Noor Mahal: The Hidden Gem of Bahawalpur

Entering Bahawalpur, the road leads to the stunning Noor Mahal — the palace built by the fifth ruler of Bahawalpur State Nawab Sir Muhammad Sadiq or the ‘Shahjehan of Bahawalpur’, who is renowned for his passion of constructing beautiful buildings.

This beautiful building inspired by Italian construction style is one of the hidden gems of Bahawalpur and was built by a British Engineer named Heenan in 1875 at a cost of Rs1.2 million.

The palace is known for its colorful, exquisite exterior made of cut and dressed bricks that make this a unique piece of historical architecture. Noor Mahal’s distinguishing architectural feature is the use of five domes built in the traditional style.

Since its construction, the palace shot Bahawalpur’s popularity among tourists, who throng the site every day to have a glimpse of the vintage marvel.

The Purpose

Noor Mahal is one of the latest monuments in Punjab that was placed under the antiquities act. It was built for the residence of Nawab Sir Muhammad Sadiq. However, he did not live in the palace as the royals did not prefer to live near a graveyard — the Basti…