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Pakistan - Bahawalpur
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Bahawalpur

The State of Bahawalpur was a princely state of the Punjab in what is now Pakistan, stretching along the southern bank of the Sutlej and Indus Rivers, with its capital city at Bahawalpur. The state was counted amongst the Punjab states rather than the neighboring Rajputana states (now Rajasthan) to the southeast. After two centuries of varying degrees of independence, the state became part of Pakistan in 1947. In 1941, the state had a population of 1,341,209 living in an area of 45,911 km² (17,494 sq mi). It was divided into three districts: Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalnagar.

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. It is an important marketing centre for the surrounding areas and is located on the crossroads between Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi. Saraiki is the local language of the area. Urdu, Punjabi and English are also spoken and understood by most of the people.

Postage stamps of Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur used the postage stamps of British India until 1945. On 1st January 1945, it issued its own stamps, for official use only, a set of pictorials inscribed entirely in Arabic script.

On 1st December 1947 the state issued its first regular stamp, a commemorative stamp for the 200th anniversary of the ruling family, depicting Mohammad Bahawal Khan I, and inscribed "BAHAWALPUR". A series of 14 values appeared 1st April 1948, depicting various Nawabs and buildings. A handful of additional commemoratives ended with an October 1949 issue commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. After this the state adopted Pakistani stamps for all uses.

Rulers of Bahawalpur

The rulers of Bahawalpur took the title of Amir until 1740, when the title changed to Nawab Amir. Although the title was abolished in 1955, the current head of the House of Bahawalpur (Salar ud-din Muhammad Khan) uses the title informally. From 1942, the Nawabs were assisted by Prime Ministers.

Tenure	Nawab Amir of Bahawalpur
1690 - 1702	Bahadur Khan II
1702 - 1723	Mobarak Khan I
1723 - 11th April 1746	Sadeq Mohammad Khan I
11th April 1746 - 12th June 1750	Mohammad Bahawal Khan I
12th June 1750 - 4th June 1772	Mobarak Khan II
4th June 1772 - 13th August 1809	Mohammad Bahawal Khan II
13th August 1809 - 17th April 1826	Sadeq Mohammad Khan II
17th April 1826 - 19th October 1852	Mohammad Bahawal Khan III
19th October 1852 - 20th February 1853	Sadeq Mohammad Khan III
20th February 1853 - 3rd October 1858	Fath Mohammad Khan
3rd October 1858 - 25th March 1866	Mohammad Bahawal Khan IV
25th March 1866 - 14th February 1899	Sadeq Mohammad Khan IV
14th February 1899 - 15th February 1907	Mohammad Bahawal Khan V
15th February 1907 - 14th October 1955	Sadeq Mohammad Khan V
14th October 1955	State of Bahawalpur abolished

Tenure	Prime Minister of Bahawalpur
1942 - 1947	Sir Richard Marsh Crofton
1948 - 1952	John Dring
1952 - 14th October 1955	A.R. Khan
14th October 1955	State of Bahawalpur abolished

Travel Info

Bahawalpur is the starting point to explore the Cholistan Desert. Interesting Safaris can be organised from Bahawalpur to Cholistan.

Hotels In Bahawalpur

PTDC Motel Bahawalpur

Tours.

Full day Multan Shrines & Bazaar.

Leave from your hotel Morning or Afternoon drive to the old city "The Fort" Visit Mausoleum Hazarat Bahauddin Zakaria (1182 - 1266) a Sufi saint who traveled all different countries of Islam and learnt the faith of unity . He taught the teachings of sufism to the people in Multan and had this beautiful mausoleum built for himself. The tomb is made of terracotta bricks and is very well decorated with the blue glazed tiles.

Later visit the tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam a Sufi saint inspired by his grand father Bahauddin Zakaria and learnt the lessons of Sufism. The tomb in magnificently beautiful and very well restored by the Agha Khan Award of Architecture in 1986. Originally built in 1320 by emperor Ghayasuddin Tughlaq for himself . On his becoming the devote of the saint he preferred it for the saint who Died in 1234. Tomb is an octagonal structure of Baked bricks beautifully decorated with blue & turquoise glazed tiles. After that drive to the tomb of Shah Shams Tabrez A saint having numerous devotes from all faiths& religions . You have a chance to see the prayers of devotes and faces of people coming from different villages and town to have a look of the saint's Mausoleum. Tour ends with a visit to the main bazaar of Multan. A school of colors and happy faces (mind the heat In summer) one can spend hours roaming this bazaar.

Evening Dinner & puppet Show.

Multan is famous for the puppet shows a typical string puppet show depicting a legend from the numerous Sufi stories. Watch the puppet later ride the Horse carriages to Dine at a local restaurant.

Full day Harrappa.

Leave very early morning to see the ruins of this 5000 years old city of Indus civilization. Return late in the evening. On the way stop at different villages & towns. (Indus Civilization )

Full day Excursion to Punjnad & Uch Sharief .

Early morning Drive 70 Kilometers to Punjnad. On the way stop at a small village of fishermen community. Punjnad is confluence of 5 rivers . You can have a boat ride here in River Chenab, later continue to Uch Sharief the land which attracted most of the Sufis of the subcontinent. Still the town shows the same mystic feeling. There are many beautiful mausoleums of different saints . We shall see here the tomb of Sheikh Jalaluddin Surkh & Jewindi Bibi both elaborately decorated with blue glazed tiles. After visiting the Bazaar we will return back to Multan.

Transfers

Airport to Hotel

It is only 10 - 15 Minutes easy drive from airport to PTDC motel Bahawalpur

Multan - Bahawalpur

95 Kilometers road is very nice and there are not as many stops as such you do get a good view of country side and if you wants you may stop at a school or village on the way.

Bahawalpur - Sukkur.

Bestway is to take a train from Multan and reach Sukkur. There are regular trains leaving 0745 , 0945 , 1120 , 1305. Train journey can be a wonderful experience as you get to see very interesting railway stations and numerous people going & coming. You also get a broader view of the country side.

By road it is 454 Kilometers. Road is well paved but usually there is a lot of Trucks traffic due to which journey be longer the 9 Hours.

Multan - Lahore

348 Kilometers 7 - 8 Hors It is usually recommended with the tour of Harrappa on the way making it a 10 Hours Journey. Road is pretty good there are many small & big towns on the way. One must leave early in the morning stopping at different tea stalls and towns it should take about 3 Hours & 30 Minutes to Harrappa visit the site & museum later continue to Lahore Lunch at a local restaurant (Usually called Truck restaurant ) Arrive Lahore in the evening.

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