Places in Bahawalpur City

Places To Visit


Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur is 889 kms from Karachi. The founder of the state of Bahawalpur was Nawab Bahawal Khan Abbasi I. The Abbasi family ruled over the State for more than 200 years (1748 to 1954).

During the rule of the last Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V, Bahawalpur State was merged with Pakistan in 1954. Bahawalpur was formerly the capital of the state and now is the District and Divisional Headquarters of Bahawalpur Division.

Places In Bahawalpur

Central Library

It is housed in a building having fine architectural value. The foundation stone of this building was laid by the then Governor and Viceroy of India Sir Rufus Daniel Issacs on March 8, 1924 to mark the installation of Late Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V. The Central Library was established in 1947 in this building. It has a vast collection of books and manuscripts. It is one of the best libraries in Pakistan and visited by students and scholars from within the country and abroad.

Bahawalpur Museum

Bahawalpur has a modest museum having a fine collection of coins, medals, postage stamps of former State of Bahawalpur, manuscripts, documents, inscriptions, wood carvings, camel skin paintings, historical models and stone carving etc. of Islamic and pre-Islamic period. There is a complete set of medals of all classes issued by the ex-state to its military officers/civilians and to other important citizens of the ex-State.

The Zoological Garden

The zoological garden of Bahawalpur is considered to be one of best in the country. Spread over an area of 25 acres of land, it has an interesting collection of 120 animals and 750 birds of tropical areas, particularly those found in this region. The zoo has the distinction of occasional breeding of lions and supply of beasts to other zoos in the country. It also has an aquarium and a good collection of stuffed rare birds and animals.

Adamwahan Bridge

Bahawalpur is also the site of the Adamwahan (Empress) Bridge, the only railway bridge over the Sutlej River in Pakistan.

Palaces

Two of the three palaces of the Nawabs - the Nur Mahal and Gulzar Mahal - are located in Bahawalpur.

An Italian-style Nur Mahal palace of the ex-rulers of Bahawalpur, a small museum, and Gulzar Mahal, which presents beautiful synthesis of traditional and Islamic architecture, are worth seeing.

Patt

East of Bahawalpur is the Patt, or Bar, a tract of land considerably higher than the adjoining valley. It is chiefly desert irrigated by the Sutlej inundation canals and yields crops of wheat, cotton, and sugarcane.

Dring Stadium

Bahawalpur has one of the best Stadiums in Pakistan having fine cricket ground, two football grounds, one basketball ground and six lawn tennis courts and a covered swimming pool. The hockey stadium is considered to be the second best in the country after Karachi stadium. It can accommodate 13,000 people. It is at this stadium that the great Hanif Muhammad known as the 'little master' in cricket made 499 not out in first class cricket, which remained an unbeaten record in the world for a very long time.

Shrine of Muluk Shah

The Shrine of Muluk Shah, a popular saint of his time, is located in the city and visited by devotees on every Thursday, Ashura and Eid days. A small fair is also held here annually.

Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq

It was made by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V at the elevation of more than 12 feet from earth. It can house 50,000 to 60,000 people at a time, during the Eid festivals. It is a well reputed mosque in Pakistan.

Educational Institutions

The city is the seat of several educational institutions such as:

» Islamia University established in 1975
» Quaid-e Azam Medical College
» Sadiq Public School (SPS)
» Sadiq Egerton College
» Other Govt. Institutes (Schools and Colleges)
» In fact, Bahawalpur is an important agricultural training and educational center.

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.

Chitral, A Tourist site

Chitral


Tourism sites

Traveling from Swat via Chakdara and Dir, over the Lowari Pass which is snowbound in winter, one reaches Chitral in 8 to 9 hours from Saidu Sharif. The flying time between Chitral and Peshawar is 40 minutes with two flights daily. The valley of Chitral has a lot to offer and is a popular destination with both foreign and domestic tourists. Lying in the shadow of majestic Tirich Mir Peak, Chitral is home to the famous valleys of the Kalash, Barir, Bumburet, Rambur in the South West and the hot springs at Garam Chashma in the North East. Chitral is linked with Gilgit via Mastuj and the famous Shandur Pass, venue for the world’s only annual Polo Festival at 12,500 feet above sea level.

The PTDC Motel at Chitral is located in the center of the city with well-furnished, comfortable rooms and a restaurant offering Pakistani and western cuisine. The Motel also offers Rent-a-Jeep, Telephone, Fax, Satellite TV and Laundry facilities.

