Bahawalpur, A Historical City

Places Around Bahawalpur


Cholistan

Farther east, the Rohi, or Cholistan, is a barren desert tract, bounded on the north and west by the Hakra depression with ruins of old settlements along its high banks; it is still inhabited by nomads. It is at a distance of 30 km. from Bahawalpur. The word 'Cholistan' is derived from the word 'cholna' which means moving.

It covers an area of about 16,000 square km and extends into the Thar Desert of India. The region was once watered by the Hakra River, known as the Saravati in vedic times.

At one time there were 400 forts in the area and archaeological finds around the Darawar Fort, the only place with a perennial waterhole.

The average annual rainfall is only 12 cm, and the little cultivation is made possible by underground wells, drawn up by the camels. The water is stored in troughs, built by the tribes, between sandhills and din waterholes called tobas.

The forts here were built at 29 km intervals, which probably served as guard posts for the camel caravan routes. There were three rows of these forts. the first line of forts began from Phulra and ended in Lera, the second from Rukhanpur to Islamgarh, and the third from Bilcaner to Kapoo. They are all in ruins now, and you can see that they were built with double walls of gypsum blocks and mud. Some of them date back to 1000 BC, and were destroyed and rebuilt many times. Cholistan also boasts of many old forts such as Derawar,Vingrot, Banwar, Marcot, Wilhar, Maujgharh, Mao, Phuira and Din-gharh etc.

Derawar Mosque

Also worth visiting is the Derawar Mosque, which is 100 years old and is built with white marble stone. The Derawar mosque of marble is a thing of beauty, an exact replica of the Moti Masjid of the Red Fort of Delhi.

Channan Pir

From Bahawalpur at a distance of 1 hour drive is Channan Pir in Cholistan desert. Channan Pir is a shrine of a Muslim saint, which lies in the desert between Derawar and Din Gargh Forts.

Burial Ground

Another interesting place worth visiting here is the Nawab Family burial ground where many of the old Nawabs and their families are buried. The tomb here is attractive, built with marble and decorated with blue glazed style.

Uch Sharif

Uch Sharif, 75 km from Bahawalpur is a very old town. It is believed that it came into existence way back in 500 BC. Some historians believe that Uch was there even before the advent of Bikramajit when Jains and Buddhist ruled over the sub-continent. At the time of the invasion by Alexander the Great, Uch was under Hindu rule.

The surviving shrines, sanctuaries, cemeteries, and mausoleums, including the Bibi Jawandi tomb, incorporate glazed tile and brick revetments, lime plaster panels, terra-cotta embellishments, brick structural walls laid in earth mortars, and ingenious corner tower buttresses. The famous shrines existing at Uch include those of Hazrat Bahawal Haleem, Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari, Makhdoom Jahanian Jahangasht, Shaikh Saifuddin Ghazrooni and Bibi Jawanadi. The shrine of Bibi Jawandi is a Central Asian design, titled in the blue and white faience.

Uch is a small town today and divided into three different quarters known as:

(i) Uch Bukhari, after Hazrat Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari Surkhposh
(ii) Uch Jilani, after the name of Hazrat Shaikh Mohammad Ghaus Qadri Jilani (Bandagi), who came from Halab in 887 AH
(iii) Uch Mughlan after the Mughal rulers.

Mosque at Bhong

Bhong Mosque is in the Rahim Yar Khan district and is about 200 km from Bahawalpur. This mosque was built by Rais Ghazi, a local landlord of Bhong. Gold leaves have been used for the intricate decorative work in the mosque which has made it famous. It is a site worth visiting for its beauty and the stylish calligraphic work.

Lal Suhanra National Park

This park is ideal for recreation, education or research but shooting is forbidden. This park, 36 km to the east of Bahawalpur is a combination of a natural lake and forest. It covers an area of 77,480 acres of land and is spread over on both sides of Bahawalpur canal. It has watch-towers, catching ground, tourist huts, rest house, camping grounds, TDCP Resort and treks for the visitors and lovers of nature. Hog deer, ravine deer, black buck and nilgai are common. Fox, jackals, hares, porcupines, mongoose, larks, owls and hawks are also found. Wild boars are in large number in the forest areas.

Sadiq Garh Palace

In Ahmadpur East is situated another palace called Sadiq Garh Palace. It is in the use of the ex-royal family's descendants. This palace can be termed as the prettiest of the other palaces and is embellished with most delicate and intricate paintings. It displays chandeliers and a collection of carpets, coming from all over the world, apart from armaments of European and Asian make and a number of other gifts that must have been showered on the ex-royal family of Bahawalpur from time to time.

Dera Nawab Sahib

The palaces of the Amirs are located mainly in Dera Nawab Saheb at a distance of 22 miles from Bahawalpur; while, Derawar was the ancestral seat of the rulers of Bahawalpur. It is the gateway to Cholistan, which comprises 1,000 square miles.

Panjnad Head Works

Panjnad is located 12 km. away from Uch Sharif where all the five rivers of Punjab meet. It is a nice picnic spot with scenic beauty.

Forts

The old fort of Munde Shahid, 50 km. from Bahawalpur and Marot Fort are considered to be antiquities. A place outside the Marot Fort is known as 'Baithuk Maula Ali'. The tomb of 'Naugaza' is located in the Munde Shahid Fort.

Some Shrines

Other shrines of Bahawalpur region are that of

» Khawaja Noor Muhammad known as Qibla-e-Alam at Chistian
» Shrine of another saint at Chachran
» Shrine of Hazrat Mohkam Din known as 'Sahib-us-Sair' (great traveler) at Khanqah Sharif, 20 km. from Bahawalpur.

Pattan Minara

8 km. east of Rahim Yar Khan railway station is an extensive site of ruins known as 'Pattan Minara'. There is a tower in the center of four smaller towers at this place, which are believed to have been a Buddhist Monastery.

Bhutta Wahan

It is 15 km. from Rahim Yar Khan. It is believed to be the birthplace of 'Sassi', one of the legendary lovers. Also it is believd to be the birthplace of 'Abu-ul-Fazal and Faizi', the sons of Mullah Mubarak and famous courtiers of Akbar the Great. But nobody knows the exact history of this place precisely.

Musafir Khana

It is at a distance of 30 km. from Bahawalpur. There are seven tombs known as 'Ali Ashab'. These tombs are said to be of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A fair is held in the village in the month of May (Jeth) and on Fridays in the month of June (Har).

Wildlife

Hog deer, ravine deer, black buck and blue bull are common. Fox, jackals, hares, porcupines, mongoose, arks, owls and hawks are also found. Wild boars are found in large numbers in the forest areas.

Bazaars of Bahawalpur

The main shopping centers of Bahawalpur are Shahi Bazaar, Machli Bazaar, Farid Gate and the Mall.