Photo: Tahsin Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0Area guides / Punjab / Bahawalpur & Cholistan
Area guide
Bahawalpur & Cholistan
Nawabs' palaces, desert forts and the tombs of Uch
Region
Punjab
When to go
November to February only
Getting there
Bahawalpur is on the rail and road network of southern Punjab. Derawar is reached across the desert, where a sturdy vehicle helps; Uch Sharif is about 70 km south-west of Bahawalpur.
Places
10 field guides
Overview
About Bahawalpur & Cholistan
Bahawalpur, the city of the Nawabs whose palaces still stand, is the gateway to the Cholistan Desert, part of the Greater Thar known locally as Rohi. Out in the sands, Derawar Fort's forty bastions stand up to 30 m high; west of the city, Uch Sharif keeps a group of glazed-tile tombs.
Bahawalpur is on the rail and road network of southern Punjab. Derawar is reached across the desert, where a sturdy vehicle helps; Uch Sharif is about 70 km south-west of Bahawalpur.
Bahawalpur city
Noor Mahal, with its 32 rooms and five domes, and the Bahawalpur Museum are the city's two essential visits. Allow a full day before heading into the desert.
Into Cholistan
Derawar's walls have a perimeter of about 1,500 m and are visible for miles across the desert. Go in the cool season, with a local driver, water and a plan for the sandy final stretch.
Top sights in Bahawalpur & Cholistan
All 10 places →
Stories from Bahawalpur & Cholistan
All stories →
Resorts
All resorts →GreenPak stays in this area are listed on the region guide.
Bahawalpur & Cholistan: Questions Travellers Ask
What is there to see in Bahawalpur & Cholistan?
10 places in Bahawalpur & Cholistan have their own field guide here, the most in mosques, shrines and tombs (4), landmarks and buildings (3), sikh heritage (1) and museums, libraries and colleges (1).
When is the best time to visit Bahawalpur & Cholistan?
November to February only; Cholistan is extremely hot the rest of the year. The Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally is held in February.
How do you get to Bahawalpur & Cholistan?
Bahawalpur is on the rail and road network of southern Punjab. Derawar is reached across the desert, where a sturdy vehicle helps; Uch Sharif is about 70 km south-west of Bahawalpur.
What day trips can you take from Bahawalpur & Cholistan?
1 within about 35 km of Bahawalpur & Cholistan, all listed on this page: Islamgarh Fort (about 28 km outside).
The complete guide
Everything to See in Bahawalpur & Cholistan
All 10 places in Bahawalpur & Cholistan with their own field guide, grouped by kind.
Sikh heritage · 1
Mosques, shrines and tombs · 4
Tomb of Abu HanifaA ruined tile-decorated tomb on the mound at Uch Sharif, among the tombs of the town's Bukhari saints and their followers.
Tomb of Bhawal HaleemAn octagonal tomb at Uch with turrets at each corner, banded in cut brick and glazed tile.
Tomb of Bibi JawindiThe glazed-tile tomb of Bibi Jawindi at Uch Sharif, one of five Uch monuments on Pakistan's UNESCO tentative list.
Tomb of NuriaThe tomb at Uch Sharif of the architect who built the neighbouring saints' mausoleums, the Tomb of Ustad on the UNESCO list.
Museums, libraries and colleges · 1
Landmarks and buildings · 3
Derawar and Cholistan Desert FortsUNESCO tentative desert fort landscape in Cholistan.
Noor MahalAn 1870s Italianate palace built for the Nawabs of Bahawalpur and nicknamed the "Palace of Light," its 32 rooms, gold-plated furniture, and vintage chandeliers now maintained by the Pakistan Army as Bahawalpur's most photographed landmark.
Tombs of Uch SharifA cluster of glazed-tile Sufi shrines in the ancient town of Uch Sharif near Bahawalpur, including the tomb of Bibi Jawindi, showcasing centuries of Multani-style blue and turquoise tilework.
Around Bahawalpur & Cholistan: day trips · 1
Outside Bahawalpur & Cholistan, straight-line distance from its boundary.