Once in PTDC Motel, you will love to come again. Visit to Kalash Valley, Garam Chashma, Birmoglasht and Mastuj valleys is an experience to be remembered for long.

Tel: 0933-412683 Fax: 0933-412722

Dams and Lakes in and around Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Dams And Lakes In And Around


Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Khanpur Dam, Mangla Dam, Misriot Dam, Rawal Lake, Simli Dam, Tarbela Dam.

Khanpur Dam

This beautiful lake/dam is 48 km from Islamabad on Taxila-Haripur Road. It is an ideal place for day trip/picnic, boating, angling and watching migratory birds during winter.


Mangla Dam

World's third largest earth-filled dam is only 115 km southeast of Rawalpindi. One has to turn left from Dina Town and there the dam on river Jhelum is about 16 km to the east. The dam is 3,353 meters long and 116 meters high above the riverbed. It is designed to store 5.88 MAF water and also used for power generation. In the center of the dam there is a Gakkhar Fort from where one can have a panoramic view of the lake. For permits to visit the dam, please contact PRO, WAPDA, Mangla. A NOC from the Ministry of Interior is required for foreigners.

Misriot Dam

Misriot dam is located 12 km southwest of Rawalpindi. This small dam has an artificial lake with boating and fishing facilities. Fishing permit may be obtained from fishing guard at Misriot. It has a pleasant landscape and walkways beyond the lake among eruptions of black rocks.


Rawal Lake

This glistening man-made lake covers an area of 8.8 sq. km. The terraced garden and the lake are ideal for picnic, fishing and boating. The highest point in the garden commands a panoramic view of the lake, Margalla and Murree hills, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.




Simli Dam

About 30 km from Islamabad lies Simli Dam. It can be reached via Lehtrar road or via Bhara Kahu. It is fed by the melting snow and natural spring of Murree Hills. The water stored in the lake is supplied to Islamabad for drinking purposes. Angling and boating is also allowed in the lake. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has a Rest House at the Dam, which can be booked through its Head Office in Islamabad.

Tarbela Dam

This is the world's largest earth-filled dam on one of the world's most important rivers - the Indus and is 103 km from Rawalpindi. The dam was completed in 1976 at a cost of Rs. 18.5 billion. Over 15,000 Pakistani and 800 foreign workers and engineers worked during its construction. It is the biggest hydel power station in Pakistan having a capacity of generating 3,478 MW of electricity. Its reservoir is 97 km long with a depth of 137 meter while total area of the lake is 260 sq. km. Permits are required for visiting the Dam. For this we need to contact the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Tarbela (Tel: 051-568941-2). A No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Interior (Shaheed-e-Millat Sectt.), Islamabad is also required for foreign visitors.

Beautiful Locations in Islamabad

Beautiful locations

Cappital City Islamabad

Pakistan's new Capital ISLAMABAD nestles against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills at the northern end of Pothowar Plateau. It offers a healthy climate, pollution free atmosphere, plenty of water and lush green area. It is a modern and carefully planned city with wide tree-lined streets, large houses elegant public buildings and well-organised bazars/markets/shopping centres. There are rarely crowds or traffic jams and few narrow lanes or slums; the walkways are shaded & safe and seperated from the traffic by rows of flame trees, jacarnda and hibiscus. Rosed, Jasmine & bougainvillea fill the parks and scenic viewpoints shoe the city to its best advantage.

The city is divided into eight basic zones Administrative, diplomatic enclave, residential areas, educational sectors, industrial sectors. commercial areas, rural and green areas. Each sector has its own shopping area and public park.

Islamabad today is the heart and soul of Pakistan, a city which symbolizes the aspirations of a young and dynamic nation that looks forward to a glorious future for its people, a city which welcomes modern ides but at the same time recognizes and cherishes its traditional values and its past history.

Pakistan time Zone

Pakistan Standard Time is GMT plus 5 hours. It gets dark at about 5 p.m. in winter and at 7.30 p.m. in summer

Religions in Pakistan

Muslims 97%
Hindu 1.5%
Cristian 1%
Others 0.5%

Electercity

In Pakistan Voltage of Electricity is

220 V

50 Hz AC

Driving In Pakistan

All traffic in Pakistan runs on the left side. International or own national license is valid. All vehicles must be insured and registered. Minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limit is 65 km/h at most roads and Highways and 120 km/h on Motorways.