Manora, Karachi Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Manora منوڑہ منهوڙو
Municipality
Manora Point Lighthouse, built in 1889
Manora, Karachi Location in Sindh Show map of Sindh Manora, Karachi Location in Pakistan Show map of Pakistan
Country	Pakistan
Province	Sindh
City	Karachi
Population
• Total	approximately 4,273

Manora (pronounced Mah-NOH-rah) is a small piece of land that sticks out into the sea. It acts like a shield, protecting Karachi Harbour from the Arabian Sea. About 4,273 people live here, according to a 2017 count.

Manora used to be an island. But over time, sand and dirt built up, connecting it to the mainland. This connection is a 12-kilometer (about 7.5 miles) long natural sand bridge called Sandspit. Long ago, a place called Manora Fort was built in the 1790s to protect the entrance to Karachi from pirate attacks. The British and later the Pakistan Navy improved this fort.

Geography of Manora
Manora's Past
Fun Things to Do in Manora
Manora's Roads and Bridges
People of Manora
Gallery
See also

Geography of Manora

Manora and the islands nearby form a natural wall. This wall protects Karachi Harbour from the open Arabian Sea. On the western side of the harbor, you can find special forests called mangrove forests. These forests grow along the Sandspit and Manora.

The coast of Manora is also home to a tree called the Peelu tree. This tree helps protect the coast from being washed away by the sea.

Manora's Past

People have known about the Karachi area for a very long time, even in ancient Greek times. A Greek commander named Nearchus, who worked for Alexander the Great, wrote about a hilly island called Morontobara. He also mentioned a flat island nearby called Bibakta. Historians believe these were Manora Point and Kiamari (or Clifton) in Karachi. Both of these areas were islands until sand and dirt connected them to the mainland much later.

Early Mentions

Some historians think that parts of Karachi and Manora island were once a city called Debal. An Ottoman admiral named Seydi Ali Reis wrote about Manora in his book in 1554.

Manora Fort and British Capture

The Talpur dynasty built Manora Fort in 1797. Its job was to protect the port, which traded with places like Oman and Bahrain. The fort helped stop attacks from pirates who sometimes raided Karachi Harbour in the early 1800s.

On February 1, 1839, a British ship called HMS Wellesley (1815) arrived near Manora island. Two days later, on February 3, the ship fired at the fort. When British soldiers went into the fort, they found only a few men guarding it. These men had no guns to fight back, so the fort was quickly given up, and Karachi was taken by the British.

Lighthouse and Naval Base

After the British took control, St. Paul's church was built near Manora Fort in 1865. In 1888, most of the old fort was removed, and the defenses were made stronger. The Manora Point Lighthouse was finished in 1889. It was designed to help ships find their way into Karachi harbor safely.

After Pakistan became independent from Britain, Manora island became a main base for the Pakistan Navy. Naval ships could dock along the eastern side of the island. Manora is still managed as a military area. However, a new naval base opened far away at Ormara. This means about half of the naval ships have moved from Manora.

Fun Things to Do in Manora

Manora has long, sandy beaches that connect to Sandspit and then to Hawkesbay beaches. These beaches are very popular with people from Karachi.

At the southeastern tip of Manora island is the Manora Point Lighthouse. It stands 38 meters (about 125 feet) tall, making it one of the tallest lighthouses in Pakistan.

The Government of Sindh has spent money to make the island better for visitors. They have built new roads, restaurants, and places to stay. They also added fun things like a golf course and a play area for kids. There are also water sports activities. The new Manora Beach Resort opened in October 2021.

Manora's Roads and Bridges

The Manora Beach Road connects Manora to a place called Kakapir across Sandspit. This road was improved in 2020. The KPT plans to build a bridge that will connect Manora island to other parts of Karachi. This bridge will make the trip between Manora and areas like Defence and Clifton much shorter, saving about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).

People of Manora

Many different groups of people live on Manora Island. These include Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Brahuis, Memons, and Bohris.