 176km, and
12. Last CP at Sat Khoh at 199.3 km.
The rally consists of several events which includes Engine Inspection, a qualifying 5-km race on the dry bed of River Chenab, a welcome dinner at the historical Noor Mahal, palace of Nawab of Bahawalpur, a route checking drive and the real race. Prize Distribution Ceremony follows the race. The vehicle covering the 218-km distance in shortest time is declared winner in each of the four categories. The Prize money in 2007 edition of the race was Rs 100K, Rs 70K and Rs 50K for the first three positions in each category.
Referencs:
1. CholistanRally.com
2. A collection of VIDEOS of Cholistan Jeep Rally
3. Cholistan Rally Coverage at PakWheels.com
4. www.treklens.com
This is wonderful. I wanted to go to Dubai for off-road desert driving in a 4X4 vehicle. Now I can save the money and go to this place for fun.
I think it is a great way of bringing an often ignored area of Pakistan to limelight. I hope it gathers traction amongst the enthusiasts and I would love to take part in it one day.
Armored corps of Pakistan Army uses the same desert for training. My friends who are concerned about the negative effects of the rally on local environment, please consider that 80 cars running for a day can’t do even a fraction of damage that 100 tanks can do in a month long training but we shouldn’t stop that either.
As far as the waste of fuel is concerned, I’d rather we waste it this way so there is less of it available to set buses, tires and people on fire :-)
great–rich boys with loud toys tearing up the fragile desert ecosystem of this historical area. Throw a tiny sop to the poor and voila! now they are philanthropists as well.
Why an Cholistan not be developed without destroying it for the fun and games of the wealthy?
Making a place suitable for tourism takes more than turning it into grounds for a bumper-derby that sets a poor example. What about conservation and building something instead of encouraging that kind of wasteful consumption of precious fuel? Good grief.
Who can race there anyway? Mostly just foreigners?
Not very accessible to the average run of people, is it?
Having so many vehicles racing through a fragile and relatively unravaged natural environment is a cause for concern. Heavy tires and the sand ruts they create, not to mention the littering crowds that will follow these jeeps, should worry those of us who cherish the wildlife, fauna, flora, and historical architecture of the Cholistan region. I would have been a lot more supportive of efforts to protect and conserve the little nature that Pakistan has left — perhaps by walking, rather than driving, through this magical region near my parent’s native city of Ahmedpur Sharkia.
This year Cholistan Jeep Rally plans to raise Rs 100,000 in food aid for poor and needy of Cholistan.