A well-known and oft-lamented fact is that Karachiites have very limited options when it comes to weekend getaways. Those of us who live in the port city have always been somewhat envious of people living in Lahore and Islamabad, who can take interesting trips to the majestic northern parts of Pakistan at whim.

Well, it was pretty much on a whim that my family and I decided to make a star-gazing trip to Ranikot Fort, arranged by the Karachi Astronomers Society (KAS). A family friend recommended it, having been to a previous one. KAS arranges monthly trips from October to March every year to different places in Balochistan and Sindh.

These trips are known as Ratjaga, which in Urdu means “to stay awake all night” and, in this instance, it refers to experiencing astronomy when the sky is dark. This was KAS’s 71st Ratjaga, having started in 2008.

Our trip had more than 130 people, with the majority in four coasters, while some of us took our cars. Serendipity is often the best part of such trips. En route, we found that an old friend from school was also on the trip. She joined us in our car for part of the ride and we reminisced about old times.

Karachi’s night sky hides most of the universe from view, but an all-night stargazing adventure just hours from the city can change one’s perspective entirely…

THE ROAD TO RANIKOT

Ranikot Fort, also known as the Great Wall of Sindh, lies in Jamshoro district. It is a couple of hours from Hyderabad and a four-hour drive from Karachi. The drive is fairly straight-forward; initially, on the Super Highway to Hyderabad, then the N-55 highway — also known as the Indus Highway........

© Dawn (Magazines)