| Babarlo | |
| Settlement Type: | Deh |
| Other Name: | Babarloi, Baberloi |
| Pushpin Map: | Pakistan Sindh#Pakistan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Sindh |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Pakistan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Sindh |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Khairpur |
| Subdivision Type3: | Taluka |
| Subdivision Name3: | Khairpur |
| Population As Of: | 2017 |
| Population Total: | 13636 |
| Coordinates: | 27.6491°N 68.837°W[1] |
| Timezone: | PST |
| Utc Offset: | +5 |
| Timezone Dst: | PDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +6 |
| Pushpin Relief: | o |
Babarlo, also spelled Babarloi or Baberloi,[1] is a village and deh in Khairpur taluka of Khairpur District, Sindh.[2] As of 2017, it has a population of 13,636, in 2,409 households.[3]
Babarlo has the dargah (shrine) for the Muslim pir Makhdoom Pir Syed Rajan Qattaar Jahania, who came to Sindh from Uch Sharif sometime in the mid-19th century.[4] During the saint's urs on 14-16 Shaban, thousands of devotees come to pay their respects to him, offer prayers, and ask for mannats, or favours.[4] This shrine has a unique tradition that, since the saint was reputedly fond of riding donkeys, devotees are expected to offer a donkey in return for a mannat.[4] The donkeys offered this way are said to become "special", which makes them desirable for purchase.[4] The shrine's caretakers sell the offered donkeys and spend the money on the upkeep of the shrine (which is privately maintained).[4]
Babarlo is identified with the Babarlūka mentioned in the Tarkhan-Nama[5] as the residence of the Mughal emperor Humayun for five months beginning in approximately December 1542.[6] The text says, "Having taken up quarters in the town of Lahari (Rohri), he established his own residence within the walls of the delightful garden of Babarluka."[6] A similar account appears in the Chach-Nama, which uses the spelling of Babarlō for the place.[7] The Chach-Nama offers more context behind Humayun's stay: in anticipation for Humayun's arrival, Babarlo "with its four celebrated gardens" was decorated and its fort repaired in order to be a suitable and secure residence for the emperor and his family.[7] It also says that Humayun's camp consisted of some 200,000 people (two lakh), including troops and camp followers; they were so numerous that their camp covered the whole distance between Babarlo and Rohri.[7] It also gives a slightly different duration for Humayun's stay: "about 6 months".[7]
The 1951 census recorded the village of Babarlo (under the spelling "Baberloi") as having an estimated population of about 2,760, in about 650 houses.[8] It had a police station, post office, dispensary, and school at that point.[8]
In November 2021, the rape and murder of a 10-year-old Hindu boy in Babarlo sparked protests in several cities throughout northern Sindh.[9]