Derawar Fort
قلعہ دراوڑ
A massive square fortress in the Cholistan Desert, ringed by 40 bastions with a perimeter of about 1.5 km. The white Abbasi Mosque stands nearby.
Derawar Fort was first built in the 9th century. In the 18th century, the Nawab of Bahawalpur captured it and rebuilt it. Its towering ochre walls are striking in the desert. The interior is mostly ruined and privately owned by the Nawab's descendants, so entry requires permission, and most visitors take photos from the outside. Across from the fort are the Abbasi Mosque, built of white marble and modeled on Delhi's Jama Masjid, and the royal family cemetery. The fort is about 95 km from the city center, so hire a car and bring plenty of water.
Opening hours
Exterior open all day; interior requires permit
Nearby sights
- Cholistan Desert
- Sadiq Garh Palace
- Uch Sharif Shrines
- Panjnad Headworks
- Noor Mahal
- Bahawalpur Museum
- Bahawalpur Central Library
- Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq