Shikarpur was one of the great trading cities of 18th and 19th century Sindh, and its old quarter still holds carved wooden havelis built by the merchant families who made their fortunes financing trade routes as far as Kabul, Bukhara and Samarkand. Today the city is better known nationally for its pickles than its architecture, but a walk through the old city delivers both.
This guide covers the havelis, the covered bazaar, and the food the city is famous for, with a route to see them together.
Shikarpur's history as a trading city
Shikarpur was founded in 1617 by the Daudpota chiefs, but its rise came later, through the 18th and 19th centuries, when it became a major financial and trading hub linking South Asia with Central Asia. Shikarpuri merchants, known as Shikarpuri Sahukars, extended credit and ran banking networks reaching Kabul, Kandahar, Bukhara and beyond, and the wealth this brought into the city funded the elaborate homes that still survive in parts of the old quarter.
The havelis
The havelis are the defining building type of old Shikarpur, and heritage surveys estimate they once made up as much as 80% of the historic city's built fabric. What sets them apart is their woodwork: elaborately carved wooden doors, window screens, balconies and brackets, commissioned by merchant families to display their wealth and status. Many of these buildings have suffered from decades of neglect, subdivision and outright loss, and Shikarpur has appeared more than once on international lists of endangered heritage sites. What remains is still worth seeking out, particularly in the older residential lanes away from the main roads, where carved facades survive above ground-floor shopfronts.
Because many havelis are private homes, admire them from the street rather than assuming you can go inside; a few owners are happy to show visitors around if asked politely, but this is not guaranteed and shouldn't be expected.
The covered bazaar
Shikarpur's historic covered market, known locally as Dhakk Bazaar, is one of the old city's commercial hearts, its narrow lanes roofed over to give shade against the summer heat. It's a good place to see the city's everyday trade alongside its craft heritage, with shops selling everything from cloth to the pickles the city exports nationally.
Pickles and sweets
Shikarpur's achar, or pickle, is sold and eaten across Pakistan and exported to the Gulf, the UK and beyond, made in dozens of home kitchens and a number of dedicated factories in the city. The classic mixed achar combines turnip, carrot, garlic, chickpea, mango, lime, green chilli and cauliflower, and locals will tell you that Shikarpur's water is part of what gives the city's pickles their particular flavour, whether or not that can be proven.
Beyond pickles, the city is known for its mithai, and for the kulfi faluda sold near Lakhi Gate, one of the old city's landmark gates and a natural point to stop for something sweet after a walk through the bazaar.
A walking route
- Start near one of the old city gates, such as Lakhi Gate, and head into the lanes of the old residential quarter to see the havelis' carved facades.
- Work your way towards Dhakk Bazaar, the covered market, taking in the mix of old shopfronts and everyday trade.
- Stop for pickles, either at a shop in the bazaar or, if you can arrange it, at one of the smaller home-based producers, and pick up a jar to take home.
- Finish with something sweet near Lakhi Gate, where the city's kulfi faluda is a local institution.
Morning is the most comfortable time for this walk, before the heat builds and while the bazaar's shade still feels welcome rather than necessary.
Is it worth the detour?
Yes, for anyone travelling between Sukkur and points further north or west who has an interest in Sindh's trading history or its food. Shikarpur isn't set up for tourists in the way a museum or fort is, and its havelis take some looking for rather than being signposted, but the combination of surviving Mughal-era merchant architecture and genuinely excellent, exportable pickles is unusual even within Sindh. If your schedule only allows a brief stop, prioritise the bazaar and a pickle shop over trying to track down every haveli.
Our trip planning guide has more on fitting Shikarpur into a wider route through upper Sindh, alongside stops like Sukkur and Khairpur.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shikarpur famous for?
Historically, it was a major trading and banking city linking South Asia with Central Asia. Today it is best known for its carved wooden havelis, its covered bazaar, and its pickles, which are sold and exported across Pakistan and beyond.
Can I go inside the havelis?
Most havelis are private homes and cannot be entered without an invitation. Admire the carved facades from the street; some owners may allow a look inside if you ask politely, but don't expect this as a rule.
Where is Shikarpur's covered bazaar?
It is known locally as Dhakk Bazaar, in the heart of the old city, and is roofed over to provide shade in the lanes.
What should I buy in Shikarpur?
Shikarpuri achar, or mixed pickle, is the city's best-known product, sold in shops throughout the bazaar. Sweets, particularly the kulfi faluda near Lakhi Gate, are also worth trying.
Is Shikarpur safe to visit?
Shikarpur is in Sindh north of Nawabshah, an area the UK government's Pakistan travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) currently advises against all but essential travel to. Pakistani travellers pass through and visit Shikarpur regularly. Anyone travelling from overseas should check their own government's current advice before the trip, since it can affect travel insurance, and everyone should check local conditions before setting out.
