Top Places to visit in Bahawalpur

If you are planning to visit Bahawalpur. You must visit the following places to make your trip unforgettable.

Bahawalpur Zoo

Bahawalpur Zoo is one of the biggest attraction for Bahawalpur and it’s surroundings. His Highness, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi (Nawab of former state) Bahawalpur had established this Zoo in 1942. This zoo is covering an area of 25 acres and came under administration of Wildlife Department in 1982.

Noor Mahal (Palace)

This two storey Italian style palace is located in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. This palace belongs to of Nawab Sir Muhammad Sadiqis and he was the Fifth ruler of Bahawalpur State. This monument is the most exquisite buildings of Pakistan and was specifically meant for Nawab. The most interesting part of this mahal is he contract it for his wife and she only live in it for one day because of the proximity to Basti Maluk Graveyard.

Noor Mahal was used for state nobilities as a guest house. Furthermore cabinet meetings were also organised in this palace by Nawab. Noteworthy guests were allowed for visit. This palace was also used as state court where Nawab used to address the courtiers. This wonderful palace is equipped with gold plated fanous, elegant carpets, paintings, and ornaments made by west artists. There is a beautiful garden in its surroundings.

Darbar Mahal (Palace)

It is an other Architectural masterpiece in Bahawalpur built by Nawab Sadiq IV, in 1907. In order to save time the construction material used for it was brought from Multan. A line of labourers was also formed from Multan to Bahawalpur. Darbar Mahal is a piece of art however it is closed to the public due to being used by the army nowadays.

Sadiq Garh Palace

Sadiq Garh Palace is another, maybe the best and most well known of the palaces made by the previous Nawabs of Bahawalpur state, in South Punjab, now in Pakistan

At the point when Nawab Bahawal Khan Abbasi IV passed on in 1866, his child Sadiq was offspring of five, succeeded him. On his eighteenth birthday, Sadiq got a “dastaar” or turban (a traditional way to authorise/shift rights to rule) and with it authority to manage over Bahawalpur as Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV.

Nawab Sadiq was a developed individual and had of fine tastes. He was an awesome developer of palaces and as an authority of Italian engineering rehearses left behind various luxurious structures that display his style and riches. The finest and most well-known of these structures that he made, was Sadiq Garh Palace, which was begun in 1882 and finished thirteen years later in 1895. Sadly, he enjoyed the palace only for four years as he died in 1899. He was only 38 when he died.

Gulzar Mahal (Palace)

Gulzar Mahal was constructed in the time of Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV. Its lovely engineering contains European impacts simply like Noor Mahal. Strangely the Mahal was the first building in Bahawalpur to be outfitted with disguised electric wiring, and the framework worked utilizing a diesel generator. The Mahal presents wonderful amalgamation of conventional and Islamic engineering and it merits visiting.

Daulat Palace

The Mahal Daulat Khana was established by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbassi (IV). The construction of the building was started in 1881 and was completed in 1886. The total expenditures of constructing this Palace were two lac rupees. A big box was placed in front of the Kingly door of the Daulat Khana Palace and the key of the box was kept by His Highness.

Because this box was especially for those people who wanted to put their applications in it. This box was opened daily in the morning by His Highness himself and the applications were considered. His Highness acted according to the problems of the people written in the applications.

A huge wall was put up all around the Palace and a beautiful garden was inside all around the wall. During the construction of the Daulat Khana Palace the buildings of Baghi Khana, Tosha Khana and Rath Khana were also prepared.

A pool which was 400 feet in length and 150 feet in width was also prepared and in front of this a beautiful Mosque was prepared only using wood stuff. Due to bad condition of the mosque after a century it was renewed by Sahibzada Qamar-Uz-Zaman Abbassi in 1981.

The mother of Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbassi (V) was resident in this palace till 1913.This palace is the birth palace of Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbassi (V). He was born on 30th of September 1904.

Sutlej River

Sutlej valley project was one of the greatest gift by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbassi to the State of Bahawalpur. In 1921 Secretary of the State suggested the Sutlej valley project.

According to this project new canals should emit by making dams on three rivers and these canals should supply water to a huge area of the State. These dams are called Head Sulemanki, Head Islam and Head Punjnad.

This project was started in 1922to 1933 and it was divided into four groups. It was started like this that Ferozpur Sulemanki, Islam and punjnad should flow water on permanent and non-permanent basis. The appropriate cost of this project was 33 crores and 31 lacs at the end of 1933 out of which 14 crores were provided by the State of Bahawalpur.Two crores were paid from the treasure of the State and the left amount was paid by taking loan from the government. Due to this project scheme 20 lacs and 75 thousands acers of land out of 51 lacs and 8 thousands were provided with canal water on permanent basis.

The left 30 lacs and 33 thousands of land were populated on non-permanent basis. The canals flowing from Head Punjnad have a good amount of water but the canals flowing from Head Islam and Head Sulemanki have a low amount of water. According to calculations this project has been profitable for the State of Bahawalpur.

Total Income Revenue

From 1924 to 1925: 26 lacs 97 thousands

From 1944 to 1945: 55 lacs 62 thousands

Total Irrigation Income

From 1924 to 1925: 11 lacs 44 thousands

From 1944 to 1945: 74 lacs 18 thousands

Thus in 21 years the total income of the State of Bahawalpur was increased by 91 lac rupees or it increased 238 percent. The production of some special crops was increased by 51 lacs and 50 thousands and its major advantage was the increase in population. Thus the population of the State got doubled and almost 25 lacs of land was converted into agriculture soil. Due to increase in import export new cities, markets and roads were established.

