Moomal ji Mari, Mathelo

The mound at Mathelo near Ghotki, Sindh, held to be Moomal ji Mari, the palace of Moomal from the Sindhi romance of Moomal and Rano.

GPGreenPak Field GuidesSourced from Green Tourism Pakistan · 2 min read

Mathelo, about 13 km south-east of Ghotki, is an old village built on a high mound of some 60,000 square metres. Houses cover most of it, but the south-western corner, about 12,000 square metres, is open ground. This unoccupied part is believed to be Moomal ji Mari, the many-storeyed palace of Moomal.

Why go

✦Linked with the romance of Moomal and Rano
✦A living village on an ancient mound
✦Open, unbuilt corner of the mound
✦Protected as SD-59

History

Moomal and Rano are the lovers of one of Sindh's best-known folk romances, retold by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai among others. The register dates the mound from the 6th century BCE to the 11th century CE, so the village sits on a very long history. It is protected by the federal government and listed as SD-59.

How to Reach

In Mathelo village, about 13 km south-east of Ghotki town off the National Highway. Use the map on this page.

Planning tip

Best Time to Visit, November to February, when Sindh is cool enough to walk around a site in daylight.

Getting there, In Mathelo village, about 13 km south-east of Ghotki town off the National Highway. Use the map on this page.

Allow, About 30 minutes.

What to Do

◆Walk up to the open south-western part of the mound

◆Ask in the village for the local telling of the Moomal story

◆Combine with a drive along the Indus at Ghotki

Nearby

Straight-line distance from Moomal ji Mari, Mathelo, within 5 km.

Nothing else genuinely close by (within 5 km of Moomal ji Mari, Mathelo) is published yet.