Field guides / Punjab / Prahladpuri Temple
Field guide · Heritage
Prahladpuri Temple
A ruined Hindu temple on the Multan Fort platform, dedicated to Narasimha and tied by legend to the Prahlad-Holika story behind the origins of Holi, standing beside the shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya.
Prahladpuri Temple is a ruined Hindu temple standing on the Multan Fort platform, dedicated to Narasimha and tied by tradition to the Prahlad-Holika legend regarded as the mythological origin of the Holi festival. Though largely in ruins today, it remains a significant Hindu-heritage site in a city otherwise known for its Sufi shrines.
Why go
- ✦Ruined Hindu temple on the Multan Fort mound
- ✦Dedicated to Narasimha
- ✦Linked by legend to the origins of Holi
- ✦Stands beside the shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya
The Prahlad-Holika Legend
Hindu tradition connects this site to the story of Prahlad and Holika, the mythological basis for the Holi festival, giving the ruined temple a significance well beyond its modest surviving structure.
A Ruin Worth Visiting
Little remains of the original temple structure, and visitors should set expectations accordingly, but its position atop the historic fort mound, beside one of Multan's great shrines, makes it a meaningful stop for those interested in the city's layered religious history.
Multan's Layered Religious History
The temple's presence alongside the Sufi shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, both on the same ancient citadel mound, reflects Multan's long history as a meeting point of Hindu, Sufi, and other religious traditions across many centuries.
Planning tip
When to go, October to March, alongside a Multan Fort visit.
Getting there, On the Multan Fort mound, beside the shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya.
Allow, 20-30 minutes, combined with the fort.
