Bahawalpur to Fort Munro: Distance, Route and Drive Time

The Bahawalpur to Fort Munro distance is about 257 km by road on the shortest route, which takes the N-5 north to Lodhran, skirts Multan on the southern bypass and follows the N-70 through Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan up into the Sulaiman range. Routing software puts the drive at about four hours with no stops. In a real car with traffic, a tea stop and the climb, plan on five to six hours.

If you search "bwp to fort munro", the answer is the same: there is no shorter road across the Indus further south that saves time. This guide covers the route in stages, the alternatives through Multan city and Taunsa, the hill road, where to fill up, and a simple two-day plan.

Distances are from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) and Wikipedia, rounded.

How far is Fort Munro from Bahawalpur?

By the direct route it is about 257 km. Broken into stages, it looks like this:

The plains section is the easy part. The last 85 km from DG Khan is where the time goes, because the road narrows and climbs onto the Sulaiman range, finishing close to 2,000 metres.

Which route should you take?

The direct route via Lodhran and the Multan bypass

This is the one most maps will choose. Leave Bahawalpur on the N-5 towards Lodhran and stay on the Lodhran bypass. Before you reach central Multan, the route turns west onto the Multan southern bypass, which joins the N-70 towards Muzaffargarh. You cross the Chenab, pass Muzaffargarh, cross the Indus and arrive in Dera Ghazi Khan. From there the N-70 heads west to the foot of the hills and climbs to Fort Munro.

This route keeps you out of Multan's city traffic, which matters more than the kilometres. It is the right choice for almost everyone.

Through Multan city

Going into Multan adds roughly 20 km and, depending on the hour, a lot of time in traffic. It makes sense only if you are picking someone up, want a meal in the city or are combining the trip with a day in Multan. The Bahawalpur to Multan leg is covered in our Multan to Bahawalpur guide, and the onward stretch from Multan in our Multan to Fort Munro route guide.

Via Taunsa Barrage

Some people ask about going via Taunsa. It is possible to cross the Indus at Taunsa Barrage and come down the west bank to DG Khan, but that route is about 324 km, roughly 65 km longer than the direct one, with more small-town roads. It is only worth it if you want to stop at the barrage itself, which is a wetland sanctuary covered in our Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary guide. For a straight drive to Fort Munro, skip it.

How long does the drive really take?

OSRM routing gives about 3 hours 55 minutes for the direct route without stops. That figure assumes free-flowing roads at the speed limit, which you will not get.

1. Bahawalpur to the Multan bypass: about 1 hour 15 minutes on the N-5, longer if you hit the Lodhran stretch at a busy time.
2. Multan bypass to DG Khan: about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Trucks, tractor trolleys and town traffic in Muzaffargarh slow this section.
3. DG Khan to Fort Munro: about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. The plain gives way to the climb, and on summer weekends there can be queues near the top.

Add a 30 to 45 minute break and you arrive in five to six hours. Leave Bahawalpur by 7 or 8 in the morning and you reach Fort Munro by early afternoon, with daylight to spare.

What is the hill road like?

The N-70 from DG Khan is paved all the way. After the flat run west, it enters the Sulaiman range and climbs through a series of hairpin bends to Fort Munro. It is a proper mountain road: steep in places, with heavy trucks heading to and from Balochistan, and stone-crushing sites and a cement factory on the N-70 near DG Khan that add slow traffic.

• You arrive at the climb tired. By DG Khan you have already driven three hours on flat, hot roads. Swap drivers or take a break before starting up.
• Coming down is harder than going up. Use a low gear on the descent and do not ride the brakes. Brake failures and accidents on this road are reported most summers.
• Do not plan to drive it in the dark. The hairpins, fog in winter and overloaded trucks make night driving a poor idea.
• Landslides can close the road, mostly after heavy rain. The Rakhi Gaj stretch below Fort Munro has been blocked several times. Check local news or ask in DG Khan if it has been raining.

Our Multan to Fort Munro guide has more on the hairpins and the accident record, so we will not repeat it here.

Where to stop for fuel, food and breaks

There is no shortage of fuel between Bahawalpur and DG Khan. The N-5 near Lodhran and the N-70 around Muzaffargarh and DG Khan have plenty of stations and roadside restaurants.

The rule is simple: fill the tank in Dera Ghazi Khan. Do not count on finding reliable fuel on the climb or at Fort Munro. DG Khan is also the last good place for an ATM, a proper meal and a pharmacy. Phone signal is patchy on parts of the hill road.

Lodhran suits a breakfast stop, and Muzaffargarh or the DG Khan outskirts suit lunch and fuel before the hills.

Is there a bus from Bahawalpur to Fort Munro?

We could not confirm a direct, scheduled bus from Bahawalpur to Fort Munro. The usual approach is to take a coach from Bahawalpur to Multan or Dera Ghazi Khan, then a local van or hired car up the hill. Ask at the bus stands in Bahawalpur and DG Khan for current services, because routes and operators change. For a family, a hired car with a driver who knows the N-70 is usually the simpler option.

A two-day plan from Bahawalpur

Fort Munro works best as an overnight trip from Bahawalpur. A day trip means ten to twelve hours of driving with only an hour or two at the top, and you would be coming down the hairpins at dusk.

Day 1

1. Leave Bahawalpur by 7 am on the N-5 towards Lodhran.
2. Take the Multan southern bypass onto the N-70, stopping for breakfast or tea near Muzaffargarh.
3. Reach DG Khan by late morning. Fill up, eat and get cash.
4. Climb to Fort Munro and arrive by early to mid afternoon.
5. Check in, then spend the late afternoon at the viewpoints and Dama Dam lake while it is light.

For where to stay, see our Fort Munro hotels guide.

Day 2

1. Watch the sunrise from one of the viewpoints. Mornings are the coolest and clearest part of the day.
2. Have a slow breakfast and leave by 10 or 11 am.
3. Come down in low gear and stop in DG Khan for lunch.
4. Back in Bahawalpur by early evening, before dark.

Is it safe to drive?

Fort Munro is in Punjab, in Dera Ghazi Khan district, but it sits right on the provincial border. A short way west the N-70 enters Balochistan at Rakhni and carries on to Loralai. The UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan, so treat Fort Munro as the end of the road and do not continue west.

Pakistani families drive up from Bahawalpur, Multan and DG Khan every summer. Before setting out, check local news and ask in DG Khan about the road and any police advice. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's travel advice, because going against it can void your travel insurance.

Is the drive from Bahawalpur worth it?

It is worth it if you want cooler air within a day's drive of south Punjab. On a June afternoon Fort Munro is usually far cooler than Bahawalpur, and that is the whole point of going. Our Fort Munro weather guide has the month-by-month picture.

It is less suited to anyone who dislikes mountain driving, families with a car that is overdue a service, or anyone who can only spare one day. If your aim is just a break from the heat with little driving, a nearer option will serve you better. For more on planning road trips around Pakistan, see our travel guide.

Frequently asked questions