Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur is 889 kms from Karachi.
The founder of the state of Bahawalpur was Nawab Bahawal Khan Abbasi
I. The Abbasi family ruled over the State for more than 200 years
(1748 to 1954).
During the rule of the last Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi
V, Bahawalpur State was merged with Pakistan in 1954. Bahawalpur
was formerly the capital of the state and now is the District and
Divisional Headquarters of Bahawalpur Division.
Places In Bahawalpur
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 Daniel Issacs on March 8, 1924 to
mark the installation of Late Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sir Sadiq Muhammad
Khan Abbasi V. The Central Library was established in 1947 in this
building. It has a vast collection of books and manuscripts. It
is one of the best libraries in Pakistan
and visited by students and scholars from within the country and
abroad.
Bahawalpur Museum
Bahawalpur has a modest museum having 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 carving etc. of Islamic and pre-Islamic period.
There is a complete set of medals of all classes issued by the ex-state
to its military officers/civilians and to other important citizens
of the ex-State.
The Zoological Garden
The zoological garden of Bahawalpur is considered to be one of
best in the country. Spread over an area of 25 acres 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 an aquarium and a good
collection of stuffed rare birds and animals.
Adamwahan Bridge
Bahawalpur is also the site of the Adamwahan (Empress) Bridge,
the only railway bridge over the Sutlej River in Pakistan.
Palaces
Two of the three palaces of the Nawabs - the Nur Mahal and Gulzar
Mahal - are located in Bahawalpur.
An Italian-style Nur Mahal palace of the ex-rulers of Bahawalpur,
a small museum, and Gulzar Mahal, which presents beautiful synthesis
of traditional and Islamic architecture, are worth seeing.
Patt
East of Bahawalpur is the Patt, or Bar, a tract of land considerably
higher than the adjoining valley. It is chiefly desert irrigated
by the Sutlej inundation canals and yields crops of wheat, cotton,
and sugarcane.
Dring Stadium
Bahawalpur has one of the best Stadiums in Pakistan having fine
cricket ground, two football grounds, one basketball ground and
six lawn tennis courts and a covered swimming pool. The hockey stadium
is considered to be the second best in the country after Karachi
stadium. It can accommodate 13,000 people. It is at this stadium
that the great Hanif Muhammad known as the 'little master' in cricket
made 499 not out in first class cricket, which remained an unbeaten
record in the world for a very long 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 here annually.
Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq
It was made by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V at the elevation
of more than 12 feet from earth. It can house 50,000 to 60,000 people
at a time, during the Eid festivals. It is a well reputed mosque
in Pakistan.
Educational Institutions
The city is the seat of several educational institutions such as:
» Islamia University established in 1975
» Quaid-e Azam Medical College
» Sadiq Public School (SPS)
» Sadiq Egerton College
» Other Govt. Institutes (Schools and Colleges)
» In fact, Bahawalpur is an important agricultural training
and educational center.
Source: Ptv.com.pk
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