Cholistan Jeep Rally 2010 - (19th - 21st Feb)

   


Here comes this year grand event for all the photographers from every part of the country. The Rally held in Cholistan Desert near Derawar Fort is easily accessible for photographers from Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. The Rally is being held this year from 19th Feb to 21st Feb, 2010.

TDCP's Cholistan Jeep Rally is one of the most awaited event of the year not because of the exceptional programs that they offer or the extremely managed event but due to the variety of events that it provides in the hub of the dersert in front of majestic Derawar Fort. From cultural folk sports to motor sports to fireworks against the backdrop of Derawar Fort, no one can view such grand festivities anywhere in Pakistan at any festival. Unlike last year, this event this year has a lot of changes 

Festivities and Programs for Jeep Rally 2010

19th Feb:

This time, no activity will be held in Bahawalpur, the qualifying rounds and inspection of vehicles will be done in Cholistan this year instead of the dried Bed of River Sutluj Between the two Bridges. Hence, all those who want to join for the qualifying round will be reaching directly to Cholistan. 

20th Feb:

TDCP has not released any information for the events that they have planned to arrange in connection with Jeep Rally. My resource person has not yet confirmed anything but it is expected that keeping in view the last year tradition, Cultural and folk sports will be held including Camel Race & Camel Dance, Desi Wrestling/Dungal Rustam Cholistan plus the most exciting event of the Fireworks at Derawar Fort. 

21st Feb:

This day is mainly for the Jeep Rally, no other cultural activity will be held other than that. So, all those who really want to capture the dust, the action, the speed and the Jeeps, can stay the day long for that. 

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Now, here are the few information for PPG guys.

A lot of PPG members would like to join for the meetup at the jeep rally. So, here is just brief information for all of you.

For those who can spare 3 days:


Reach Bwp in morning of 19th
- Visit Palaces, Surroundings of Bwp (Noor Mehal, Sadiq Garh Palace, Lal Suhanra Park)
or Visit Uch Sharif


For those who can spare 2 days:


Leave on the 19th night and reach by morning to Bwp or Ahmed Pur East or Rahim Yar Khan and directly go towards Derawar Fort and attend all the cultural activities over there. Overnight stay at Derawar Fort in camps or in the residence. Early morning shoot at Derawar Fort and then leave for Desert Rally place. Shoot the desert rally by maximum 3 PM and leave for your cities to avoid the rush which will be there due to the heavy load of traffic. 

Route:-

For those coming from Lahore:

Lahore - Multan - Bwp – (Tariq Sulemani Advice that you can now try short cut route of Lodhran – Bwp as the road is in better condition). From Bwp you can either leave for Yazman enjoying the culture or head towards Ahmed Pur East and then taking a turn for Derawar Fort. A single lane road exists going directly till Derawar Fort and it will take you around 2 hours to be there. 

For those coming from Karachi:

Khi – Sukkur – Ahmed Pur East and then taking a turn for Derawar Fort. The distance is nearly similar on both sides either from Karachi or Lahore. 

For people traveling from Lahore, they can travel anytime but it is recommended to travel from Lahore in mid night so as to get the early light when they reach the Bwp/Ahmed Pur East. For those coming from Karachi, keeping in view the security conditions, leave by 2-3 O lock in morning so that you can cross the interior Sindh in day light. 

Equipment:

You can bring as many as you like, but keeping in view that you will be spending most of the time shooting so bring what you can easily hand carry, you normally require a good wide angle to a normal zoom because most of the time you would be shooting at the wide end until you go for Jeep Rally. For the Jeep Rally any zoom other than wide is better, best would a 80-200 or 70-200 mm lens which would give you a better reach and you can avoid dust from being far away. Avoiding your equipment from dust is very important, try not to change any lens while in the dust; use one lens and cover your equipment with a cleaning cloth so to avoid any sort of dust entering into it. You may or may not get electricity in Cholistan desert, though we have got our arrangements done but keeping in view that the electricity over there would be generated mainly by the generators so it is better to have extra batteries charged before you leave for Cholistan.

Do bring loads of water before entering Cholistan and few packed foods because all the stuff would be available in Cholistan but of course costly. 

Accommodation:

TDCP has already agreed to provide accommodation, meals and even conveyance to our members, but I would advice the friends to bring their tents if they want to have their independence. For tents, have few warm clothes with you otherwise bring sleeping bags with you.


Cholistan jeep rally to cost Rs 3 million


  

MULTAN, Feb 19 (APP): Punjab parliamentary secretary for Tourism and Muslims Students Federation (MSF) president Rana Mohammad Arshad said on Friday that a sum of Rs 3 million was being spent on holding the sixth Cholistan desert jeep rally from February 19-21.Talking to media persons here he said that a helicopter had also been made available to monitor the jeep rally and to act as a swift transportation facility in any emergency situation during the 3-day event. He said the winner of each category of the 234-km rally would get Rs 200,000 prize while the runner up and third position holders would get Rs 150,000 and Rs 100,000 each. Chief Minister’s Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa will distribute prizes among the winners at the historical Derawar Fort on Feb 23. He lauded the organizers for holding an event that would not only promote tourism but will also provide recreation to the common folks who are worried due to the menace of terrorism. Rana Arshad said  terrorism was hurting the tourism industry in Pakistan. He said a mega project to instal chair lift at Fort Munro, the only accessible hill station in South Punjab, will be executed as soon as the water availability problem is resolved there. Moreover, he added the cost on chair lift project was high while on the other hand tourists’ influx to Fort Munro was comparatively low. He said that Punjab government was carrying out development despite financial hardships.        He said in addition to funding for on-going projects, Punjab government had allocated Rs 5 billion for development of South Punjab. He said  a 34-kanal piece of land had been purchased by Punjab government in Murree, however, the project would be executed only after funds were made available.