Multan Punjab, Pakistan Travel Guide
Multan's skyline, with its distinctive shrines, invites exploration.
Multan’s flat topography historically caused it to be accessible, fostering its growth as a hub. Its location experiences a generally dry climate, with intensely hot summers and mild, pleasant winters. This geographic setting shaped Multan's economy, heavily reliant on agriculture.
When traveling around Multan, notice how the landscape transitions from lush agricultural fields fed by canals to drier, more arid zones further from the rivers. This contrast shows the interplay of water and desert in shaping the region.
Multan's history stretches back millennia, making it one of the longest-inhabited cities globally. Its origins trace to times of antiquity, possibly even predating the Indus Valley Civilization. Alexander the Great reportedly besieged the city, then known as Moolsthan, in 326 BC. Later, it became a prominent center of Sun worship, giving rise to its ancient name 'Kashtpur' or 'Hanspur.' The city's religious landscape transformed significantly with the arrival of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries. Multan quickly evolved into a powerful Islamic spiritual hub, specifically for Sufism.
Beyond its religious importance, Multan thrived as a business and administrative center. It lay on major trading paths connecting Central Asia, Persia, and India, fostering a rich exchange of products, ideas, and cultures. This continuous flow of influence shaped Multan into a melting pot of traditions, evident in its architecture, cuisine, and local customs. From the distant past Hindu kingdoms to the Ghaznavids, Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Sikhs, and British, each era contributed layers to Multan's complex and captivating narrative. Today, the city is a living museum, preserving fragments of its glorious past within its bustling streets and serene shrines.
Possible origins predating Indus Valley Civilization.
Alexander the Great's siege of Moolsthan.
Arrival of Islam, transformation into Sufi hub.
Thrived as commercial and administrative center.
Successive rules by Ghaznavids, Mughals, Sikhs, and British.
Numerous revered Sufi saints established their centers here, earning Multan the moniker "City of Saints." These shrines draw devotees and tourists alike, serving as living testaments to Multan's intense spiritual heritage.
Multan’s history as a trade crossroads fostered a rich exchange of products, ideas, and cultures. This continuous flow of influence shaped its architecture, cuisine, and local customs.
The city's majestic Sufi shrines, embellished with intricate blue plus white tile work, are amazing buildings and beacons of peace.
Multan today is a museum that shows life as it was, preserving fragments of its glorious past within its bustling streets and serene shrines, inviting all to discover its different periods of history.
At its core, Multan is the "City of Saints," site of the revered shrines of Sufi mystics like Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya. These amazing buildings, ornamented with intricate blue and white tile work, draw pilgrims and sightseers, offering a profound sense of peace and historical depth. The Multan Fort, while largely in ruins, has a historical vantage point over the city, housing several of these significant shrines.
Beyond its spiritual landmarks, Multan is famous as the "City of Mangoes." In the summer, the region overflows with some of the world's most prized mango varieties, a delight for any visitor. The city’s bustling bazaars, like Husain Agahi and Ghanta Ghar, are a sensory feast. Here, you find traditional Multani crafts—from distinctive blue pottery and camel skin lamps to intricate embroidery and famous Sohan Halwa, a sweet confection.
Home to revered Sufi shrines like Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya, offering peace and profound historical context.
During summer, the region overflows including several of the world's most prized mango varieties.
Husain Agahi and Ghanta Ghar bazaars provide traditional Multani crafts and sweets like Sohan Halwa.
Multan's cuisine mirrors its rich history, presenting flavorful Punjabi cuisine with an unique local twist. This metropolis has a powerful blend of old-world charm and modern Pakistani life.
