Multan (Pakistan) , highlights and important places (part 4)
Multan culture and historic places.
There is a saying in Persian that Multan is the ‘City of Saints,this is also called as : Madinatul olia:
There is one persian saying:
Char tufa e multan mashoor ast
gardo garma goro goristan
No doubt there is hot climate and temperature varies from -0 C to 50 C.This is really unbelievable variation.But this happen and we have seen so many time ice in winter…
As regards the Gard mean dust that is not correct now because of the expanding agriculture.Now we do not see barren land.Now we never see red color dust storm which was routine 40 years back.Whenever we see red color dust storm ,people used to say that some innocent person is murdered.This was the myth behind red colored dust storm.But now we do not see such phenomenon.
GHor I think they do not mean grave yard but this was about the tombs of sufis and saints.This saying is correct.
Multan one of the main cities in the Southern Punjab province of Pakistan. The city has been a focal point for many religions, in particular becoming a central abode for Sufism, the mystical side of Islam.
The city has attracted Sufi saints from far places of the globe. Today, Multan is known as the ‘City of Sufis’.Multan is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, with many tombs, shrines, temples, cathedrals and mausoleums, as well as a historical fort.
Today Multan is a combination of old and the new Pakistani culture. There is a big hustle bustle in the old city and comfort of a five star hotel and fine dining in the new. The old city has a various bazaars selling mystical artifacts, perfumes to arts and crafts. There are decorated shrines of the Sufi saints. tombs of various important people within the old city of Multan.There is one grave which is 9 yards in length.This is present inside the old Bohar gate bazar. I do not think that this man was 9 yards in length.Most of the people gave explanation that these big yards were in the respect of the person.The Nuagaza tombs are shrines to martyrs and warriors who fought in wars centuries ago, some dating back 1,300 years ago.
The prime attractions of Multan are its mausoleums of Sufi saints. The Mausoleum of Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya,This tomb considered to be the art of architecture.In the walls there are woods which separates the bricks.This tomb is almost more than 800 years.
The Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam is also the prime attractions of the city. Their lofty domes of are visible, from miles and dominate the skyline of Multan.This is also present on the Qilla Qasim Fort.
Another popular shrine is the Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din, commonly known as Shah Shamsuddin Sabzwari is located about half a mile to the east of the Multan Fort, on the high bank of the old bed of the Ravi River. Another famous and beautiful mausoleum of a warrior sufi saint and poet Hazrat Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Multani (1747–1811 AD) is situated near Aam Khas garden outside Daulat Gate, Multan.
There are also a number of other mausoleums located within the city which gather a great deal of attention. One of these is Eid Gah mosque situated on Khnewal road.This was built in 1735 AD
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The Multan Museum located within the city has a vast collection of coins, medals, postage stamps of the former State of Bahawalpur, manuscripts, documented inscriptions, wood carvings, camel-skin paintings, historical models and stone carvings of the Islamic and Pre-Islamic periods.
Multan also has a number of old mosques which were once considered as the jewels of the city. Some have been dated back to over a thousand years ago and have been recognized as some of the oldest mosques within South East Asia. The legend goes that the first mosque ever built in Multan was the Jamia Mosque which was constructed on the orders of General Mohammed Qasim, who conquered Multan in 712 AD. Ruins of this mosque were visible till 1954 at Qasim Bella; however, due to repeated floods, the structure was lost. Sawi Mosque is supposed to be the oldest mosque which still exists today, though in deteriorating state; there are glazed blue tiles from the era in which it was built which dates the mosque to several centuries ago. The second oldest mosque within Multan is Mohammad Khan Wali Mosque. It is an excellent condition, situated in the busiest Chowck Bazar of the city. It was built by Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani, in 1757 when he was the governor of Multan in the time of Alamgir II. The mosque is provided with a reservoir for the ablutions, baths, and a large hall for prayers.
One of the mosque is durrani mosque which 150 years old.This mosque is present near Chowk Fowara and it is really in good condition.There are colorful paintings on all the walls and the roof.This is worth seeing mosque.
Multan due to its location at the intersection of all four of Pakistan’s main provinces and due to its historical significance as a centre of learning and culture. As a result, Multan today consists of local saraikis, Punjabi, Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi, Haryanvi and Urdu speaking people.
The city government inaugurated a new multi-purpose stadium replacing Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium which was the stadium used for football and cricket matches. The inauguration of the new stadium has allowed the city to offer Test day/night matches as well as other national sports such as hockey, badminton and football. The stadium is home to the Multan Cricket Association. Other sports grounds include Divisional Sports Ground and the Pakistan Cricket Board owned Government College Cricket Ground
The are more famous modern buildings in Multan are:
- Nishtar medical college Multan.
- Nishtar dental college,,
- Glamorous building of State bank of Pakistan.
- New Building of National Bank of pakistan.
- Old magnificent building of Nawab of Bahawalpur house in cantonment.
- Church in cantonment.
- Multan institute of cardiology.
- Ghanta Ghar
- Old wall around the multan.
- Multan art council.
- Degree college for women is also very old building
- Tomb of Britisher on Qila Qasim fort.