Larkana to Mohenjo-daro: Distance, Route and Transport

Mohenjo-daro is about 28 to 30 km from Larkana, a drive of 30 to 45 minutes. There is no train or regular bus that stops at the gate, so most visitors hire a rickshaw or taxi in Larkana and ask the driver to wait. Cheaper options are shared vans and, from the railway station at Dokri, a rickshaw for the last 11 km.

This guide is only about the short hop from Larkana. If you are starting further away, our guide from Karachi to Mohenjo-daro covers the long journey.

How far is Mohenjo-daro from Larkana?

Wikipedia gives about 28 km from the town of Larkana, and Wikivoyage and several distance sites give 30 km, or 26.9 km as the crow flies. In practice, call it 28 to 30 km. The ruins lie on the west bank of the Indus, south of the city. The Moenjodaro airstrip sits a short distance away too, listed as 28 km from Larkana.

Getting there by rickshaw or taxi

This is the simplest way and the one most travellers use. Sources describing the trip say you can hire a rickshaw or a taxi in Larkana and agree a fare for the return, including waiting time while you walk the site. Older figures run from about Rs 500 for a rickshaw to under Rs 1,000 for a taxi. Those numbers are several years old and fuel and prices have risen since, so treat them as a floor.

A few tips:

• Agree the price for the return trip before you set off, and say how long you will be: two to four hours is typical for the main excavated areas, longer if you add the museum.
• Pay on the way back, not up front.
• Rickshaws are slow and hot. A taxi with air conditioning is worth the extra in any month but winter.
• Ask your hotel to arrange it if you want to avoid haggling. See our Larkana hotels guide for places to stay.

By shared van

Vans run from Larkana's bus stands to a bypass near the archaeological complex, and a short walk or rickshaw ride then takes you to the entrance. They are the cheapest option and run when full, so allow extra time and ask the conductor where to get off. They suit confident travellers more than families with children.

By train to Dokri

The nearest railway station is Dokri, about 11 km from the site. From Dokri you hire a rickshaw for the last stretch; older sources put that at about Rs 150 to 200, again probably higher today. Trains do not always stop at Dokri at convenient times, so check the current timetable. For most people, Larkana is the better arrival point because it has more transport and hotels.

What to know before you go

• Tickets. Sources give Rs 50 for Pakistani visitors and Rs 3,000 for foreign nationals, but prices change, so see our Mohenjo-daro ticket price guide.
• Hours. The site is listed as open 8:30 to 19:00 from April to September and 9:00 to 17:00 from October to March. Arrive early and check locally.
• Heat. Larkana has recorded temperatures above 50°C, and the site has almost no shade. November to February is the best window; see the best time to visit Mohenjo-daro.
• The museum. Plan time for the Mohenjo-daro museum, which holds finds from the site.
• Food and water. Bring water and a hat. There is little to buy at the ruins.

Can you combine it with other sights?

Yes. The Bhutto mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh is on the other side of Larkana, and our guide to places to visit in Larkana shows how to fit them into a day or two. Mohenjo-daro in the morning and the town in the afternoon is a comfortable plan.

Is the road safe?

Larkana and Mohenjo-daro lie in the part of Sindh north of Nawabshah, where the UK government advises against all but essential travel. Pakistani visitors travel here for the ruins, but check local news and police advice before you set out, travel in daylight and keep to main roads. Foreign passport holders should read their own government's advice, since it can void travel insurance, and one traveller's account says foreigners are officially expected to travel with an armed escort, though enforcement varies. Our Larkana safety guide goes into detail.

Frequently asked questions