Bhabra Bazaar is a heritage lane in Rawalpindi's old city, running from Murree Road towards Sarafa Bazaar, just behind the crowds of Raja Bazaar. It is worth a walk for its early 19th-century houses with carved wooden doors and overhanging balconies, and for the goldsmiths and jewellery lanes that grew out of it. Go for the buildings and the atmosphere, not for a polished tourist experience: this is a working neighbourhood, and it is crowded and worn.
This guide covers the history, what to look for, what is sold, and a sensible way to walk it. For the gold trade itself, see our separate guide to Sarafa Bazaar.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Old city, Rawalpindi, behind Raja Bazaar |
| Runs from | Murree Road towards Sarafa Bazaar |
| Known for | 19th-century havelis, jewellery lanes, Moti Bazaar, dahi bhallay and kulcha |
| Best for | A slow one to two hour walk with a camera |
| Entry | Free; it is a public bazaar |
Where is Bhabra Bazaar?
Bhabra Bazaar sits in the oldest part of Rawalpindi. Wikipedia describes it as stretching from Murree Road to Sarafa Bazaar, and it is one of the lanes that meet around Raja Bazaar, the city's main wholesale and retail market near Fawara Chowk.
There is no gate or ticket office. You find it by walking into the old city from the Raja Bazaar side and asking shopkeepers for "Bhabra Bazaar" or "Sarafa Bazaar"; the two are close together and people will point the way.
A short history
The name comes from a Sanskrit-derived word for a merchant community, the Bhabras, who followed Jainism. Accounts describe the bazaar as founded by Jain families centuries ago, and the Bhabras as traders and goldsmiths who worked in what are now Sarafa Bazaar and Moti Bazaar. Jains and the Rawal tribe are credited with founding Rawalpindi itself.
Hindu, Sikh and Jain families lived and traded here until Partition in 1947, after which the Jain residents migrated to India. The houses stayed and were taken over by new families.
What to look for
Most of the surviving houses are two or three storeys, with wooden doors and corridors leading to enclosed courtyards, painted ceilings and decorative tiles. Some still have enclosed wooden balconies called jharokhas projecting over the lane.
Dawn's writer on a walk here noted that Jain inscriptions such as "Jai Jinendra" can still be seen on some buildings, and that the current residents have left them in place. Look up as much as you look ahead: the best detail is above the shopfronts.
Haveli Sujan Singh
The best-known building is Haveli Sujan Singh, a large red haveli completed in 1893 for Rai Bahadur Sujan Singh, a wealthy timber merchant and an uncle of the writer Khushwant Singh. Sources describe a four-storey building of around 45 rooms in a mix of Sikh, Mughal and British styles, with carved timber and colonial-style balconies.
The haveli was badly damaged after Partition and has been through restoration attempts. Wikipedia records that Fatima Jinnah Women's University received it in 2006 and that the National College of Arts took on its administration in 2014 for a museum and field school. We could not find a current public visiting schedule, so treat it as a building to see from the lane, and ask locally before assuming you can go in.
What is sold
Bhabra Bazaar is mixed. The surrounding lanes are specialised:
- Sarafa Bazaar for gold and silver jewellery, where engraving and casting are still done in small workshops.
- Moti Bazaar, a ladies' market for bangles, accessories and similar goods.
- The wider Raja Bazaar for textiles, spices, wood, books and household goods, across roughly 2,500 shops according to Wikipedia.
Expect to bargain on everything except fixed-price items, and carry small notes.
Food on the way
The old city is known for Punjabi snacks. Wikipedia and Dawn mention Amritsari and Kashmiri kulcha, dahi bhallay, and milk and yoghurt shops along the lanes. Dawn named one dahi bhallay and chaat stall, at about PKR 80 a plate in 2017; prices will be higher now. For a wider list, see our guide to the best food in Rawalpindi.
How to walk it
- Start at Fawara Chowk or Raja Bazaar in the morning, when the lanes are less crowded.
- Work towards Bhabra Bazaar and stop to look up at balconies and doorways.
- Continue to Sarafa Bazaar and Moti Bazaar, even if you are not buying.
- Finish with a snack, then leave before the afternoon rush.
Wear flat shoes, keep bags in front of you, and ask before photographing people or the inside of a house. Some of the old buildings are private homes, and Dawn's walk also noted an old imambargah nearby, so dress modestly and keep your voice down in residential lanes.
Getting there and the Raja Bazaar roadworks
Raja Bazaar is in the middle of a long-running pedestrian project. The stretch from Fawara Chowk to Hamilton Road (locally Dingi Khoi) has been closed to vehicles, with cables being moved underground and a Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation beautification scheme. Dawn reported the work still unfinished a year in, and ProPakistani reported in August 2026 that parking had become difficult, especially for motorcycles.
Practically: come by taxi, ride-hailing or rickshaw and get dropped near Fawara Chowk rather than hunting for parking. Expect dust and detours.
Is it worth it?
It suits people who like old architecture and street photography, and anyone already in Rawalpindi shopping at Raja Bazaar. Allow one to two hours. If you want tidy conservation and signage, this is not that: Dawn describes traffic, encroachment and neglect threatening the heritage, and you will see it.
It does not suit anyone expecting a quiet museum lane, or visitors with limited mobility, as the lanes are narrow, uneven and busy. For an easier market day, Saddar Bazaar is more orderly. See our experiences page for other things to do around Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and where to stay in Rawalpindi if you are making a night of it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bhabra Bazaar in Rawalpindi?
It is in the old city behind Raja Bazaar, running from Murree Road towards Sarafa Bazaar. Ask for it by name once you are near Fawara Chowk.
Why is it called Bhabra Bazaar?
The name derives from the Bhabras, a Jain merchant community who traded and worked as goldsmiths here. After 1947 the Jain families left for India.
Can you visit Haveli Sujan Singh?
It is a heritage building under institutional custody and has been through restoration projects. We could not confirm regular public opening, so see it from outside and ask locally.
What can you buy at Bhabra Bazaar?
Mostly jewellery from the neighbouring Sarafa Bazaar and ladies' goods from Moti Bazaar, plus the textiles, spices and household goods of Raja Bazaar.
Is Bhabra Bazaar safe to walk?
It is a busy local market and generally treated as ordinary urban Rawalpindi. Watch for pickpockets in crowds, keep valuables hidden and check local news for any closures before you go.
