The Architectural Heritage of Bahawalpur

Posted on November 7, 2006
Filed Under >Roshan Malik, Architecture, Culture & Heritage, Travel
96 Comments
Total Views: 166575

Roshan Malik

Bahawalpur State (1833-1955) has a unique architecture blended with Italian style. It was comprised of three districts (Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan). The last ruler Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V ruled the State (1907-55) before it merged into the unitary province of Pakistan. The State reached the zenith of its glory under his rule, as he transformed Bahawalpur into an excellence of learning and centre of architecture. Various schools, colleges, palaces, mosques, hospitals and a library and university were built during his time.

Since ATP readers have already been talking about Bahawalpur architecture through the Photo Quiz on Noor Mahal and then again on the Baghdad-ul-Jadeed Railway station, it makes sense to talk about this scope and history of this architectural heritage at greater length.

Sadiqgarh Palace (Sleeping Beauty Castle) is situated at Dera Nawab Sahib (Ahmedpur East), about 30 miles away from Bahawalpur, was the headquarters of the State. More than 1000 employees were deployed for the maintenance and beautification of the Palace and its lush green lawns. Nearly 100 rooms were decorated with crystal chandeliers, drapes, paintings and carpets.

After Nawab’s death, the Palace had been sealed by the government for many decades due to a dispute among heirs. Many antiques had been stolen from the Sadiqgarh Palace and were sold in cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. The building of that glory now gives a deserted and shabby look surrounded by wild shrubs. The palace desperately needs maintenance and repair for the restoration of its grandeur.

Noor Mahal and Gulzar Mahal are the most elegant buildings in Bahawalpur built in the Italian style. Both the buildings are now under the control of Army. However, the army purchased the Noor Mahal some years back by paying Rs. 120 million to the heirs. It is unique in its architecture and is splendid with beautiful lawns and driveways.

The late Nawab established various educational institutes in the State such as Islamia University Bahawalpur, Sadiq Public School Bahawalpur, Sadiq Egerton College Bahawalpur, Sadiq Dane High School Bahawalpur, Jamia Masjid al Sadiq Bahawalpur. The Central Library Bahawalpur is another landmark of Bahawalpur architecture which was built in 1924. This is the second largest library in Punjab having various manuscripts and rare books.

The famous Fort Derawar was once the capital of Bahawalpur State. It was built in thirteenth century by the Rajputs of Jaiselmer. The Nawabs of Bahawalpur conquered it in eighteenth century. It was a birth place of many Nawabs. The rulers of Bahawalpur give great importance to Derawar as their royal cemetery is near Derawar.

Derawar is about 65 miles away from Bahawalpur in Cholistan desert. The historic Derawar Fort, enormous and impressive structure in the heart of Cholistan desert, is rapidly crumbling and if the immediate preventative measures are not taken, the edifice will be destroyed and the historians, researchers and sightseers deprived of the view of the legacy of the bygone era.


The legacy of Bahawalpur state has been in ruins like many other historical places of the country. These building have potential to attract a great deal of tourists. But what the heirs and the government need is a good planning and political will. Otherwise it will turn into sands like many other forts in Cholistan like Maujgarh, Dingarh, Islamgarh and Marot.

The cluster of 6 pictures, above, includes: (1) One of the still-intact but crumbling walls of Fort Derawar, (2) Aerial view of the fort, (3) Mosque Derawar, (4) Entrance to Fort Derawar with potholes, (5) Services Club Multan, was once Rest House of Nawab of Bahawalpur, (6) Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur.

Roshan Malik is a development practitioner from the Bahawalpur region.

96 responses to “The Architectural Heritage of Bahawalpur”

  1. ABDUL RAZIQ MANDO KHAIL says:

    I HAVE BEEN IN SADIQ PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR 14 YEARS
    AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THERE NO OTHER SCHOOL COMPARED TO SADIQ IN THE COUNTRY
    I REQUEST OTHER WEALTY PEOPLE OF THEOUNTRY THAT THEY SHELL ALSO TAKE A STEP TO OPEN SUCH
    PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS.

    ABDUL RAZIQ MANDO KHAIL
    MINISTRY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PAKISTAN

  2. Abdul Rasheed Abbasi says:

    Aslam-0-Alikum to All my great Bahawalpurio…

    i am Abdul Rasheed Abbasi from Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur is my birth place, My love, My life and my all things relate to My Bahawalpur.

    all your words, your feelings and even your emotions are relating to your love as you say Bahawalpur.

    Now adays, i am working on protect to Bahawalpur culture, rich and colorful traditions through establish a NGO and we will advocate Bahawalpur related issues, their hospilities, scrifies etc.

    i request to you all for praying to my efforts in this regards.

    Jeetay Raho – Amman wa Piyar ke saath

    Allah Hafiz

    Abdul Rasheed Khan Abbasi

    Cell: 0301 7498404
    Email: arabbasi@msn.com

  3. Munwar Abbas Abbasi Kalhoro says:

    salam o my relative iam also abbasi kalhoro of sindh and plz contect me my mobile number is it 03332534105 from munwar abbas abbasi tando bago district badin sindh

  4. Bahawalpur is a historical city of the Abbaside clan. The story starts from Baghdad and ends at the former state of His Highness Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan V. The city was actually established by Nawab Bahawal Khan I and he choosed its name as Bahawalpur. Before the independence of Pakistan Bahawalpur was an idenpendent state of the Abbaside Nawabs. Afterwards it joined Pakistan courtesy Nawab Sadiq Khan. But the State of Bahawalpur remained and worked as an independent state till 1970. It is a beautiful city with many historical buildings namely Noor Mahal, Sadiq Garh Palace, Dolat Khana, Darbar Mahal and Bahawalpur Library. The story of Bahawalpur tells us how did the Abbaside clan got here after their crushing defeat against Halaku Khan.

  5. i live in dera nawab sahib i love my city

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*