Multan travel guide

In the Punjab on the banks of the Chenab River, Multan is almost in the centre of Pakistan, and one of the oldest cities in Asia. It’s famous for its mosques and shrines as well as its cotton crops and fruit – especially mangoes.

Top things to see and do in Multan

• Visit the Institute of Blue Pottery. The craft of making beautiful, blue-hued ceramics is something Multan is well-known for. You can see pottery being made at the institute, as well as picking up a few pieces to take home as souvenirs.
• See some of the city’s shrines. There are so many in Multan that it’s unlikely you’ll get round to all of them, but try to visit the Shah Rukn-e-Alam shrine, which has one of the biggest domes in Asia, and the Shams-e-Tabriz shrine which is built from glazed bricks and blue engravings.
• Get ready to bargain when you shop at the Chowk bazaar in the old city. Embroidery, traditional clothes and lacquered wood are some of the local handicrafts on sale here, and you’ll be expected to negotiate to get a good price.
• Enjoy a fantastic view of the city from the remains of Multan fort. Perched on a mound across the river Ravi, the fort had 46 bastions when intact. Some parts of the old rampart and bastion survive, and it’s also the location of the shrines of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakaria and Shah Rukn-e-Alam.
• Try to catch a match at the city’s Cricket Stadium. It’s known for having one of the greenest outfields in the country.

Tips for travellers

Out in the desert near Bahawalpur about 3 hours’ drive from Multan is the majestic Derawar Fort. The city of Uch Sharif, with its UNESCO-listed monuments is about 175 km away.