Bahawalpur located in Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state and later the province of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs (rulers) and counted as part of the Rajputana states (now Rajasthan, India). The city is known for its famous palaces such as the Noor Mahal, Sadiq Ghar Palace, and Darbar Mahal, as well as the ancient fort of Derawar in the Cholistan Desert bordering India. The city is located near the historical and ancient cities of Uch and Harappa, which were once a stronghold of the Delhi Sultanate and Indus Valley Civilization. The city is home to one of the few natural safari parks in Pakistan, Lal Suhanra National Park.
2-Days Bahawalpur & surrounding tour
Itinerary
Day 1: We will Pick up from your desire location in Bahawalpur city (city of Nawabs). We will visit the Abbasi Mosque, Bahawalpur Museum and Noor Mahal and the old city of Bahawalpur. we go for excursion of Derawar Fort, a massive and visually stunning square structure, built in 9th Century. We will visit Tomb of Nawabs and shahi mosque. Later on, drive to Sadiq Garh palace. Overnight Hotel one Bahawalpur.
Day 2: Early morning, Drive to visit Uch sharif, Uch is an ancient city with reference to it having been built by Alexander the great during his quest in the region. Later in the 12th to 17th century, it thrived as an Islamic Centre by the Muslim scholars fleeing persecution in their own lands. It became a city of mystics and saints and we can still see remains of their grandeur. Afternoon time we will visit Lal sohanra national park. Overnight Hotel One Bahawalpur.
4-Days tour from Bahawalpur
Itinerary
Day 1: We will Pick up from your desire location in Bahawalpur city (city of Nawabs). We will visit the Abbasi Mosque, Bahawalpur Museum and Noor Mahal and the old city of Bahawalpur. Afternoon time we will visit Lal sohanra national park. Overnight Hotel One Bahawalpur.
Day 2: Early morning, we go for excursion of Derawar Fort, a massive and visually stunning square structure, built in 9th Century. We will visit Tomb of Nawabs and shahi mosque. Later on, drive to Sadiq Garh palace. Overnight Hotel one Bahawalpur.
Day 3: Drive to Multan en-route visit Uch sharif, Uch is an ancient city with reference to it having been built by Alexander the great during his quest in the region. Later in the 12th to 17th century, it thrived as an Islamic Centre by the Muslim scholars fleeing persecution in their own lands. It became a city of mystics and saints and we can still see remains of their grandeur. Multan is famous for blue pottery; we will visit blue pottery factory as well. Overnight Avari Xpress Multan
Day 4: Full day city tour Multan. Multan is in such a strategic point of trade ways. It’s an important industry city dating back 2000 years ago. City is famous with its shrines. The most famous of these are the shrines of Bahaddin Zakariya, Shems Tebriz and Sheikh Rukneddin. We will visit these 3 shrines and then we will have free time in Hussein Agahi Bazaar. Overnight Avari Xpress Multan.
Day 5: Transfer to airport for onward journey.
Tourist Attractions in Bahawalpur
Derawar fort
Derawar Fort is a large square fortress, located approximately 100 km south of the city of Bahawalpur, the forty bastions of Derawar are visible for many miles in the Cholistan Desert. The walls have a perimeter of 1500 meters and stand up to thirty meters high. Derawar fort was built by Rai Jajja Bhatti, a Rajput ruler of the Bhatti clan. The fort was built in the 9th century AD as a tribute to Rawal Deoraj Bhatti, a Rajput sovereign king of the Jaisalmer and Bahawalpur areas who had his capital at Lodhruva. The fort was initially known as Dera Rawal, and later referred to as Dera Rawar, which with the passage of time came to be pronounced Derawar, its present name. In the 18th century, the fort was taken over by Muslim Nawabs of Bahawalpur from the Shahotra tribe. It was later renovated by Abbasid rulers, but in 1747 the fort slipped from their hands owing to Bahawal Khan’s preoccupations at Shikarpur. Nawab Mubarak Khan took the stronghold back in 1804. 1,000-year-old catapult shells were found in the debris near a decaying wall in the fort. This historically-significant fort presents an enormous and impressive structure in the heart of the Cholistan desert, but it is rapidly deteriorating and in need of immediate preventative measures for preservation.
