Shrines of Multan: A Complete Visiting Route

The shrines of Multan fall into three groups you can visit in sequence: the two great tombs on the fort mound, two smaller shrines inside the walled city's gates, and Shah Shams Tabrez's tomb on its own, east of the fort. Together they explain why Multan is called the city of saints, and a single day, planned in this order, covers all five without doubling back.

This guide sets out the route stop by stop, with timing, and links through to a full guide for each shrine's own history and etiquette.

The fort mound: two shrines, one stop

Start on Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, the raised ground in the centre of the city where Multan Fort once stood. At its south-western end is the tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, a 35-metre red-brick octagon built in the 1320s and one of the finest examples of Tughluq-era architecture anywhere; our Shah Rukn-e-Alam tomb guide covers its unusual history in full. At the opposite end is the shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, completed in 1262 and the older, more overtly devotional of the two; our Bahauddin Zakariya shrine guide covers the saint's history and the annual urs. Between them sit the Qasim Bagh gardens and the Damdama viewpoint.

Allow two to three hours for both shrines and the walk between them; our Multan Fort guide covers the mound itself and what remains of the fort around the tombs.

The walled city: Bohar Gate and Pak Gate

From the fort mound, head down into the old walled city, entered through gates including Bohar Gate and Pak Gate.

Just inside Bohar Gate is the tomb of Shah Yousaf Gardez, an 11th-century saint whose shrine is unusual among Multan's tombs for being a rectangular, domeless building rather than the octagonal or square-and-dome layouts elsewhere in the city; our Shah Yousaf Gardez tomb guide covers his story and the building in detail.

A short walk further, just inside Pak Gate, is the shrine of Musa Pak Shaheed, a 16th-century saint and descendant of Abdul Qadir Jilani, killed in 1592 during factional fighting in the city. The gate itself takes its name from him, according to local tradition about how his remains were brought back into Multan. It is a working shrine with its own annual urs, and it is a shorter, quieter stop than the larger tombs on the fort mound.

Allow an hour to ninety minutes for both, plus the walk between the gates, which passes through some of the old city's narrowest and most atmospheric lanes.

Shah Shams Tabrez: a separate trip east

Shah Shams Tabrez, properly Shamsuddin Sabzwari, is buried on raised ground east of the fort, near Aam Khas Bagh, roughly half a mile from the walled city. It doesn't fit into the same walking loop as the other four shrines, so plan it as its own short trip by rickshaw or car, either straight after the walled city or as a separate outing later in the day. Our Shah Shams Tabrez shrine guide covers the saint's history, the well-known legend attached to his name, and the tomb's 14th-century architecture.

Allow about an hour for the shrine itself, plus travel time.

A one-day shrine route

1. Early morning (6:30–9:30am): the fort mound. Shah Rukn-e-Alam first, then Bahauddin Zakariya, while the mound is coolest and quietest.
2. Mid-morning (9:30–11am): the walled city. Down to Bohar Gate for Shah Yousaf Gardez, then on to Pak Gate for Musa Pak Shaheed.
3. A break through the middle of the day, especially outside the winter months, when the heat by late morning makes further walking uncomfortable.
4. Late afternoon (4–5:30pm): Shah Shams Tabrez. A short ride east once the worst of the heat has passed.

This is the same order our full Multan itinerary builds around, with the bazaars and food added into the same day.

Etiquette across all five shrines

Every shrine on this route is an active place of worship, not a museum, and the same basic etiquette applies at each:

• Remove your shoes before entering a tomb chamber.
• Dress modestly, and women should carry a scarf to cover their heads.
• Keep your voice down and stay clear of people praying at the grave.
• Ask before photographing anyone at worship, though the buildings themselves are generally fine to photograph.
• Expect larger crowds on Thursday evenings and Fridays, and considerably larger ones during any shrine's urs.

Each shrine's own guide, linked above, covers its specific urs dates and any details particular to that tomb.

Do you need to see all five?

Not necessarily. If your time in Multan is limited to half a day, Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya on the fort mound are the two to prioritise: they are the largest, most architecturally significant, and closest together. Shah Yousaf Gardez and Musa Pak Shaheed reward visitors with a full day and a genuine interest in the walled city's layout and history, and Shah Shams Tabrez is worth the separate trip mainly if you have a second day or a particular interest in the saint's story.

For a first visit with limited time, seeing the fort mound properly and adding one of the walled-city shrines is a reasonable, unhurried compromise; a full circuit of all five suits a visitor with a full day and a genuine interest in Multan's Sufi history rather than a quick stop between other plans.

Frequently asked questions