Bahawalpur
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| Bahawalpur بہاولپور |
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  Bahawalpur
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| Coordinates: 29°23′44″N 71°41′1″E / 29.39556°N 71.68361°ECoordinates: 29°23′44″N 71°41′1″E / 29.39556°N 71.68361°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
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| Province | Punjab |
| Government | |
| - Nazim (Mayor) | Tariq Basheer Cheema |
| Elevation | 1,512 ft (461 m) |
| Population (2007) | |
| - Total | 545,103 |
| 2007 estimate: 600,457[1] | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC+6) |
| Website | Bahawal Pur District Government Website |
Bahawalpur بہاولپور) is the capital city of Bahawalpur District located in Punjab, Pakistan. The population according to the 1998 census was 403,408. 'SARAIKI' is the local language of the area, while Urdu and English are also spoken. Bahawalpur is located south of the Sutlej River and it lies in the Cholistan region. It is situated 90 km from Multan, 420 km from Lahore,122 km from burewala,90 km from vehari,270 km from faisalabad and about 700 km from the national capital Islamabad. It was the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The weather is hot and dry. Summer temperatures reach high forties degrees Celsius during the day and the nights are bit pleasant.[citation needed] There is very little rainfall.
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[edit] History
History of Bahawalpur according to the Abbassi Historians. The city was founded in 1748 by Nawab Muhammad Bahawal Khan Abbasi I, whose descendants ruled the area until it joined Pakistan in 1947. The Bahawalpur (princely state) was one of the largest states of British India, more than 451 kilometres long, and was ruled by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V Bahadur,[2] who decided to join Pakistan at the time of independence in 1947.
The Royal House of Bahawalpur is said to be of Arabic origin[citation needed] and claim descent from Abbas, progenitor of the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad and Cairo.[citation needed] Sultan Ahmad II, son of Shah Muzammil of Egypt left that country and arrived in Sind with a large following of Arabs ca. 1370.[citation needed] He married a daughter of Raja Rai Dhorang Sahta, receiving a third of the country as a dowry. Amir Fathu'llah Khan Abbasi, is the recognized ancestor of the dynasty.[citation needed] He conquered the Bhangar territory from Raja Dallu, of Alor and Bahmanabad, renaming it Qahir Bela. Amir Muhammad Chani Khan Abbasi entered the imperial service and gained appointment as a Panchhazari in 1583. At his death, the leadership of the tribe was contested between two branches of the family, the Daudputras and the Kalhoras. Amir Bahadur Khan Abbasi abandoned Tarai and settled near Bhakkar, founding the town of Shikarpur in 1690. Daud Khan, the first of his family to rule Bahawalpur, originated from Sind where he had opposed the Afghan Governor of that province and was forced to flee.[citation needed] The Nawab entered into Treaty relations with the HEIC, 22 February 1833. The state acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan on 7 October 1947 and was merged into the province of West Pakistan on 14 October 1955.Daud farooq is one the great personalities of the city
[edit] Economy
Bahawalpur has only one railway bridge, the Adamwahan (Empress) Bridge, over the Sutlej River, and also has rail links with Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province and Karachi, the capital of Sindh (which is 899 km from Bahawalpur), making it an important rail centre. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural, which allows agricultural exports to many parts of the world. There is also a large market town for mangoes, dates, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton that bring in continuous demand all year round. In addition, it has soap making and cotton spinning factories, as well as enterprises producing silk and cotton textiles, carpets, and pottery. Bahwalpur has also sugar mill near a drive of 40 mins.
Punjab is Pakistan's most fertile province, rich in both agriculture and ancient history. It's also one of the more stable of the country's regions. The prosperous and hospitable town of Bahawalpur is a gentle introduction to the area. From here you can journey into Cholistan - a sandy wasteland dotted with nomadic communities and wind-swept forts - or the Lal Suhanra National Park, an important wildlife reserve. Further north is Harappa which is, after Moenjodaro, the second most important site of the Indus Valley civilisation. Bahawalpur is the most southerly town in the Punjab. There are daily flights from Islamabad about 555 km (344mi) away. Most of the major destinations in the Punjab can be reached by bus, mini bus, and train.
