Often when people write blogs about a travel destination, it is based on online research and data online. But at Bookme, we do things differently. And here’s the first blog of our Bookme travel stories. After reading this, you would want to visit Multan too.

So, recently our team was in Multan for on ground operations for the opening match of Asia Cup. Even though we had training sessions scheduled for student ambassadors, meetings with officials, and many other errands, our team still had a chance to explore some parts of the city.

The following are the five reasons for travelers to visit Multan:

Culture

Reading about the culture and experiencing it firsthand are two different things. Visiting the heart of Southern Punjab and observing your surroundings will give you a glimpse into how rich the culture of this amazing place is. You will see people speak multiple dialects of Punjabi, Saraiki, and Jhangvi.

Vibrant embroideries that must have taken hours to complete on caps, Kurtas, and traditional women dresses were incredibly beautiful. It is highly recommended that you bring back some dresses or caps for your loved ones on your way back from Multan. We couldn’t because of the limited time we had, but it’s on our list for the next time we are there.

Historical Monuments

The city of saints is especially known for its shrines, tombs, and forts. And if you are not visiting them, you are missing out big time. The day prior to the Pakistan versus Nepal match, we had a few hours to explore the city. We dropped our bags at the hotel and set out on foot only to realize we should get a cab after walking three kilometers.

Fort Kohna

It didn’t cost us much and it dropped us right next to the Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam. It was opposite Multan's popular Ghanta Ghar. Before exploring the tomb, we went to Fort Kohna, now serving as a museum. It was literally at a walking distance. Artworks and old pots were quite interesting. However, political slogans by the tourists on the walls were quite disappointing.

Shrine of Ghaus Pak Noorani

After Fort Kohna, we took a small stop at the Shrine of Ghaus Pak Noorani. We paid our respects to the saint and his family. There was a nearby mosque and people were sleeping in its courtyard. Luckily, we were there at night because the red stone floor would have been very hot during the day’s scorching heat.

Tomb of Bahaudin Zakariya

Bahadudin Zikariya’s tomb is one of the most popular spots in Multan. Even the Multan University is named Bahauddin Zakariya University. Before entering the shrine, we were awestruck by how amazing it looked from the outside. We took multiple pictures for our Snapchat and Instagrams.

The inside of the shrine is equally impressive. The shrine has been there since the 13th century. Again, we paid our respects, dropped some cash in the charity box, explored the shrine and were on our way to the Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam. We met some tourists there.

Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam

The tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam was built back in the 14th century and is a marvel of Sufi architecture, so beautiful. As millennial tourists, we found it our duty to take photos of the outside of the shrine. However, when you do so, it is important to be respectful with your dresses and posing. We were only capturing the Shrine, just like with other photos.

We took off our shoes and entered the tomb. On our way, we saw a man reciting naats and playing harmonium. We went inside the tomb and it was peaceful and grand even with its simplistic appeal. The right word to describe it would be serene.

Ghanta Ghar

Ghanta Ghar was our last stop in our exploration. We crossed the road and took some photos at this historic building which now serves the office building. This remnant of the British Raj from architectural point of view is a sight on its own.

Street Food

Popular restaurant chains are in most cities and have the same taste. So when you are visiting a city and really want to explore the food options, you should explore its street food. And Multan didn’t disappoint. We had fried daal with rotis on our first day, and it was a daal to remember.

We had some egg fried rice and fried chicken from a local restaurant later on our first day. It wasn’t very different in taste from these food options from Lahore.

Multan’s Dahi Bhallay (or Dahi Barray) were quite impressive and economical. Later, we tried some super chilled Imli Aloo Bukhara Sharbat from a very devoted kid. He asked for feedback too, obviously we gave him a positive one.

One difference we noticed while in Multan was that they were calling lemon soda as Limca. Despite the difference in name, it was equally refreshing. Before visiting the historical monuments, we had Anday Wala Burger from a roadside stall. It received a seal of approval from two Lahoris. The star of street food for us was Gol Gappay (Pani Puri). Those were some really loaded Gol Gappay with sweet and sour chatnis and two types of dips.

Sohan Halwa

Everyone who knows you will be visiting Multan, expects a box of Sohan Halwa. So, don’t disappoint them by not bringing one. You will find Sohan Halwa shops almost everywhere in Multan. But the best Sohan Halwa is not that easy to find. There are some popular sweet shops who have a reputation for great tasting Halwas. Rewari Sweets is one of them.

You will find many options like Cashew Halwa, Walnut Halwa, Almond Halwa, and traditional Sohan Halwa. We bought 3 boxes each and we don’t know where they went (Of course we do, we ate them lol). Besides tasting amazing, Sohan Halwa bought from Multan is also quite economical which is another plus.

Cricket

Lahore’s passion for cricket is well-known across Pakistan. However, Multan’s enthusiasm for cricket is very underrated. We were at the stadium on the match day fulfilling our responsibilities and it felt like the whole city was there to support team Pakistan. Even Nepalese tourists who were there for the match were having a really good time in the city of saints.

The whole stadium was roaring at every boundary Babar was hitting. Then the roars got even louder when Iftikhar joined the party. Then screams got even louder when both the batsmen scored their centuries. Overall, it was a great experience. If you are in Multan and there is a cricket match there, you should watch it in the stadium.

So, these were some of the reasons why you should be visiting Multan. You can visit Multan via bus, train, flights, and rental cars with Bookme. The process is fast and super convenient. And when you visit, let us know what things you liked about the city.