Exploring Karachi - On Two Wheels!

by Sasha Scheherzade

Karachi is a beautiful yet thickly populated metropolis that is feeding the entire nation of Pakistan. Apart from the mismanagement on part of government run institutions responsible for maintaining, restoring and building up the ever demanding city, it is the people who are the driving force and who come out to built and boost the city's image time and again.

The aesthetically designed yet deterioting condition of the old yet beautifully crafted buildings and monuments of Kolachi; as it used to be called back in the 1800's warrants serious attention.

Chain Reaction, a bicycling group formed by Anila Weldon alongside her dedicated team of bicycling enthusiasts successfully planned an event to pedal through the aesthetically build Old Karachi, on Oct 23, 2016 with a predefined circuit through the city that offers a thrilling sightseeing treat for the tourists and if these old areas are projected with vigor and dedication can add value and monetary benefit to our local tourism industry that has been on a standstill for quite sometime.

Keeping in mind projecting a positive image, the Chain Reaction bicycling group came up with their Karachi By-Cycle event that withheld its promised to make the otherwise ordinary and neglected areas of the city that one moves past, unnoticed, into a different experience for all those riding bicycles.

The event circuit included the areas of Old Clifton specifically the magical Mohatta Palace, Frere Hall to Zainab Market, the biggest wholesale market known for its ready-to-wear affordable apparel, followed by a pit-stop at Saddar Town to view the infamous St.Joseph's College and St. Patrick's Cathedral the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, on Shahrah-e-Iraq, formerly known as Clarke Streetand stood in all its morning glory. A straight route to the historic Empress Market was taken, crossing by the Bolton Market, which was still in phase of getting ready to be opened by its year's old dedicated vendors. Then arrived the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a Hindu Temple that belongs to the NarNarayan Dev Gardi of the Swaminarayan Samparday which to date is the only Swaminarayan temple in the country. Then followed the Trinity Church,  a former garrison church for the British military that was established in 1844. Its original tall tower was built to serve as a light house for ships arriving at Karachi Harbour.

Merryweather Tower, a 122 year-old clock tower, among the important and beautiful landmarks was crossed by alongside KPT Head office building to ascend towards the Karachi Port Trust Interchange,
that covers a vast area along the coast which is used for yards and commercial purposes to descend at Queens Road and the Boat Basin area famous for its vibrant Dhabba culture and also a hub for conducting sailing activity, finally ending at BBQ Tonight, a restaurant known for its authentic Asian cuisine which also served as the bicycling group's initial starting point.

The bicycling enthusiasts were seen carrying along their cameras and welfie sticks in lieu of capturing photographs of the afore mentioned stunning sights of the city whilst enjoying their ride. The focus was also kept on completing the defined riding circuit on time at the medium pace. There were occasional pit-stops for water-breaks and photography for the ease of those riding for the first time. The approximate distance of 20-25 kms was easily achieved by most of the Chain Reaction group members.

All in all, Karachi By Cycle 2016 riding event turned out to be another hallmark, out of many others, achieved by the most dedicated-to-bicycling group this week.

c2016|SashaScheherzade