The long facade
Domes, columns and arches.
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Noor Mahal, the Palace of Light, is a historic palace in Bahawalpur, Punjab, built in the 1870s for the princely state of Bahawalpur as the residence and workplace of the Nawab. It was designed as an Italian chateau on neoclassical lines, so it looks both strange and lovely among its green gardens. It is among the finest sights in the city. Its foundation was laid in 1872, with a map and coins of the state buried beneath it for good luck. It was designed by an Englishman named Heennan, the state engineer. Most of its materials and furniture came from England and Europe. It now belongs to the Ministry of Defence under the Army Secretariat, and it receives visitors at set times. You see a long facade of round domes, columns and arches, in pink and sand colours across a wide lawn. Inside are decorated halls, old furniture, portraits of the Nawabs and a display of old weapons, including knives arranged on the walls. The garden is lovely as the sun goes down, and the palace is lit up at night at some times. It is about 2 km in a straight line from central Bahawalpur and easy to reach by taxi. Follow the guards' instructions on photography, as the palace is under military management. It makes a good starting point for Derawar Fort.
Domes, columns and arches.
Furniture, Nawab portraits.
Finest at sunset.
Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Follow the guards' instructions, as the palace is under military management and rules may vary.
Yes, Derawar Fort is about 75 km away in a straight line.