In March 2007 when I was in Dawarar Fort attending Jeep rally, I learnt that the race was across the Cholistan to Fort Abbas.From that day I developed a fascination for this fort and assumed that like Dawarar it would be an abandoned fort in middle of a desolate desert.
Finally got a chance to visit Haroonabad and Fort Abbas on 11-12 Nov 2015.The bus from Karachi to Haroonabad took 18 hrs.The journey in air conditioned bus was comfortable except by late night it became very cold and bus the driver refused to put off the AC saying people have paid for this.I was wearing normal Karachi cloth thus I froze and suffered for next two days.
Was able to find a modest hotel not far from Main Bus station of Haronabad.The hotel was located in the heart of main market.Large stores, good Restaurants,Banks lined the narrow roads of the market.At the end of the market large Mundi existed which was full of cotton.
The area is Cotton producing center as I could see 6 Ginning factories on the road to Fort Abbas.From Haroonabad I boarded a Bus next day to reached Fort Abbas in comfort.Two small towns intertwined between the the two big towns.On reaching Fort Abbas I was pleasantly surprised to find it was not a desert rather a thriving town with Rice mills,Ginning factories,Restaurants,Guest houses and a large Bus station from were Bus to major cities were going. I was told the buses come and go till late at night as the law and order was very good.It was not the end of the road rather a u turn from it went to Chistian which is a Town on road to Harunabad which I had crossed last morning after Hasilpur.
After two hours walk around the Town lot of photos below, I boarded a bus going to Faisalabad via Haroonabad.
Next morning after two night stay I left for Bahawalnagar.
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