A South Punjab road trip that takes in Multan, Bahawalpur, Uch Sharif and Fort Munro covers shrine cities, desert-edge heritage and the region's one hill station in about five days of driving, most of it on good national highways. This guide lays out a workable loop, the drive times between each stop, where to overnight, and when to avoid the plains altogether.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Loop length | About 650 to 700 km over 5 days |
| Starting point | Multan (easiest to reach by air or road) |
| Longest single drive | Uch/Bahawalpur to Dera Ghazi Khan, around 3.5 to 4 hours |
| Best season | November to February |
| Avoid | May to July, when plains cities regularly hit 44 to 46°C |
The five-day route
- Day 1: Multan. Arrive and spend the day in the city itself: the shrines, the old bazaars and the fort area. Our Multan itinerary covers the city in detail. Overnight in Multan.
- Day 2: Multan to Bahawalpur. About 185 km, roughly 3 hours on the N-5. Spend the afternoon and evening in Bahawalpur; see our Bahawalpur itinerary for what to prioritise. Overnight in Bahawalpur.
- Day 3: Bahawalpur to Uch Sharif and back. Uch Sharif is about 73 km and roughly an hour from Bahawalpur. Spend the morning at its historic tombs and shrines, covered in our Uch Sharif guide, then return to Bahawalpur or push on toward Multan the same evening if you'd rather shorten the next day's drive.
- Day 4: On to Dera Ghazi Khan. This is the longest driving day of the loop: back through or around Multan (Uch to Multan direct is about 130 km) and on to Dera Ghazi Khan, a further 90 to 100 km. Depending on your exact route from Bahawalpur or Uch, expect 3.5 to 4 hours of driving in total. See our places to visit in Dera Ghazi Khan for a couple of stops if you arrive with daylight left. Overnight in Dera Ghazi Khan.
- Day 5: Dera Ghazi Khan to Fort Munro and back. About 85 km and two hours each way on the N-70's hairpin climb. Spend a few hours at the hill station before starting back, since driving the mountain section after dark is best avoided. See our Fort Munro travel guide for what to do once you're there, and end the loop back in Dera Ghazi Khan or continue on to Multan for onward travel.
Cutting it shorter or extending it
If five days is too long, drop the Uch Sharif detour and go straight from Bahawalpur to Multan and on to Dera Ghazi Khan, which turns this into a tighter four-day loop. In the other direction, Bahawalpur's wider surroundings, including Derawar Fort and the edge of the Cholistan desert, are a common extension if you have an extra day and don't mind more driving.
Where to stay each night
Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan all have a normal range of city hotels, so accommodation isn't the constraint on this route; book ahead only around major holidays or the Sakhi Sarwar urs in spring, when Dera Ghazi Khan district gets busy. Fort Munro itself has far more limited accommodation, which is one reason this itinerary treats it as a day trip from Dera Ghazi Khan rather than an overnight stop; see our Fort Munro hotels guide if you'd rather stay up there instead.
When to do this trip
Multan and Bahawalpur sit on the open Punjab plains, and both regularly see temperatures of 44 to 46°C in May and June, with humid, monsoon-affected heat continuing into September. None of the daytime sightseeing on this loop, walking around forts, shrines and old city streets, is comfortable in that heat. November to February is the clear best window: cooler days across the plains, and cold rather than merely cool nights once you reach Fort Munro. March and October are workable shoulder options if your schedule doesn't allow winter travel.
What the drive is actually like
The roads on this loop are a mix of the N-5 (the old Grand Trunk corridor south from Multan) and the N-70 up to Fort Munro, both paved and well used by heavy traffic as well as private cars. The plains sections are flat and straightforward but long, so share the driving if you can and take proper breaks rather than pushing through in one sitting. The N-70's climb to Fort Munro is a different kind of driving entirely, narrow hairpin bends through the Sulaiman range, and is not something to attempt for the first time after dark or when tired from a long day already on the road.
Is this loop worth doing as one trip?
It works well if you want a single itinerary that covers South Punjab's shrine cities and its one hill station without flying or doubling back on yourself. If your real interest is only one of these places, a shorter, dedicated trip to Bahawalpur or to Fort Munro on its own will serve you better and cost less driving time. For families with young children, the plains driving days are the tiring part; splitting the Multan-to-Dera Ghazi Khan stretch across two shorter days, rather than one long one, makes the trip considerably easier.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for a South Punjab road trip covering these places?
Five days works comfortably for Multan, Bahawalpur, Uch Sharif and Fort Munro as described here. Four days is possible if you skip the Uch Sharif detour.
What is the best time of year for this road trip?
November to February, when the plains cities are well clear of their extreme summer heat and Fort Munro is cold but manageable with the right clothing.
Is the road from Dera Ghazi Khan to Fort Munro difficult to drive?
It's paved and used by ordinary cars regularly, but it climbs through hairpin bends in the Sulaiman range. Drive it in daylight, and don't attempt it for the first time if you're tired from a long day already on the road.
Can this loop be done without a private car?
It's far easier with one. Intercity coaches run between the main cities on this route, but reaching Fort Munro and Uch Sharif's more spread-out sites without your own transport adds significant time and complexity.
Should I stay overnight in Fort Munro or just visit for the day?
This itinerary treats it as a day trip from Dera Ghazi Khan because Fort Munro's accommodation is limited and can fill up on busy weekends. If you'd rather stay up there, book well in advance and see our Fort Munro hotels guide for what's available.
