Karoonjhar Hills Walk, Nagarparkar

The Karoonjhar Hills rise above Nagarparkar town in Tharparkar District, in the far southeast of Sindh near the border with India, and are reached by a short drive from Nagarparkar; a private vehicle or hired taxi is recommended since there is no scheduled public transport to the trailheads. No formal permit is required for the hill walks themselves. From Nagarparkar, tracks lead 3-6km up granite outcrops depending on the chosen viewpoint or ruin, climbing 50-300m above the surrounding Thar desert plain on a mix of bare pink granite slabs and sandy desert track. There is little shade once on the open granite, and the rock surface becomes very hot to the touch in the exposed summer months. Along the way, walkers pass ancient Jain temple ruins and ruined forts scattered across the hillsides, remnants of the area's Jain and Hindu heritage, with the Bhodesar group of monuments a common stopping point; many visitors turn around at the first major viewpoint overlooking the desert rather than continuing to the highest outcrops. There are no water sources, shelters, or refuges on the hillside, so hikers should carry sufficient water for the full walk.