Places to visit at Derawar
- Derawar Fort World Heritage Site Castle of 852 A.D.
- Imperial Mosque constructed in 1844 A.D.
- Imperial Graveyard of Abbasi Family.
- Royal Graveyard Derawar:
It is the royal graveyard of the Abbasi’s family and situated few yards away from the Shahi Masjid Derawar. The Abbasi family was the ruling Nawab family of Bahawalpur and all of the previous Nawabs are buried here. The graveyard is still owned and controlled by the Nawabs surviving family members. There is one large size rectangular room that contains the graves of all the 12 Nawabs that ruled the Bahawalpur State. It also includes the grave of Nawab after 1966, who held the honorary title after merger of the state with Pakistan. Other than the main rectangular tomb, there are many single tombs that belong to wives and brother / sisters of Nawabs.
These tombs display great architectural beauty. Most of them are the typical blue paintwork that is typical of Sindh and South Punjab Few are also in white marble and few in burnt brick. The graveyard is the private property of Abbasi’s family
Visit following forts in Cholistan:
- Bahawalpur To Moujgarh Fort built In 1743, 85km, traveling Time: 01:45
- Moujgarh To Marot Fort built In 1250 56km, traveling Time:55 Min
- Marot To Jamgarh Fort built In 1788 14km, traveling Time:20 Min
- Jamgarh To Mirgarh Fort built In 1799 07km, traveling Time:10 Min
- Mirgarh To Bahawalpur- 200km traveling time:03:30
Uch Sharif
UCHH SHARIF, situated 50 km west of Bahawalpur, is one of the most antediluvian towns. It’s famous for its pulchritudinous ruins and tombs ornamented with blue mosaic, and other embellishments. Among these tombs the 15th century octagonal tomb of Bibi Jawindi is the best-kenned monument. It is reputed to have been the most consequential cultural Centre during 13th century. Uch Sharif is an important historical city, having been founded by Alexander the Great. Formerly located at the confluence of the Indus and Chenab rivers, it is now 100 kilometers from that confluence, which has moved to Mithankot. It was an important Centre in medieval India, as an early stronghold of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century during the Muslim conquest. Uch Sharif contains the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha’al-Halim and Jalaluddin Bukhari, which are considered masterpieces of Islamic architecture and are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.
Noor Mahal
Noor Mahal are the most elegant buildings in Bahawalpur built in the Italian style. Noor Mahal is unique in its architecture and is splendid with comely lawns and driveways.
Lal Sohanra Park
Lal Sohanra Park, 50 kms east of Bahawalpur, is established on both sides of the Desert Branch Canal and fortifies a cyclopean variety of animals and birdlife. It is one of South Asia’s largest nationals’ parks, and is a UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve. Lal Sohanra is notable for the diversity of its landscape, which includes desert, forest and wetland ecosystems.
Dera Nawab Sahib
Dera Nawab Sahib, this was the residential headquarter of the Nawabs of Bahawalpur. There are palaces dating back to the 18th century here.
Central Library
Central Library, Central Library was founded on 8 March 1924 by Sir Rufus Daniel Issacs and Sadeq Mohammad Khan V.
Central Library of Bahawalpur is an old and important library of Pakistan in Bahawalpur, situated at the distance of 5 km on Medical Colony Ave Road via Railway Circular Road before Bahawalpur Museum.
The construction of the building was carried out by donations of 100,000 rupees by the people of Bahawalpur State. It has a vast collection of books and rare manuscripts. It is one of the best libraries in Pakistan.
Bahawalpur Museum
Bahawalpur Museum, this is a modest museum with a good collection of old coins medals postage stamps, manuscripts inscriptions woodcarvings camel silk paintings historical models stone carvings of the Islamic and Pre-Islamic period.
Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq
Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq, it was made by Nawab Sadiq Khan Abbasi. It has a capacity of 50 to 60 thousand people. It is one of the most beautiful and prominent mosques in Pakistan.
Farid Gate
Farid Gate is one of the old gates of the old city of Bahawalpur.
