Stand on the Muridke–Sheikhupura Road and the flat agricultural land stretches away in every direction, serviced by the canals that water the fields around the city. Muridke is a commercial town in Sheikhupura District, close enough to Lahore that it works as a stop rather than a destination in itself.
This guide suits the traveller who is already passing through this part of Punjab and wants to know what is genuinely here, rather than the traveller looking for a stand-alone holiday. It covers the sights and experiences the sources support, and nothing more.
Be aware before you plan: the most prominent landmark in Muridke is the Markaz-e-Taiba, and the sources describe it in terms that make clear it is not a visitor attraction. What follows reflects that honestly.
Top things to do in Muridke
1. Hiran Minar
Hiran Minar, the Minaret of Antelope, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture built by Emperor Jahangir as a monument to Mansraj, one of his pet deer. It is listed as a Tentative World Heritage Site, and it is the strongest reason to make the trip to this area.
It sits about 3 km from the city centre, so it is easy to reach from Muridke. Combine it with the boating described below, since the pool beside the minaret is the best place for it.
2. Boating at the Hiran Minar pool
The pool near Hiran Minar is the best place for boating in the area, and rented boats are easily available there. It turns a monument visit into an afternoon rather than a quick stop.
Go as part of the same trip as Hiran Minar rather than separately, and rent your boat on arrival.
3. Qila Sheikhupura
Qila Sheikhupura is a fort constructed in the 16th century by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, decorated with Mughal art. It pairs naturally with Hiran Minar, since both belong to the same emperor and the same short stretch of country.
Plan Hiran Minar and Qila Sheikhupura as one outing from Muridke rather than two separate journeys.
4. Waris Shah Darbar
Waris Shah was born in the Jandiala Sher Khan neighbourhood of Sheikhupura city, and the darbar commemorates him there. It is a place of literary as well as local significance.
It sits in Sheikhupura city, so fold it into the same day as the fort and the minaret if you are travelling from Muridke.
5. Chand Bagh School
Chand Bagh School is a private boarding school for boys in Muridke, situated on the Muridke–Sheikhupura Road. It follows the Cambridge International Examination system.
It is a working school rather than a tourist site, so treat it as a landmark you will pass on the Muridke–Sheikhupura Road rather than somewhere to plan a visit around.
6. The Markaz-e-Taiba complex at Nangal Sahdan
Muridke is known for being home to the Markaz-e-Taiba, the headquarters of Markaz Dawa wal Irshad (MDI) or Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), located in the suburb of Nangal Sahdan. It is a large complex with a range of infrastructure established by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in 1990, and it includes the Umm al-Qura Mosque, a madrasa, a religious preaching centre, residential quarters, a school, a hospital, a market, a garment factory, an iron factory, a woodwork factory, a stable, a swimming pool, a fishfarm, agricultural tracts and various administrative buildings.
Multiple international intelligence assessments and security reports have identified the complex as a hub for indoctrination, militant training and terrorist recruitment, and it was targeted in an airstrike by the Indian Air Force on the night between 7 May 2025. This is not a place to visit. Know what it is, keep your distance, and do not treat it as a sight.
If you only have one day
Morning: Travel from Muridke to Hiran Minar, about 3 km from the city centre, and give the minaret and its Mughal architecture proper time before the day heats up.
Afternoon: Rent a boat at the pool near Hiran Minar, which is the best place for boating in the area, then continue to Qila Sheikhupura to see the 16th-century fort built by Jahangir.
Evening: Finish in Sheikhupura city at Waris Shah Darbar, in the Jandiala Sher Khan neighbourhood where Waris Shah was born, before heading back toward Muridke.
Frequently asked questions
What is Muridke actually known for?
Muridke is known for being home to the Markaz-e-Taiba, the headquarters of Markaz Dawa wal Irshad (MDI) or Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), located in the suburb of Nangal Sahdan. It is also a commercial area near Lahore.
Is the Markaz-e-Taiba open to visitors?
The sources do not describe it as a visitor attraction. They describe a large complex with a mosque, madrasa, preaching centre, residential quarters, school, hospital, market, factories, a stable, a swimming pool, a fishfarm and agricultural tracts, identified in multiple international intelligence assessments and security reports as a hub for indoctrination, militant training and terrorist recruitment. Do not plan a visit.
What is there to see near Muridke?
Hiran Minar, the Minaret of Antelope, is about 3 km from the city centre and is listed as a Tentative World Heritage Site. Qila Sheikhupura, a 16th-century fort built by Jahangir, and Waris Shah Darbar in the Jandiala Sher Khan neighbourhood are both in Sheikhupura.
Can you go boating in the area?
Yes. The pool near Hiran Minar is the best place for boating, and rented boats are easily available there.
Check the weather for the season you plan to travel, note that September is the wettest month and November the driest, and start mapping your route from Muridke outward.