A recent report on the agro-economy of Bahawalpur and a number of its districts, which includes an agro-economic survey, investment climate review and economic growth diagnostic provides a comprehensive overview of the local agrarian economy, its interface with the national economy and the main drivers and constraints to growth. The report Agro-Economic Survey & Investment Climate Diagnostic: Bahawalpur, Bahwalnagar & Rahim Yar Khan by Middlebrook et al. also provides a comprehensive assessment of the major policy and institutional challenges to future economic development. At the moment Bahawalpur Economy is ruled by Chaudhry Family.
[edit] Education
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur is biggest University of Rohi Cholistan.
It also boasts a number of reputable educational establishments namely The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College and the Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur, which is one of the largest and premier boarding schools in Pakistan. Founded by the Late Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V F.G Public School,Army Public School ,Beaconhouse School,The City School, Alpina School, and The Educators are some of the Prestigious schools in Bahawalpur.
There are many colleges, some are given below;
Government Sadiq Egertin College (SE College) Founded by the Late Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V,
Government Sadiq Degree College for Girls,
Moon system of education,
Millat College,
Post Graduate College Baghdad Road,
Rise School of Accountancy,
Govt. College of Technology Hasilpur Road Bahawalpur [062-9250021-22],
Govt. Sadiq College of Commerce Cheema Town Bahawalpur [062-9255350-51],
Govt. Polytechnic Institute for (Women) Bahawalpur [062-9250155]
Govt. Technical Training Institute Bahawalpur [062-9250013]
Tebiya College,
Four Elementary colleges for teaching training
[edit] Languages
Siraiki is main language of this city and District. Punjabi is next to it. Famous Siraiki linguists Zami Bahawalpuri and Dilshad Kalanchvi were from this city. Khurum Bahawalpuri was a famous Siraiki poet and Shahab Dhelvi was a scholar of this city.He is poet also.
[edit] The Cholistan Desert
East of Bahawalpur is the Cholistan Desert which covers an area of about 15,000 km2 and extends into the Thar Desert of India. The region was once watered by the Hakra River, known as the Saravati in vedic times. At one time there were 400 forts in the area and archaeological finds around the Derawar Fort, the only place with a perennial waterhole, indicate that it was contemporaneous with the Indus Valley Civilisation. The average annual rainfall is only 12 cm, and the little cultivation there is, is made possible by underground wells, drawn up by the camels. The water is stored in troughs, built by the tribes, between sandhills and din waterholes called tobas. The people are racially similar to those in Rajasthan - tall, with sharp features. They live in large, round, mud and grass huts, usually built on the top of sandhills. On the whole, they are pastoral and nomadic. The main tribes are the Chachar, Mehr, Lar, Paryar, Channar, Chandani and Bohar. The forts here were built at 29 km intervals, which probably served as guard posts for the camel caravan routes. There were three rows of these forts. the first line of forts began from Phulra and ended in Lera, the second from Rukhanpur to Islamgarh, and the third from Bilcaner to Kapoo. They are all in ruins now, and you can see that they were built with double walls of gypsum blocks and mud. Some of them date back to 1000 BC, and were destroyed and rebuilt many times.
[edit] Zoo & National Park
One of the few zoos in Pakistan is located in Bahawalpur. Located over an area of several acres inside the city, it contains a variety of animal species including Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, hyenas, leopards, and peacocks alongside a variety of other animals. Located near the city is the Lal Sohara National Park, one of the few safaris in the country housing large animals, including lions and rhinoceros.
[edit] Wildlife In Forest Areas
Hog deer, ravine deer, black buck and blue bull are common. Fox, jackals, hares, Wild boars, porcupines, mongoose, arks, owls and hawks are found in large numbers.
[edit] Sites of interest
- General
- Noor Mahal ( former palace of the Nawabs of Bahawalpur)
- Gulzar Mahal (former palace of the Nawabs of Bahawalpur)
- Darbar Mahal (former palace of the Nawabs of Bahawalpur)
- Shimla Khoti Sadiq Ghar Palace (owen by Farooq Anwar Abbsi Ex-MNA)
- Darbar Mahal (Royal Palace for operational controls of the state)
- Farid Gate
- Bahawalpur Museum
- Bahawalpur National Library
- Bahawalpur Zoo
- National Wildlife Park, Lal Sohanra
- Mausoleums
- Channen Peer Tomb Yazman
- Mausoleums of Haugha Sahib
[edit] Environs
The old fort of Munde Shahid, 50 km from Bahawalpur and Marot Fort are considered to be antiquities. A place outside the Marot Fort is known as 'Baithak Maula Ali'. The tomb of Naugaza is located in the Munde Sharif Fort.
