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spoonbender | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Bahalwapur District tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Bahalwapur District

Took a day trip, led by Mr. Javad, to some of the sites around Multan. First we went to Uch, which has its own gallery. We then went to Derawar Fort, the marble mosque built outside it, the burial grounds of the Abbasi family, the former rulers of Bahalwapur, the district where all these sites are. Finally, we went to the old royal palace, quite a grand place that the Pakistani government is allowing to slowly rot in the desert sun. There appears to be absolutely no restoration or preservation work going on at all. It is closed to the public, but we bribed the cop guarding the place, with 100 rupees, half the cost of a latte. The Abassi burial ground is also closed to the public, but my guide managed to persuade the caretaker in the desolate little village outside the regal graveyard, to let us in for ten minutes. If he hadn't, I was committed to climbing the wall.
Derawar Fort: it's big, it's crumbling, and it's locked
Derawar Fort: it's big, it's crumbling, and it's locked		 A rampart. Is this a rampart?
A rampart. Is this a "rampart"?		 Lots of sort of ruined walls outside the fort
Lots of sort of ruined walls outside the fort		 Village outside the fort
Village outside the fort		 Village between Uch and the Fort
Village between Uch and the Fort		 Just outside the fort is the former residence of a princess of the Abassi family
Just outside the fort is the former residence of a princess of the Abassi family
It's locked, but I jumped the wall
It's locked, but I jumped the wall		 Detail of the princess's ceiling
Detail of the princess's ceiling		 The princess's wall
The princess's wall		 Outside the fort there is a big marble mosque, through this doorway
Outside the fort there is a big marble mosque, through this doorway		 The mosque, according to LP, an exact duplicate of Delhi's Moti Masjid
The mosque, according to LP, an exact duplicate of Delhi's Moti Masjid		 Across the courtyard from the mosque
Across the courtyard from the mosque
The former royal family has a private burial ground. This building is just outside the enclosed area
The former royal family has a private burial ground. This building is just outside the enclosed area		 Before we got the caretaker to let us in, I photographed some crypts over the wall
Before we got the caretaker to let us in, I photographed some crypts over the wall		 g2/31/233431/3/65725811.B4jqWKDR.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65726081.BdnjdEMw.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65726080.0ifGbJrS.jpg Then we got in! There are about seven buildings
Then we got in! There are about seven buildings
Each meticulously kept
Each meticulously kept		 g2/31/233431/3/65726076.LI8WXwpG.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65726075.WjmG5s8B.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65726074.91DBMcFN.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65726073.1mjWoleQ.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65726071.XM4iQV5j.jpg
The caretaker actually let us into the crypt to see the graves
The caretaker actually let us into the crypt to see the graves		 The interior
The interior		 g2/31/233431/3/65726068.8A92M0b0.jpg g2/31/233431/3/65725812.kgSrpxOK.jpg The masoleums from across the pond
The masoleums from across the pond		 The last place we went was the forme palace of the Nawab of Bahalwapur, a job I wish I had
The last place we went was the forme palace of the Nawab of Bahalwapur, a job I wish I had
This spectacular building, seemingly made entire of marble, is rotting in the sun
This spectacular building, seemingly made entire of marble, is rotting in the sun		 Entrance
Entrance		 A rotting gazebo, also solid marble, in front of the rotting palace
A rotting gazebo, also solid marble, in front of the rotting palace		 Side detail
Side detail		 Entrance way, from the side
Entrance way, from the side		 The Nawab had, apparently, a private mosque, also rotting in the desert
The Nawab had, apparently, a private mosque, also rotting in the desert
Roof detail of the Nawab's rotting mosque
Roof detail of the Nawab's rotting mosque		 Another
Another		 A third
A third

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