Pakistan's great Sufi shrines run in a loose line down the Indus plain: Data Darbar in Lahore, Baba Farid's tomb in Pakpattan, the twin shrines of Multan, the tiled tombs of Uch Sharif, and Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine at Sehwan Sharif in Sindh. Together they trace the spread of Sufi Islam through the subcontinent from the 12th century onward, and each still draws pilgrims, qawwali and an annual urs that can fill a small town for days.
This isn't a weekend loop. Lahore to Multan is around 310 kilometres, Multan to Uch Sharif another 75, and Uch Sharif to Sehwan Sharif over 500 kilometres further south into Sindh. Most travellers do it as a Punjab leg (Lahore, Pakpattan, Multan, Uch Sharif) over three or four days, and treat Sehwan as a separate trip combined with Sindh's other sites, or as a longer road trip if you have a week or more.
| Shrine | City | Saint | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Darbar | Lahore | Ali Hujwiri (Data Ganj Bakhsh), 11th century | One of South Asia's most-visited shrines; nightly qawwali |
| Shrine of Baba Farid | Pakpattan | Fariduddin Ganjshakar, 12th–13th century | Chishti order; Punjabi-language poetry |
| Tomb of Bahauddin Zakariya | Multan | Bahauddin Zakariya, 12th–13th century | Founder of the Suhrawardiyya order in the subcontinent |
| Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam | Multan | Shah Rukn-e-Alam, 13th–14th century | Grandson of Bahauddin Zakariya; major Tughlaq-era monument |
| Tomb of Bibi Jawindi | Uch Sharif | Bibi Jawindi, 15th century | Glazed-tile architecture on the UNESCO tentative list |
| Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar | Sehwan Sharif | Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, 13th century | Famous for its dhamaal drumming and dance |
Data Darbar, Lahore
Data Darbar is the shrine of Ali Hujwiri, an 11th-century scholar known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, and it's one of the most visited Sufi shrines in South Asia. It sits close to the old walled city, so it's easy to combine with a day exploring Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque. Evenings bring qawwali and a steady flow of visitors; the shrine's annual urs, held over three days in early August, draws especially large crowds.
Shrine of Baba Farid, Pakpattan
Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, one of the earliest and most influential Chishti saints in the subcontinent, is buried in Pakpattan, about two and a half hours south of Lahore by road. His Punjabi verses were later included in the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, which says something about how far his influence travelled beyond his own order. The shrine's urs runs for several days each year and is one of Punjab's largest religious gatherings; the date follows the Islamic calendar and moves earlier each year, so check nearer the time if you want to attend.
The twin shrines of Multan
Multan, sometimes called the city of saints, has two major tombs worth visiting together. The tomb of Bahauddin Zakariya, who founded the Suhrawardiyya order's presence in the region in the 12th and 13th centuries, sits inside Multan Fort. A short distance away is the tomb of his grandson, Shah Rukn-e-Alam, a large Tughlaq-era brick monument and one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Multan. Both hold their own annual urs, drawing pilgrims from across Punjab and Sindh; exact dates shift each year with the Islamic calendar, so confirm locally before planning around one.
Tomb of Bibi Jawindi, Uch Sharif
Uch Sharif, about 75 kilometres from Multan, is a much smaller town but holds some of the finest Sufi shrine architecture in Pakistan. The tomb of Bibi Jawindi, built in 1493 and covered in blue, turquoise and white glazed tilework, is the best known of several monuments here and sits on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list. Uch's shrines are quieter than Multan's and worth an afternoon rather than a full day.
Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan Sharif
Sehwan Sharif, on the Indus in Sindh, holds the shrine of the 13th-century saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and is famous for its dhamaal: a rhythmic, drum-led dance performed at the shrine, especially in the evenings. The annual urs, held over several days (in 2026 it fell in early to mid-February), is one of the largest religious gatherings in Sindh, with malakhro wrestling and other folk traditions alongside the devotional side.
Is Sehwan Sharif safe to visit?
The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Sindh north of and including Nawabshah, an area that takes in Sehwan Sharif. The shrine was the target of a serious attack in 2017, and security remains tight around major gatherings there. Pakistani visitors continue to travel to Sehwan in large numbers, including during the urs, but you should check current local news and police advice before setting out, and overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, since travelling against it can affect travel insurance.
Shrine etiquette
- Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and legs; many shrines expect women to cover their heads inside the main tomb chamber.
- Remove your shoes before entering the shrine building, as you would at a mosque.
- Men and women often use separate entrances or areas around the tomb itself; follow the signage or ask an attendant.
- Photography is usually allowed in the courtyards but check before photographing people praying or performing dhamaal up close.
- A small donation (nazrana) at the shrine or to the attendants is customary but never demanded; give what you're comfortable with.
- During an urs, crowds are large and security checks are common. Keep valuables close, agree a meeting point with your group, and expect to queue.
Frequently asked questions
What is an urs?
An urs is the annual commemoration of a Sufi saint's death, marked at their shrine with prayers, qawwali or dhamaal, and often a fair. Dates follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they move about ten to eleven days earlier each Gregorian year.
How long does the full shrine circuit take?
Lahore, Pakpattan, Multan and Uch Sharif can be done in three to four days by road. Adding Sehwan Sharif in Sindh, over 500 kilometres further south, makes it a longer trip of a week or more, or a separate journey combined with other Sindh destinations.
Can non-Muslims visit Sufi shrines in Pakistan?
Yes. These shrines are open to visitors of any faith, and modest dress and quiet, respectful behaviour are what's expected of everyone, not just Muslims.
Is it safe to travel to Sehwan Sharif right now?
The UK government currently advises against all but essential travel to that part of Sindh. Pakistanis still visit in large numbers, but check current advice and local news before you go, and keep an eye on security arrangements around the urs specifically.
Which shrine has the best-known qawwali or dhamaal?
Data Darbar in Lahore is known for nightly qawwali, while Sehwan Sharif's dhamaal, the drum-driven devotional dance performed in the shrine courtyard, is the most distinctive in the country.
