Traveling to Bahawalpur: The City Of Palaces

Cracking Open The Doors to Pakistan

Traveling to Bahawalpur is easier said than done. Although Pakistan has been increasing their efforts to be the next big tourist destination, there are still large swathes of land which is inaccessible to foreigners. These are not out of reach military bases located in the middle of the desert, but cities that boast historic beauty and cultural richness.

Lahore can easily be considered the first of the tourist destinations that attracted travelers to Pakistan. Travelers may have free reign over the north of the province, but once you head to Southern Punjab tourists will be confined to their hotel rooms. Only with an armed guard attached to your hip will you be allowed to explore the beauty of Bahawalpur.

Wondering how to take the bus in Pakistan? Read my guide on how to get from Islamabad to Lahore here!

Avoiding the Guards

In order to avoid being hounded by police and being shadowed by a guard throughout your time in Bahawalpur, some travelers will begin to get creative. Although not ideal, some foreign visitors will plan their bus to arrive early in the morning in Bahawalpur and leave during the evening. If you stay at a hotel, they will force a guard to accompany you. If you are only in Bahawalpur to get to Uch Sharif, however, you will spend the greater part of your day traveling to the ruins. Leaving no time to explore the city.

Even if you do make time to explore Bahawalpur, do not expect all the doors to be swung open for you. Bahawalpur is known as the City of Palaces. The princely state of Bahawalpur was founded in 1802 and existed as an independent kingdom until the formation of Pakistan. During this time many ornate and extravagant palaces were erected throughout the city.

These grand halls and elaborate gardens were once frequented by royalty, but now the main guests are soldiers in fatigues. Many of the palaces throughout Bahawalpur are now occupied by the Pakistan military, making it difficult for foreign travelers to visit. You may increase your chances by being accompanied by a local, but much is dependent on the mood of the guards at the gates.

Looking for more out of reach places in Pakistan? Read on how to get from Peshawar to Bab-e-Khyber here!

Exploring the City of Palaces

Being the City of Palaces, Bahawalpur has tons of untapped potential as being one of the top tourist destinations in Pakistan. Unfortunately with the military sticking their flags in all the most breathtaking monuments and paranoid police, exploring Bahawalpur is not that easy. Although the police say the heightened security is for the protection of foreigners, it is actually because there are many military sensitive areas in South Punjab.

If you do manage to shake off the armed escort and want to roll the dice at visiting the palaces, you will find that there are many to choose from. Noor Mahal is by far the most iconic. But there is also the Darbar Mahal, Gulzar Mahal, Nishat Mahal, and the Farrukh Mahal. Incorporating traditional Mughal architecture and British design into the palaces, each of these lavish mansions is the jewels in the crown of Bahawalpur.

If the guard at the gates to one of these palaces is in a particularly good mood, you just might be granted access to the grand halls and ballrooms. The entrance fee to the Noor Mahal is 50 PKR (0.32 USD)

Everyone has been to the Wagah Border. Read about the border parade in Kasur here!

Mixing Into The Crowds

One of the main reasons travelers fall in love with Pakistan is basking in the energy which radiates throughout the bazaars. Simply by sitting on the stoop of a shop, you can see a parade of traditional Pakistani cultural unfold before your eyes. From various ethnicities, cultural dress to camels being led down busy market streets, the bazaars in Pakistan are living breathing beings constantly flowing this life.

Being tied to the hip with a guard will not allow you to truly immerse yourself in the madness of the bazaar. Even when traveling on your own, your presence will quickly be discovered by the local police. Tracking you down, they will be sure to provide you with “protection”. With its various ornate city gates and the gorgeous marble Al-Sadiq Mosque in the heart of the market, there is so much to discover in Bahawalpur. But as long as the police continue to harass tourists, the palaces and bazaars will always be off the map.

While in Swat you won’t want to miss Kandul Lake. Read on how to get from Kalam to Kandol Lake here!

Is It Worth The Hassle?

As the visa to Pakistan becomes easier to obtain, more and more adventurous travelers will make the journey to Pakistan. As these dirty, backpacking toting tourists begin to travel to off the beaten path places, the government will have to choose between cutting off travelers to the country altogether or opening up their doors fully to foreign travel. From Uch Sharif to Derawar Fort, there is more than enough in Bahawalpur to keep tourists for weeks. But as long as travelers are shackled up to their hotels, the city will be left off of most itineraries.

With the idea of international tourism being still in its infancy, much of Pakistan is still warming up to and adapting themselves to the idea of camera waving tourists strutting through the bazaars. If Pakistan wishes to truly clean up their image and have travelers sharing the beauty and hospitality of the country to the world, they can not keep tourists handcuffed to a guard and lock the gates to some of Pakistan’s most iconic monuments. Although things are changing, Pakistan has a choice: to either allow tourists to enjoy the countries rich heritage or keep cities like Bahawalpur off the beaten path.