A dry, dune-covered desert in southern Punjab, continuous with the Thar and dotted with ancient forts.
Area
26,000 km²
Continent
Asia
Location
Punjab, southern Pakistan
Temperature
Up to 50°C
Rainfall
Under 180 mm a year
Climate
Hot desert
About the Cholistan Desert
Cholistan, locally called Rohi, is an extension of the Thar Desert in southern Pakistan. Its sandy plains were once watered by the now-dry Hakra River, along which ancient settlements flourished. Today it is known for nomadic herders, colourful crafts and the towering Derawar Fort.
Did you know?
The mighty Derawar Fort rises from its sands with forty huge bastions visible for miles.
Highlights
- Continuous with the Thar Desert
- Site of the great Derawar Fort
- Home to nomadic herding communities
Photo gallery
Life in the Cholistan Desert
Animals, birds and plants that have adapted to survive this landscape.
Animals
Dromedary camel
The one-humped “ship of the desert”, able to go for days without water.
Birds
Houbara bustard
A well-camouflaged desert bird of Arabia and Central Asia.
Sandgrouse
Flies vast distances to water and soaks it up in its breast feathers.
Trees & plants
Acacia (thorn tree)
Flat-topped thorn trees that survive on scarce desert groundwater.
Date palm
The classic oasis tree, feeding desert peoples with sweet dates for millennia.
Day & night in the Cholistan Desert
Deserts are famous for their extreme temperature swings. Flip between day and night to feel the difference — these are typical figures for a subtropical desert.
Midday sun
+45°C
typical daytime high
Blistering daytime heat gives way to surprisingly cool nights — clear skies let the day’s warmth escape, and the temperature can tumble by 30°C or more after dark.
Recorded range for the Cholistan Desert: Up to 50°C