Stand at the edge of Arifwala's grain market in the late afternoon and you will see the rhythm that shapes this Punjabi town: carts of wheat and cotton moving through, tea stalls filling up, and conversation turning to the road to Pakpattan. Arifwala is the headquarters of Arif Wala Tehsil in Pakpattan District, and it sits to the southwest of Pakpattan itself.
This guide suits travellers who are already moving through Punjab's southern districts and want to understand a working agricultural town rather than a curated tourist circuit. It is also useful for anyone using Arifwala as a base for the shrine town of Pakpattan.
What follows covers what the sources support: the town itself, the road link toward Bahawalnagar, and the shrines of nearby Pakpattan, which are the strongest reasons to build a day around this area.
Top things to do in Arifwala
1. Shrine of Baba Fareed
One of Pakistan's most revered shrines, in nearby Pakpattan. The town was known in medieval times as Ajodhan, and its importance was eventually eclipsed by that of the shrine, as shown by its renaming to "Pakpattan", meaning "Holy Ferry" — a reference to a river crossing made by pilgrims to the shrine. The shrine has since been a key factor shaping Pakpattan's economy and its politics.
Treat this as the anchor of a trip to the area rather than an add-on. It is in Pakpattan, so plan it as a separate outing from Arifwala rather than something you drop into between errands in town.
2. Darbar Hazrat Khawaja Aziz Makki Sarkar
One of the other shrines in Pakpattan listed alongside the Shrine of Baba Fareed. If you are already visiting Pakpattan for the main shrine, this is a natural second stop in the same trip.
Pair it with the Shrine of Baba Fareed on the same outing so you are not making the journey twice.
3. Khawaja Amoor ul Hasan
Also listed among the other shrines in Pakpattan. Like the Darbar Hazrat Khawaja Aziz Makki Sarkar, it belongs to the same cluster of religious sites that give Pakpattan its character.
Include it in the same Pakpattan leg of your trip, and keep your expectations modest — the sources identify it as a shrine without further detail.
4. The Bahawalnagar–Arifwala road
A 17 km stretch of road from Bahawalnagar to Arifwala was approved for rehabilitation by the Provincial Development Working Party. For a traveller, this is the practical approach route into Arifwala from the Bahawalnagar side.
Check the current condition of the road before you commit to it, since the scheme was an approval for rehabilitation rather than a completed upgrade. If you are arriving from Bahawalnagar, allow extra time.
5. Arifwala's own streets and markets
Arifwala is a city and the headquarters of Arif Wala Tehsil, and the everyday life of a tehsil headquarters — its bazaars, its tea stalls, its traffic — is what you actually experience here. The sources give no named market, monument or park, so plan your time around the town centre generally rather than a specific sight.
Use Arifwala as your base and spend a half-day walking it, then give the rest of your time to Pakpattan.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Arifwala itself, walking the town centre and its bazaars while the day is still cool. Arifwala is the headquarters of Arif Wala Tehsil, and this is the most straightforward way to get a sense of the place.
Afternoon: Travel to Pakpattan, to the southwest, and visit the Shrine of Baba Fareed — the strongest single reason to be in this part of Punjab. The town's medieval name was Ajodhan, and its renaming to "Pakpattan", meaning "Holy Ferry", refers to a river crossing made by pilgrims to this shrine.
Evening: While still in Pakpattan, add Darbar Hazrat Khawaja Aziz Makki Sarkar and Khawaja Amoor ul Hasan, the other shrines listed for the town, before returning to Arifwala for the night.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Arifwala?
Arifwala is a city and the headquarters of Arif Wala Tehsil of Pakpattan District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located to the southwest of Pakpattan.
What is there to see in Arifwala itself?
The sources do not name any specific attraction, museum, park or monument inside Arifwala. The town's interest for a visitor lies in its role as a tehsil headquarters and in its position as a base for Pakpattan.
How do I reach Arifwala from Bahawalnagar?
A 17 km stretch of road from Bahawalnagar to Arifwala was approved for rehabilitation by the Provincial Development Working Party. Confirm the current state of the road locally before relying on it.
Is Pakpattan worth combining with a trip to Arifwala?
Yes. Pakpattan holds the Shrine of Baba Fareed, described as one of Pakistan's most revered shrines, along with Darbar Hazrat Khawaja Aziz Makki Sarkar and Khawaja Amoor ul Hasan. Arifwala lies to the southwest of Pakpattan.
Decide your dates, sort out how you are arriving from Bahawalnagar or Pakpattan, and start planning your trip around the shrine town and the working streets of Arifwala.