Multan
One of South Asia's oldest cities, known as the "City of Saints", filled with blue-glazed Sufi shrines and famous for its blue pottery and embroidery.
Multan lies in southern Punjab, Pakistan, on the east bank of the Chenab River. With a population of about 2 million, it is one of the longest continuously inhabited cities in South Asia. From the Middle Ages it was a centre of Sufi missionary activity, and its many shrines earned it the name "City of Saints" (Madina-tul-Auliya). The heart of any visit is the old fort mound (Qasim Bagh) in the centre of the old city: the shrines of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya face each other across the road, next to the ruins of Prahladpuri Temple. South of the mound are old-city shopping areas such as Hussain Agahi Bazaar and the shrine of Shah Yusuf Gardezi, and to the east is the shrine of Shah Shams Tabrez. Multan is known for its blue-and-white glazed tiles, blue pottery, embroidery, camel-skin lamps and Sohan Halwa sweets. The climate is hot and dry, with summer temperatures often above 45°C; November–February is the best time to visit, though winter mornings can be foggy. Getting there: Multan International Airport has domestic flights and routes to the Gulf; the M-4 motorway links the city with Lahore and Faisalabad, and trains run to Lahore and Karachi. Getting around is mainly by rickshaw and ride-hailing apps. Plan on 1–2 days. Note: remove your shoes and dress conservatively when visiting shrines, and women should cover their hair; crowds are heavy during Ramadan and Urs festivals. Check local safety advisories before travelling, and independent travellers are advised to hire a local guide.
Top sights
- Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam – This 14th-century octagonal red-brick shrine in the Tughlaq style has a blue-and-white glazed-tile dome that defines the skyline of Multan.
- Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya – This 13th-century shrine honors Bahauddin Zakariya, founder of the Suhrawardi Sufi order in South Asia. Its white dome and blue glazed deco…
- Shrine of Shah Shams Tabrez – This green-and-white shrine on the east side of the old city honors Shah Shams Sabzwari of the Ismaili tradition, and it is surrounded by m…
- Multan Fort (Qasim Bagh) – The site of the old citadel on high ground at the city's heart, now Qasim Bagh and the Damdama lookout, linking two major shrines.
- Prahladpuri Temple – Ruins of a Hindu temple on the fort's high ground, said to be the site of the legend of Narasimha, Vishnu's man-lion avatar. It was destroy…
- Shrine of Shah Yousaf Gardezi – An 11th-century saint's shrine inside Bohar Gate in the old city. Its flat-roofed square tomb is entirely covered in blue glazed tiles, a r…
- Hussain Agahi Bazaar – The main old-city bazaar at the foot of the fort, where you can buy blue pottery, embroidery, camel-skin lamps and Multan sweets all along…
- Ali Muhammad Khan Mosque – A mosque built in 1757 in the Chowk Bazaar of the old city, with well-preserved painted domes and floral wall decoration.
- Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) – A red-brick clock tower and municipal hall built in the British colonial era on the west side of the old city, a transport hub and local la…
- Shahi Eid Gah Mosque – A large Eid prayer mosque completed in 1735, with seven domes lined up over its long prayer hall and walls richly decorated with paintings…
- Tomb of Shah Ali Akbar – An octagonal tomb built in 1585 on the northwest outskirts of the city, modelled on the Shrine of Rukn-e-Alam. It has exquisite tiles and f…
- Sawi Mosque – A 15th-century mausoleum-style building in a northern cemetery, covered in blue glazed tiles and considered one of the oldest surviving til…
- Shrine of Musa Pak Shaheed – A 16th-century shrine of a Qadiri Sufi saint outside Pak Gate in the old city, with a green dome. Crowds gather on Thursday nights.
Where to eat
- Hafiz Sohan Halwa (Main Shop) – The landmark shop for Multan sohan halwa, founded in 1945. The main branch is in Hussain Agahi Bazaar in the old city.
- Bundu Khan (Abdali Road Branch) – A long-established barbecue house on Abdali Road in the Cantonment area. Chicken tikka, cream tikka and handi chicken a…
- Dilmeer Pera Sweet Shop – An old sweet shop in the Cantonment that opened before Partition. Its signature is pera, a khoya-based sweet, and the w…
Itineraries
- South Punjab Sufi Shrines & Desert Fort Tour – A winter short-line tour covering Multan's shrines, the ancient town of Uch, Bahawalpur's palaces, and the Cholistan De…