History of Bahawalpur

Rana Rizwan javed
Islamia University
Bahawalpur (Punjab)
Pakistan.

The city of Bahawalpur although not an ancient one yet possess an array of glorious traditions. It was established about 200 years back by Nawab Bahawal Khan I as a capital of the Bahawalpur State. It enjoyed this status till 1954 when the state was abolished to form one unit.Bahawalpur was the largest and richest state which announced its unconditional merger with Pakistan in 1947. It has length of more than 450 km bordering Sindh, Baluchistan and many districts of the Punjab. In Bahawalpur one can find the best educational, health, administrative and judicial institutions. The glorious palaces in the city are gem to enhance its beauty. Above all the clean and peaceful environment of the city has made it worth living and growing.

BAHAWALPUR

The founder of the state of Bahawalpur was Nawab Bahawal Khan Abbasi I. The abbasi family ruled over the state more than 200 years (1748 to 1954). During the rule of the last Nawab Sir Sadiq Khan Abbasi V, Bahawalpur State was merged with Pakistan in 1954. Bahawalpur was formerly the capital of the state and now is the District Divisional Headquarters of Bahawalpur division. It is an important marketing center for surrounding areas and is located on the crossroads between Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi. Saraiki is the local language of the area. Urdu, Punjabi and English are also spoken and understood by most of the people.

What to see

Central Library:

It is housed in a building having fine architectural value. The foundation stone of this building was laid by the then governor and viceroy of India Sir Rufus Danial Issacs on 8 March, 1924 to mark the installation of late Nawab of Bahawalpur Sir Sadiq Mohammad Khan Abbasi V. The central library was established in 1947 in this building. It has a vast collection of books and rare manuscripts. It is one of the best libraries in Pakistan and visited by students and scholars from within the country and abroad.

Bhawalpur Museum

Bahawalpur has a modest museum with a fine collection of coins, medals, postage stamps of former state of Bahawalpur, manuscripts, documents, inscriptions, wood carvings, camel skin paintings, historical models and stone carvings etc. of Islamic and pre-Islamic period. There is a complete set of models of all classes issued by the ex state to its military officers civilians and to other important citizens of the ex state.

Zoological Garden

The zoological garden of Bahawalpur is considered to be one of the best in the country. Spread over an area of 25acres of land, it has an interesting collection of 120 animals and 750 birds of tropical areas, particularly those found in this region. The zoo has the distinction of occasional breeding of lions and supply of beasts to other zoos in the country. It also has a aquarium and zoological museum with stuffed rare birds and animals.

Dring Stadium

Bahawalpur has one of the finest stadiums in the country having fine cricket grounds, two football grounds one basket ball court and lawn tennis courts and covered swimming pool. There is also a hockey stadium, which is considered to be the second best in the country after Karachi Stadium. It can accommodate 13000 people at a time.

Shrine of Muluk Shah

The shrine of Muluk Shah, a popular saint of his time, is located in the city and visited by devotees on every Thursday ashura and Eid days. A small fair is also held annually.

Jamia Masjid Al Sadiq

It was made by the Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan Abbasi V at the elevation of more than 12ft from earth. It can house 50,000 to 60,000 people at a time, during the Eid festivals. It is well-reputed mosque in Pakistan like other prominent mosques of Pakistan.

Uch Sharif

Uch, 75 km from Bahawalpur, is a very old town, it is believed that it existed even in 500 B.C. Some historians believe that Uch was there even before the advent of Bikramajit when Jains and Bhudhists ruled over sub continent. At the time of the invasion by Alexander the Great, Uch was under Hindu rule. Some historians say that Alexander came to Uch after conquering northern parts of India and spent over a fortnight in the city and renamed it Alexandariya. Some have mentioned Uch by the name of Sikandara or Iskalanda. They have decided it as the most flourishing and beautiful town perched upon the Plateau near the confluence of the Chanab and Rave rivers. Famous shrines existing at Uch include those of Hazrat Bahawal Haleem, Hazrat Jalal-ud-din Surkh Bokhari, Makhdoom Jahanian Jahangasht, Bibi Jawindi and Sheikh Saif-ud-din Ghazrooni etc.

Uch is a small town today and divided into three different quarters known as (i)Uch Bokhari, after Hazrat Syed Jalal-ud-din Bokhari Surkhposh, (ii) Uch Jilani (Bandagi), who came from Halab in 887A.H., and (iii) Uch Mughlan after the Mughal rulers.

Makhdoom Sahib of Uch Bokhari has some rare Islamic relics in his possession for example, (i) Turban of Holy Prophet (PBUH), (ii) a mantle of the Prophet (PBUH)

(iii) “Samsam” (sword) of Hazrat Imam Hasan, (iv) a cap and turbine of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani of Baghdad and (v) mantle of Hazrat Salman Farsi.

Makhdoom Sahib Uch Jilani is the custodian of (i) Holy Prophets footprints (ii) a few chapter of the Holy Quran written by Hazrat Imam Hussain and (iii) a tooth of Hazrat Awais Qarni

CHOLISTAN

Cholistan, a well-known desert - 30 kms from Bahawalpur, covers an area of 16,000 sq. kms and extending up to the Terar desert which spreads across into India. Cholistan is derived from the word "Chalna".