Stand on the Quetta Road out of Dera Ghazi Khan and the Koh-e-Sulaiman rises ahead of you, barren and wind-scoured, the edge of the Punjab. The city itself sits west of the Indus in the Derajat, and the heat in summer is among the fiercest in Pakistan — which is exactly why the road west matters so much.
Dera Ghazi Khan suits travellers passing through southern Punjab who want a base for the Sulaiman range and the shrine at Sakhi Sarwar, rather than a city of set-piece monuments. This guide covers the places worth your time in and around the city, and how to string them into a single day.
Top things to do in Dera Ghazi Khan
1. Fort Munro
A hill station on Quetta Road, around 80 km west of the city, at a height of 6,470 ft (1,970 m) above sea level. It is part of the Sulaiman Mountain range and serves as a cool resort in summer for people from the southern Punjab, with mild, pleasant weather that makes a stay of a day or two worthwhile.
Go in summer, when the city below is at its hottest — that contrast is the whole point of the trip. Scattered snowfall has been reported in the higher areas of Koh-e-Sulaiman in winter, so check conditions before setting out in the cold months.
2. Tomb of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar
The tomb of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar Syed Ahmed Sultan, in the village of Muqam about 35 kilometres from Dera Ghazi Khan city, built in the 13th century in a distinctive style of Mughal architecture. People come from across the subcontinent for the birth celebrations of Sakhi Sarwar in March each year.
Time your visit to the March celebrations if you want to see the shrine at its fullest. The Sangh Mela, a Vaisakhi fair held during March and April, has been celebrated at Sakhi Sarwar for centuries by visitors from Jhang and Faisalabad, and is observed by both Hindus and Muslims, particularly around wheat harvesting.
3. Dera Ghazi Khan Zoo
A zoo in the city, and one of the few established visitor attractions within Dera Ghazi Khan itself. It works well as a short stop rather than a half-day outing.
Pair it with Ghazi Park, which is nearby in the city, to fill an easy morning or late afternoon without leaving town.
4. Tomb of Ghazi Khan
The tomb of Ghazi Khan, the Dodai chieftain after whom the city is named. It is one of the named sights within Dera Ghazi Khan and gives some context to the place before you head out to the mountains.
Combine it with the zoo and Ghazi Park, since all three sit within the city and can be covered in a single loop.
5. Ghazi Park
A public park in the city, useful as a place to slow down between sights. It is best treated as a breather rather than a destination in itself.
Visit in the cooler part of the day. Summer temperatures in Dera Ghazi Khan are generally among the highest in Pakistan, and windstorms are common in summer because of the barren Koh-e-Suleman mountains and the sandy soil.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in the city while it is still cool. Visit the Tomb of Ghazi Khan, then walk through Ghazi Park and on to Dera Ghazi Khan Zoo — all three are in the city and fit comfortably into a morning.
Afternoon: Take the Quetta Road west to Fort Munro. The drive climbs into the Sulaiman range and the temperature drops as you go, which is the reason to make this trip in summer rather than winter.
Evening: Return towards the city and, if your timing falls in March or April, plan around the Tomb of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar and the Sangh Mela at Sakhi Sarwar instead of a city evening. Outside those months, the shrine at Muqam is still worth the detour, but allow for the travel time.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Dera Ghazi Khan?
Summer is very hot and rainy, with average highs around 107 °F (42 °C), and winter is mild and dry with average lows around 40 °F (4 °C). Fort Munro is at its most useful as a cool retreat during the summer season.
What is the Sangh Mela?
A Vaisakhi fair held during March and April, celebrated at Sakhi Sarwar and attended by people from Jhang and Faisalabad for centuries. It is observed by Hindus and Muslims, especially at the time of wheat harvesting, and is known in some places as Basant.
How do I reach Fort Munro?
It lies on Quetta Road, around 80 km west of Dera Ghazi Khan city, in the Sulaiman Mountain range. Dera Ghazi Khan International Airport, located near the city, handles both domestic and international flights if you are arriving from further afield.
What language is spoken in the city?
Saraiki is overwhelmingly the main language, with Urdu the largest minority language, followed by Balochi and Punjabi.
Work out whether your dates fall in the March–April fair season, then build the rest of the trip around Fort Munro and the shrine road west.