Rohri (Sindhi: روهڙي; Urdu: روہڑی) is a city of Sukkur District, Sindh province, Pakistan. It is located on the east bank of the Indus River, located directly across from Sukkur, the third largest city in Sindh. Rohri town is the administrative headquarters of Rohri Taluka, and tehsil of Sukkur District with which it forms a metropolitan area.[2] Its capture marked the beginning of Muslim rule in South Asia under Muhammad ibn al-Qasim in 711 CE, when it was named Aror.

Rohri
روهڙي
رور
City
View of the famous British-era Lansdowne Bridge, and Ayub Bridge, which both span the Indus River and offer access between Rohri and Sukkur
View of the famous British-era Lansdowne Bridge, and Ayub Bridge, which both span the Indus River and offer access between Rohri and Sukkur
Rohri is located in Sindh
Rohri
Rohri
Rohri is located in Pakistan
Rohri
Rohri
Coordinates: 27°40′59″N 68°54′00″E / 27.68306°N 68.90000°E / 27.68306; 68.90000
Country Pakistan
Province Sindh
DivisionSukkur
DistrictSukkur
Union Councils11
Government
 • TypeTown Council
Elevation
62 m (203 ft)
Population
 (2023 census)[1]
 • City
92,135
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)

History

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The Sateen Jo Aastan shrine in Rohri
 
View of the city from Bakkar Island.

Rohri is 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) west of the ancient city of Aror.[3] Roruka, as capital of the Sauvira Kingdom, is mentioned as an important trading center in early Buddhist literature.[4] Little is known about the city's history prior to the Arab invasion in the eighth century,[5] but Aror was the capital of the Rai dynasty and then the Brahman dynasty that once ruled northern Sindh.

In 711 CE, Aror was captured by the army of Muslim general Muhammad bin Qasim.[6] In 962 CE, a massive earthquake struck the region, causing the course of the Indus River to shift.[7] Aror was re-founded as Rohri afterwards.[8]

By the 12th Century Rohri and Sukkur had been incorporated in dominion of the Bhati Rajputs.[9] Rohri served as a busy port along the Indus by the 1200s, and was a major trading centre for agricultural produce.[8]

Climate

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Rohri has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with extremely hot summers and mild winters. Rohri is very dry, with the little rain it receives mostly falling in the monsoon season from July to September. The average annual rainfall of Rohri is 105.8 mm as per 1991-2020 period. The highest annual rainfall ever is 669.4 mm, recorded in 2022 and the lowest annual rainfall ever is 0 mm as it was a record dry period in the city in 1941.

Climate data for Rohri
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 30.6
(87.1)
37.2
(99.0)
42.2
(108.0)
47.0
(116.6)
49.0
(120.2)
51.0
(123.8)
47.0
(116.6)
47.0
(116.6)
43.3
(109.9)
43.3
(109.9)
38.0
(100.4)
31.1
(88.0)
51.0
(123.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.8
(73.0)
25.3
(77.5)
31.2
(88.2)
37.6
(99.7)
42.4
(108.3)
43.6
(110.5)
40.8
(105.4)
38.7
(101.7)
38.0
(100.4)
35.3
(95.5)
29.9
(85.8)
24.0
(75.2)
34.1
(93.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)
18.1
(64.6)
23.8
(74.8)
29.8
(85.6)
34.3
(93.7)
36.0
(96.8)
34.4
(93.9)
32.7
(90.9)
31.4
(88.5)
27.8
(82.0)
22.5
(72.5)
16.8
(62.2)
26.9
(80.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.4
(47.1)
10.9
(51.6)
16.4
(61.5)
22.0
(71.6)
26.2
(79.2)
28.4
(83.1)
27.9
(82.2)
26.7
(80.1)
24.9
(76.8)
20.3
(68.5)
14.4
(57.9)
9.6
(49.3)
19.7
(67.4)
Record low °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1)
1.0
(33.8)
5.0
(41.0)
10.0
(50.0)
16.0
(60.8)
19.0
(66.2)
17.5
(63.5)
17.5
(63.5)
16.5
(61.7)
9.5
(49.1)
5.5
(41.9)
−1.5
(29.3)
−1.5
(29.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 3.5
(0.14)
8.0
(0.31)
5.7
(0.22)
1.5
(0.06)
4.0
(0.16)
4.3
(0.17)
25.7
(1.01)
19.8
(0.78)
10.0
(0.39)
1.3
(0.05)
0.6
(0.02)
3.8
(0.15)
88.2
(3.46)
Source: NOAA (1961-1990) [10]

References

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  1. ^ "Sindh (Pakistan): Province, Major Cities, Municipalites & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
  2. ^ Taluka Municipal Administration Rorhi Archived 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Nadiem, Ihsan H (2004). Forts of Pakistan. Lahore: Al-Faisal Publishers. p. 54. ISBN 9695033520.
  4. ^ Derryl N. MacLean (1989), Religion and Society in Arab Sind, p.63
  5. ^ Hughes, Albert William (1876). A Gazetteer of the Province of Sind. G. Bell and Sons. p. 677. Retrieved 19 December 2017. aror .
  6. ^ Smyth, J W (2005). Sukkur District. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel Publications. pp. 41–43. ISBN 9693517296.This word taken from old word Rohari
  7. ^ "Where the city of Aror once stood in glory". Dawn. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  8. ^ a b Bowden, Rob (2004). Settlements of the Indus River. Heinemann-Raintree Library. ISBN 1403457182. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  9. ^ Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian. Cambridgre University Press. p. 72. ISBN 9781107080317.
  10. ^ "Rohri Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
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