Bahawalpur is a popular city in the south Punjab. It has been cradle of the
state of Bahawalpur ruled by the Abbasi Nawabs. The present city is a modern
well planned city in Pakistan. It is the starting point to all adventures in the
desert of Cholistan and in the rivers of Punjab.
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, Rahim yar Khan and Bahawalnagar.
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
The Mall Family Hotel Bahawalpur
TDCP Motel Lal Sohanra National Park Bahawalpur
Hotel One Bahawalpur Bahawalpur
TDCP Motel Lal Sohanra National Park 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 LaTaska motel (Formerly
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.
Bahawalpur - Lahore
338 Kilometers 8 - 9 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.
