Karachi - The City of Lights, The City of Sights

For our last blog of our Sindhi adventure, we move to the hub and heart of it all, Karachi. Before sunrise, we hurry to the beach and admire the encapsulating beauty of dawn. A quick jog and jam session later, we build up an appetite and move on to Boat Baisin where the traditional breakfast of Halwa Poori awaits us. As daybreak ensues, we move to Beachview Park and enjoy the gentle sea breeze, till the malls open up. Ocean Mall, The Forum, Park Tower, a plethora of options for shopaholics and watch time tick down beyond measure. 

We make our way to Gulf, where you are welcomed by vendors selling heavily embroidered traditional saaris, in all sizes, shapes and colours. Amongst clothes, you’ll find traditional handicrafts that can be used as souvenirs to give to your friends and families. After our consistently long shopping ventures, we move on to a place of architectural majesty, Frere Hall. A landmark of religious and cultural significance, it has become a hotspot for bridal shoots as well as, sigh, TikTok videos. After that, we must visit

Burns Road for its famed street food. Naan Nihari, Student Biryani, BBQ, Kheer followed by paan. Tantalizing, mouthwatering, delightful. A sugarcane juice vendor shall always be within eyeshot and it is what we would need to tackle Karachi’s climate.

Empress Market is one of the biggest animal market in South Asia, a barbaric norm of caging animals who are destined to roam freely in the wild, it is possible to visit the market in hope of purchasing one and letting them free. Another market in our midst is Gul Plaza, where you can find centerpieces and art pieces that have been smuggled off the border. As we near tea time, Café Piyala is the ideal destination to have karrak chai and biskut. As dusk approaches, we make our way to Capri Cinema and watch box office hits in just 200 rupees on the big screen. After that, it’s time for dinner and for that, no better place than AL-Habib Restaurant on Super Highway. Their fish, sesame chicken and pulao are to die for.

Karachi, the city of sights, the city of lights.