Bahawalpur City Guide

Pakistan

Bahawalpur City Guide

Punjab

Bahawalpur in Punjab, Pakistan is known for its historic palaces and easy access to the Cholistan Desert. It’s a developing city with basic amenities and a simple, welcoming culture. Travelers should expect some security presence here.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

The city has a strong love for food with mainly local Pakistani dishes and some fast-food options. Vegetarian dishes are available but limited vegan options.

Local Dishes:
Pakistani cuisine
International Cuisine:
Fast-food chains
Vegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Poor
2

Bahawalpur is conservative; there are no bars or clubs and nightlife options are minimal.

Coffee Culture
Limited
5

Coffee shops exist but no specialty or unique local coffee culture reported.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is appreciated but not always expected. Around 5-10% is typical in restaurants; rounding fares for taxis is common.

Top Attractions
Noor Mahal
Historic Site
Historic royal palace
Gulzar Mahal
Historic Site
Palatial building with gardens
Darbar Mahal
Historic Site
Royal residence
Sadiq Mosque
Religious
Large mosque
Fareed Gate
Landmark
City landmark gate
Central Library
Cultural
Historic building, quiet spot
Bahawalpur Zoo
Family
Local zoo
Lal Suhanra National Park
Nature
Large natural park with wildlife
Uch Sharif
Historic
Ancient town with historic shrines
Derawar Fort
Historic
Fortress in Cholistan Desert
SIM Cards

SIM cards from Jazz, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone are available at authorized shops. Registration with ID/passport is needed.

Available at:
Jazz
Zong
Telenor
Ufone
Recommended Apps
Foodpanda(Food)
Careem(Transport)
Uber(Transport)
Metro Online(Shopping)
Carrefour Pakistan(Shopping)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Bahawalpur is generally very clean with ongoing urban sanitation efforts.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Limited 24/7 services; some pharmacies and minimarts may open late but not consistently.

Groceries
Metro
Carrefour
Imtiaz

Find international brands in Metro, Carrefour, and Imtiaz. Local markets offer fresh produce with bargaining common.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Cards are accepted in big supermarkets like Metro and Carrefour but cash is still common in smaller shops and markets.

ATMs

ATMs are available citywide. Withdrawal fees vary by bank due to inter-bank charges.

Schools
Local only

Schools like Sadiq Public School and Army Public School offer English instruction.

Available Schools:
Sadiq Public School
Army Public School
SPS
PC

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Not Available
Work-Friendly Cafés
Limited
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
1

No known digital nomad community or meetups in Bahawalpur.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Green areas include Lal Suhanra National Park and DHA New Park, valued by locals.

Running
Limited
5

Parks allow running but air quality and dust can be issues.

Gyms
Available

Sports like cricket, hockey, and tennis are played at the large stadium in Lal Suhanra National Park. No specific private gyms listed.

Available Gyms:
Stadium at Lal Suhanra National Park
Tennis
Limited
5

Tennis courts available at Lal Suhanra National Park stadium.

Padel
Poor
0

No padel courts reported.

Yoga
Poor
0

No specific yoga studios or wellness centers found.

Martial Arts
Poor
0

No information on martial arts training or facilities.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing available; indoor snow parks are unrelated to real skiing.

Water Sports
Poor
0

No organized water sports available.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing opportunities in or near Bahawalpur.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving opportunities.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
6

Victoria Hospital is a main public facility, with private hospitals possibly offering some English-speaking staff. OTC medicines are widely available.

Hospitals:
Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur
Pharmacies:
Local Pharmacies
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water is unsafe due to arsenic contamination. Use bottled or well-filtered water.

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Parks like DHA New Park and attractions such as Lal Suhanra National Park suit families with kids.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Poor
2

The city is conservative with limited acceptance or safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people.

Pet Friendly
Poor
3

Little information on pet facilities or policies. Pet-friendliness is low.

Communities
Bahawalpur Facebook Groups (Social)
Online Pakistan Expats Forums (Expat)

Quick Facts

Population
762,111
Power Reliability
Limited
5/10

Power supply can be unreliable, especially during heavy rain and flooding.

Languages
Saraiki(59%)
Punjabi(22%)
Urdu(17%)
English(10%)
Emergency
1122
Rescue 1122
03459783333
DHA Security
0345-1875228
DHA Ambulance
15
Police

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme Heat
March, April, May, June, July, August, September
Long, hot summers with high temperatures.
Smog/Haze
November, December, January, February
Air pollution and dust cause poor air quality in cooler months.
Flooding
June, July, August, September
Heavy monsoon rains may cause urban flooding.
Drought
October, November, December, January, February, March
Water scarcity is common outside monsoon season.

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