A large area of cholistan which was desert started to get populated because of the supply of water. After a large amount of farmers from Punjab got accommodated here, there was need of establishing new markets. So new markets were established at Sadiq Ganj, Rahim Yar Khan, Liaqutpur, Hasilpur, Chistian, Bahawalnager, Haroonabad, Fortabbass, Yezman, Sadiqabad and Bahawalpur. Most of the markets were inaugurated by His Highness himself. Thus the State got a good storage of crops.

Derawar Fort

In the desert of Cholistan, the soldiers are long gone, but one of the most remarkable forts of the medieval world still exists as private property, owned by the royal Abassi family who also keep a necropolis for their family on the property.

Derawar Fort is more than 1 kilometer in circumference and 30 meters high, featuring 40 stunning bastions rising out of the vast expanse of empty desert. Its ramparts are wide and smooth, creating an imposing structure unlikely to be breached by advancing forces and, more useful for modern times, an unique appearance more compelling than typical straight-walled castles.

It’s very difficult to reach Derawar Fort in its remote location, and typically one needs to hire a special guide to take them on the full-day journey to the site of the fort. That said, pretty much anyone can go look at it, but to go inside, one needs special permisssion from the Amir of Bahawalpur, so visitors need to plan ahead to get the full experience.

Lal Suhanra National Park

Lal Sohanra is a biosphere reserve in the central Pakistan 36 Kilometers from Bahawalpur city. The park has a small zoo recretion area and a conservation area for animals.

Lal Sohanra is spread over 153,000 acres (620 km2) and is notable for the diversity of its landscape, which includes areas of desert, forest and water.

Central Library

Bahawalpur Central Library is famous across whole country, many people come this place just to because of its historical land mark. Bahawalpur Central Library has tones of books in it regarding every matter. History has its own unique place in Bahawalpur Central Library. As a tourist if you are into legends of nawabs and prince of time Bahawalpur Central Libraryis the exactly place to see. Easily you can go there by asking anyone direction or just taking cab as you prefer.

Bahawalpur Central Library of consists of three beautiful and good looking buildings. In these buildings there are three main sections of the library containing a main hall, women and children section and the third one is the newspapers section. Besides that there is an AV section for non-books stuff. The collection of the books is over one lac in this library and record of newspapers is available from, before the independence of Pakistan to today.Bahawalpur Central Library building itself is a piece of art which construction started in 1927 people of Bahawalpur devoted 100000 rupees for construction. It is the 2nd biggest public library of the province.

As you can see above this is the most beautiful picture of Bahawalpur Central Library. As everyone know you are not allowed to eat inside the library so as your tourist guide I would not suggest any such item for eating or drinking. As long as you are trolling inside the building avoid eating or drinking. Once in Bahawalpur you are do remember to take a look at magnificent Bahawalpur central Library once.

Abbasi Mosque

Abbasi Mosque in Bahawalpur was constructed with cupolas and domes of exquisite marble by Nawab Bahawal Khan in 1849.;

Tomb of Bibi Jawindi

The tomb of Bibi Jawindi stands in the northwest corner of Uch Sharif on a low hillside, the site of an old fort, amid the ruins of several other architecturally significant tombs, among them the tombs of Ustad Nuria and Baha’al-Halim. It honors Bibi Jawindi, the great-granddaughter of Jahaniyan Jahangasht (1307-1383), a pupil of Baha’al-Halim who is commonly thought to have been instrumental in the construction of his teacher’s tomb. Construction of the tomb is attributed to an Iranian prince, Dilshad, who provided the funds for the project. The three tombs in this area stand in a state of partial ruin, as major flooding in 1817 caused the collapse of the west side of the tomb and damaged those nearby as well.

The tomb is built of fired bricks on an octagonal base with turrets at each corner of the octagon. A single dome was raised above on a smaller octagonal drum with arched windows. Even though the tomb has partially collapsed, its symmetrical design makes it straightforward to visualize its original layout. The layout of the tomb is quite similar to that of the mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan, which was built between 1320 and 1324. Although this design appears common today, the tomb of Rukn-e-Alam and its successors at Uch Sharif were among the first tombs with an octagonal base built on the subcontinent.

The exterior is enlivened with bands of blue, white, and azure faience made of glazed tiles. As Dr. Ahmad Nabi Khan notes, there are three main varieties of these tiles used throughout Uch Sharif. The first “are plain square or rectangular terra-cotta tiles painted and glazed in various hues, mainly Persian blue and white.”  Second are “those having floral designs on rectangular terra-cotta tiles with foliage design in blue and white created in high relief”.  Third are “terra-cotta plugs with their broad ends cut in recess in various geometric patterns and painted white or blue.”

The tomb requires active ongoing conservation to shore up and stabilize the remaining walls, turrets, and decorative features, but overall it is in better shape than the nearby Baha’al-Halim tomb. Five of the original eight turrets have survived in partial form, versus three at Baha’al-Halim. From certain angles enough of the tomb survives to present a clear impression of its original magnificence.

Farid Gate

Royal Graveyard

Sadiq Dane (SD) High School

Lion Safari

Blackbuck Enclosure