The famous fort of Derawar is located near the city, being the private fort of the former royal family who continue to be major political players[citation needed] in Pakistan.
Architectural monuments include the former royal family's palaces namely Darbar Mahal, Gulzar Mahal and Noor Mahal. All Mahals are now under military control.[citation needed]
[edit] Economy
Bahawalpur has only one railroad bridge over the Sutlej River, making it an important rail centre. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural, which allows agricultural exports to many parts of the world. There is also a large market town for mangoes, dates, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton that bring in continuous demand all year round. In addition, it has soap making and cotton spinning factories, as well as enterprises producing silk and cotton textiles, carpets, and pottery. Bahawalpur has also sugar mill nearby.
[edit] Specialities of Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur is known for its cotton, silk, embroidery, carpets, and extraordinarily delicate pottery, which is produced here.
The Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) has established a Craft Development Center for Cholistan area, outside Farid Gate, Bahawalpur from where handicrafts manufactured in Cholistan can be purchased.
- Flassi - It is a piece of 4-ft * 7-ftsize, made of camel hair and cotton yarn. It is used for wall hanging, as a decoration piece and a carpet.[citation needed]
- Gindi or Rilli - It is made of small pieces of many colors of cotton cloth and needlework. It can be used as wall hangings, bed covers, carpets and blankets.[citation needed]
- Changaries - Like big plaques, these are made of palm leaves in different bright colours with beautiful patterns and geometric designs. These are used for keeping the 'chapattis' and also as a wall decoration.[citation needed]
- Khalti - It is like a purse embroidered on top with multi coloured threads.[citation needed]
- Artwork - It is an attractive type of embroidery done on dupatta, kurta and chaddar etc.
[edit] Politicians of Bahawalpur City
Prince Farooq Anwar Abbasi EX-MNA (1992, 1994, 1996), Ex-MPA (1985) Grand Son of Nawab of Bahawalpur
Prince Usman Abbasi Ex-MPA Grand Son of Nawab of Bahawalpur
Prince Shalauddin Abbasi Ex-MNA Grand Son of Nawab of Bahawalpur
Tasneem Nawaz Gardazi Ex-MNA, Ex-Federal Minister
Shahb-ud-Din Awasi (Late) Ex-MPA
Tariq Bashir Cheema District Nazim
Farooq-e-Aazam Mailk Ex-MNA, Ex-Federal Minister, Ex-Meor
[edit] Bazaars & Famous Places of Bahawalpur
The main shopping centers of Bahawalpur are Shahi Bazaar, Machli Bazaar, Farid Gate and the Mall. Commercial area in Satellite Town is a newly developed center that is gaining popularity rapidly. A few shopping malls including Bobby Plaza, Takbeer Shopping mall, Time, Prince etc cater for all kinds of needs.
- Bahawalpur (princely state)
- Noor Mahal
- Bahawalpur Airport
- Sadiq Public School
- The Islamia University of Bahawalpur
- Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
- Johiya
- Derawar Fort
- Saraiki language
- Saraikistan
- Saraiki nationalist movement
- Saraiki Wasaib
[edit] External links
- Bahawalpur travel guide from Wikitravel
- About Bahawalpur Rescue 15 Police
- Rescue Bahawalpur Pakistan
- About Bahawalpur Police
- Pictures - Bahawalpur Zoo
- A photographic set dedicated to Bahawalpur
- About Bahawalpur
- District Bahawalpur - 1998 census
- Softronix Red Planet Center - The only software company of Bahawalpur
- Bahawalpur Pictures
[edit] References
- ^ Stefan Helders, World Gazetteer. ""Bahawlpur"". http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-172&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=&geo=413520701. Retrieved on 2006-04-17.
- ^ Christopher Buyers, Royal Ark website. "Bahawalpur: The Abbasi Dynasty". http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Pakistan/bahawal5.htm. Retrieved on 2007-10-13.
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