Walking Among the Saints: Multan's Sufi Shrines and Sacred Sites
Stand at the base of the Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and you are looking at one of the first landmarks visible when you enter proper Multan—a majestic dome rising from a small hillock behind the old ruins of Multan Fort. Shah Rukn-e-Alam (1251–1335) was a Sufi saint whose followers revered him so deeply that thousands of pilgrims still journey to Multan to pay homage at his tomb. Near his mausoleum lies the Mazar of Bahauddin Zakaria, another great Sufi whose name now graces South Punjab's largest university. The city earned its sobriquet "City of Saints" by attracting a multitude of Sufi mystics in the 11th and 12th centuries, and that spiritual legacy remains visible in the shrines scattered across Multan. When you visit any of these sacred spaces, remove your shoes as a mark of respect. Beyond the two major mazars, you can explore other shrines including those of Bibi Pak Daman, Syed Shams-ud-din "Shah Shams Sabzwari", and the 900-year-old Shrine Mai Maharban near Children Hospital Multan. Each tomb showcases rich architecture with careful attention to detail, a physical reminder of the devotion these saints inspired across centuries.
The Layers of an Ancient Fort: Ruins and Views from Multan Fort
The Ruins of Multan Fort sit on a high mound of earth that once separated it from the old branch of the river Ravi. When its walls stretched almost 1.6 km long during its heyday, the fort was considered one of the best-defended strongholds built in the subcontinent. Today you walk among remnants—the British garrison destroyed much of the structure during the Raj—but what remains speaks to the empires that rose and fell before its walls. The fort occupies the middle of the city, close to Multan Cricket Club and adjacent to Shah Rukn-e-Alam's Mazar. Inside, Fort Qasim Park preserves memorials from the colonial era and offers electric rides. On the western side, a place called Damdama provides a wonderful viewpoint over the city; as you make your way toward the entrance, you may spot Nigar Khana, an art shop tucked underground on the left, which holds a large collection of traditional Multan handicrafts. Plans are underway to renovate Damdama itself, so this vantage point may soon offer new facilities.
Gateways to Multan's Past: The Historic City Gates
Six named gates once controlled entry and exit to Multan's old walled city, each tied to the people, saints, or directions they served. Pak Gate earned its name not from Pakistan but from Saint Hazrat Musa Pak Shaheed; you can visit his Mazar 90 m inside the gate. Haram Gate brought the "Haram" (household) of another saint. Delhi Gate faced toward Delhi and served as the royal entrance when Mughal kings and state guests visited the city. Doulat Gate, largely vanished through modernization, once stood before the Mazar of Pir Doulat Shah, whose green tomb now sits between two busy roads. Bohar Gate faced the river Ravi when Multan was a river port; the "Bohar" trees that once stood outside are gone, replaced by commercial centers. Lohari Gate takes its name from the ironsmiths (Lohari) who worked outside, their workshops creating the neighborhood's character. Walking these gates connects you to the city's layered identity as trader, pilgrim destination, and fortress.
Museums and Handicraft Collections: Blue Pottery and Beyond
The Institute of Blue Pottery stands out as an excellent reason to spend time in Multan—the glazed blue tiles that once adorned the Sawi Mosque (the oldest mosque in the city, still standing though now roofless outside Lohari Gate) represent a craft tradition the institute celebrates and preserves. The Multan Museum houses a fine collection spanning both Islamic and Pre-Islamic periods: coins, medals, postage stamps from the former State of Bahawalpur, manuscripts, documented inscriptions, wood carvings, camel-skin paintings, historical models, and stone carvings. For handicrafts beyond the museum, Nigar Khana near Damdama offers traditional works, and Hussain Agahi Bazar rewards exploration with its multiple layers—first-floor handicraft shops in the right arcade, then deeper sections devoted to oils (where shopkeepers will mix custom blends), spices, nuts, cut-piece fabrics at Kalay Manddi, bangles at Choorian Bazar, and gold at Sarafa Bazar. Each sub-bazar within the larger complex reveals different aspects of Multan's craft heritage.
Clock Tower, Gardens, and Green Spaces
The Clock Tower, known as the "Ghanta Ghar" in Urdu, marks the old city's center. Built during colonial times, it has undergone renovation and is becoming the major landmark of Multan's historic core. Beyond the tower, several parks offer respite and views. Cantonment Park, open 06:00–21:00, organizes itself into theme gardens—Japanese, palm, rose, cactus—with an artist corner, theatre performance area, small library, and a 3-km clay jogging track set to soft music (entry Rs5). Chaman Zar Askari Lake Park on Sher Shah Road (10:00–20:00) provides an artificial lake with paddle boats and electric rides, and sometimes hosts carnivals with performers from across the world (entry Rs10). Yadgar-e-Shuhada, a wonderfully landscaped garden along Shershah Road in the cantonment area, commemorates recipients of Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan's top military award, and offers a quiet sitting place near Fort Bakers.
Markets and Neighborhoods: Hussain Agahi and Beyond
Hussain Agahi Bazar functions as an all-in-one marketplace where you can sample local sweets near the entrance, then ascend into layers of commerce. The first-floor arcade on the right holds handicraft shops; deeper inside, an entire street is devoted to oils from a hundred plant and animal sources, where shopkeepers will blend a custom "oil cocktail" based on your needs. Spice bazars line the same route, and further exploration brings you to Kalay Manddi for cut-piece cloth and fabrics. Sarafa Bazar specializes in gold work, while Choorian Bazar offers bangles. This is where Multan's trading tradition—once so strong that Central Asian caravans from Islamic Khorasan assembled here in the 10th century—continues in modified form, with merchants still adapting their goods to customers' requirements. To understand what drew merchants across deserts and mountains, walk these narrow streets and observe the density of specialized knowledge and craft.
Begin planning your visit to Multan by setting aside 1 or 2 days to move between its forts and shrines, its handicraft bazaars and museums. The city rewards wandering—each gate tells a story, each mazar draws pilgrims, and the markets reveal skills passed down through generations. This is a place where ancient trade routes and spiritual devotion shaped the city's character, and both remain visible if you take the time to look.