The main places to visit in Jhang are the tomb of Heer and Ranjha in the city, the shrine of the Sufi poet Sultan Bahu at Garh Maharaja, about 70 to 80 km away, and Trimmu Barrage on the Chenab, roughly 25 km from the city. It is a trip for people interested in Punjabi poetry and Sufi tradition, not for sightseeing in the usual sense, and the best months are in the cooler part of the year.
Jhang sits on the east bank of the Chenab and had 606,533 people at the 2023 census. It was founded in 1288 by Rai Sial, chief of the Sial tribe, and the Sials ruled the area until 1822. The city is also home to the Urdu poet Majeed Amjad and the Nobel physicist Abdus Salam is listed among its notable people, which gives it more literary interest than its size suggests.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Heer Ranjha tomb | In Jhang city, near Faisalabad Road and the railway line |
| Sultan Bahu shrine | Garh Maharaja, about 70 to 80 km from Jhang (sources differ) |
| Trimmu Barrage | On the Chenab, about 25 km from Jhang |
| Best season | Spring and winter; summers are very hot |
| Time needed | One day for the city and Trimmu; a second for Garh Maharaja |
The tomb of Heer and Ranjha
The tomb stands in Jhang city near the Faisalabad road and the railway line, close to the Mai Heer ground. Heer and Ranjha, the lovers of Punjabi folklore, are said to lie together in a single grave marked by tiles and a marble stone. The building has a dome and small turrets at the four corners.
A plaque gives their death as 876 AH, which is 1471 AD, though the exact period of the story is not known and the building was probably put up later. The tomb is maintained by the Punjab Culture Department, and an urs is held each year in Muharram. Waris Shah's poem Heer of 1766 is the best-known telling of the story.
Our full guide to the Heer Ranjha tomb covers the legend and the visit in detail, so this section is only a pointer. It is the easiest stop in Jhang and takes under an hour.
Sultan Bahu's shrine at Garh Maharaja
Sultan Bahu was a 17th-century Punjabi Sufi poet, scholar and writer. He died on 1 March 1691 at the age of 61. His shrine is at Garh Maharaja, which is roughly 17 km from Shorkot and, depending on the source and route, between 70 and 80 km from Jhang city.
Wikipedia records that the shrine was originally built on his grave site, but the Chenab changed course and it had to be relocated twice. It is an active Sufi shrine that draws pilgrims from far away, and it is open to visitors throughout the year. Its biggest crowds come at the annual urs, held on the first Thursday of Jumada al-Thani, and during the first ten days of Muharram.
If you want to visit quietly, avoid those periods. During them, expect heavy traffic on the approach roads and a large crowd at the shrine. Shrine etiquette applies: cover your head, remove your shoes and dress modestly.
Trimmu Barrage and the river confluence
Trimmu Barrage was built by British engineers in 1938–39 on the Chenab, downstream of the point where the Jhelum joins it. It is about 25 km from Jhang. Between 2021 and 2023 it was modernised with new gates, which raised its discharge capacity from about 645,000 to 875,000 cusecs.
It is a working irrigation structure rather than a park. Tourist sites say the meeting of the rivers is pleasant at sunset, but we have not been able to verify any official viewing area, boating or entry arrangements, so go for the view from the bank and ask locally before you plan to do more. Don't go near the water when rivers are high, in the monsoon in particular.
Majeed Amjad and the literary side
Jhang's other claim is poetic. Majeed Amjad, one of the leading modern Urdu poets, belongs to the city, and Abdus Salam, the Nobel laureate in physics, is counted among its notable people. There is no major monument we can verify, so this is background for readers who like to know where writers came from.
When to go
Spring and winter are the sensible seasons. The plains of central Punjab are very hot in summer and the rivers run high in the monsoon, so riverside stops are less pleasant then. The Muharram and urs dates move through the calendar each year; if you want to see them, check the dates, and if you want to avoid them, plan around them. Our Punjab seasons guide covers the wider picture.
Getting there
The tomb sits near the Faisalabad road. A car is the best way to link the tomb, Trimmu and Garh Maharaja, because public transport to the shrine involves changes. Our guide to places to visit in Faisalabad and places to visit in Chiniot cover the cities nearby, and our travel guide and destinations pages help with wider planning.
Is Jhang worth a trip?
For readers of Punjabi poetry and followers of Sufi tradition, yes: Heer Ranjha and Sultan Bahu are two of the great names, and both sites are in the district. For general tourism, it is a modest day. You should not expect restaurants, hotels or tourist services to match those of larger cities, and we have not verified accommodation in the city, so plan to base yourself in Faisalabad or Multan.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main places to visit in Jhang?
The Heer Ranjha tomb, Sultan Bahu's shrine at Garh Maharaja and Trimmu Barrage on the Chenab.
How far is Sultan Bahu's shrine from Jhang?
Sources give 70 to 80 km from Jhang city, and about 17 km from Shorkot.
When is the urs of Sultan Bahu?
On the first Thursday of Jumada al-Thani, so it moves each year. The shrine is also very busy during the first ten days of Muharram.
Where do the Jhelum and Chenab meet near Jhang?
Upstream of Trimmu Barrage, which stands on the Chenab downstream of the confluence, about 25 km from Jhang.
What is the best time to visit Jhang?
Spring and winter. Summer is very hot and the rivers are high in the monsoon.
