Multan & Bahawalpur
|
|
Multan & Bahawalpur |
Multan's famous blue and white pottery works
| Multan |
| Whilst our computer was being
repaired in Karachi we continued with our travels in Pakistan. We headed
to South Punjab to visit the cities of Multan and Bahawalpur. Multan
famous for its shrines, mosques and blue pottery and a major cotton
growing area is rarely visited by tourists. It is said to be one of the
hottest, driest and dustiest places in Pakistan. Our first impression was
not a good one. Toyota Hiace van drivers driving like maniacs and hotels
that did not want us because we were foreigners nearly made us leave. The
next morning we thought it could have been a test for tourists (that we
had successfully passed by staying) because of the beautiful things we saw
and the kindness of the people !
|
|
|
|
The Mausoleum of Sheikh Rukn-i-Alam (left), a colourfully decorated grave (centre) and a shrine surrounded by devotees (right)
|
|
|
|
Multan's latest movie offering (left), street life (centre) and traditional preparations for cotton embroidery (right)
|
|
|
|
Dinner with Muhammad Asif's marvelously hospitable family.
|
| Bahawalpur |
| South of Multan in the Thar
desert that Pakistan shares with Indian Rajasthan, Bahawalpur was our base
to visit Derawar Fort and the Mausoleum of Uch Sharif.
|
| Derawar Fort |
| Visible for many kilometers,
Derawar Fort is a huge square structure built in 1733 as the headquarters
of the first nawab of Bahawalpur. Its walls stand at a height of 30 m and
the circumference of the fort is 1.5 km. Next to it is a splendid mosque.
We drove 80 km into the desert to get to the fort. Needless to say we were
the only ones there apart from a few shepherds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The mosque at Derawar Fort, Thar desert, Pakistan
|
| Uch Sharif |
| 80 km west of Bahawalpur
along the Indus river lies the small village of Uch Sharif. This is
another place where few foreign visitors ever make it to. Uch Sharif is
famous for its sublime Sufi shrines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Going home after a hard day's work |
We are doing well !
 |
||
| Lahore | Back to Trip page | Km 135,417 |
