The city of Saints Dust & Beggars as it is introduced
in an old saying. This may be true in the olden days but it
definitely is a different city these days. Multan is is main
city of Southern Punjab province , It has always enjoyed a great
importance in the history. Some how its people have attracted
the Sufi saints so much the it became the abode of sufism in
South east Asia. Multan is known to be the oldest living city
in south east Asia. Today Multan is a combination of old and
the new Pakistan culture. There is a big hustle bustle in the
Old town and comfort of a five star hotel and sound streets
in the New city. The Old city has a very interesting Bazaar
and many elaborately decorated Shrines of the Sufi saints. For
a tour of Multan one has to give at least one full day. There
are regular flight from all major cities of Pakistan to Multan,
beside Trains and Road. Most Itineraries of Multan are combined
with Bahawalpur & Uch Sharief.
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Multan Railway Station |
Hotel Ramadah |
Daewoo Terminal Multan |
HOTELS
::Ramadah ( 5 Star Hotel)
::Sindbad (3 Star Hotel)
::Shezan (2 Star Hotel)
Many other small hotels near Railway station.
PLANNED TOURS
PLAN 1:Half day 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.
PLAN 2: 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.
PLAN 3: 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 )
PLAN 4: 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
If you stay at Holiday Inn it is only 10 - 15 Minutes easy
drive if you stay at a Hotel in the main city it takes about
20 Minutes from Airport. There are Taxis & a Private Van
available at the Airport.
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.
Multan - 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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