Lost River

The vast area of Cholistan covers more than sixteen thousand square miles. There are many interesting and surprising stories about this region that run from Tharparkar in the interior of Sindh to the southern Punjab and Jaisalmer in the Rajasthan province of India. It is said that this area was lush and green five thousand years ago, and two rivers which have been given the name of ancient rivers used to flow here; these rivers were known as the Ghaghra River and Saraswati River. These rivers were thousands of years old, but all of a sudden, the rivers changed their course and ended, and this vast and green area turned into barren and sandy dunes.

Due to strong winds, the sand is blown from one place to another; not only this, but big dunes change their place. Thus, for several thousand years, it was not known which routes these rivers took and where they passed through. These rivers are also mentioned in the Vedic book of Hindu Aryans.

Aryans, ancient peoples, worshipped these rivers, and all their roads were along the banks of the rivers. The population was also on the banks of the rivers. Since water was the most important necessity in ancient times, people of ancient times lived by the river for their own use and for the use of their animals so that they had plenty of water. Not only this, but it would have been appropriate for the roads to be along the river so that these people did not forget their way.

There were settlements on both sides of the Hakra River. These people used to farm and use the water of the river. At the time of excavation, traces of several thousand years old civilizations have been found, which, according to archaeologists, are very similar to the Harappan civilization. Fragments of pots used in ancient times and different forms of engraving on them indicate that the culture here had some connection with the Harappan civilization. The coins and household items found here also show that the people here belonged to the Gandhara civilization.

The style of their houses was also the same, but the people who grew up here were very different from each other. That is the reason why their styles were very different. Many conquerors came here and left the influence of their new civilizations. Many conquerors and emigrants moved here permanently, while many occupiers went back.

Archaeologists have collected important evidence to trace the course of the Lost River, the most important evidence being mud houses of much later production, while the ruins of ancient brick houses have also been unearthed from the ground. From this, it is clear that many civilizations flourished here. Buddhist influences have also been found, with the Patan Minara being the most important. Some experts believe that Buddhism flourished in this region as there are many Buddhist monasteries and ruins found in this desert, and there is much evidence of Buddhists and their migrations.

Many documents written in the civilized language of the Hindu kings have also been found, which reflect the fact that the Hindus ruled here for a long time.