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The oldest living and the historic town of Multan are situated about 950 km from Karachi and about 340 km from Lahore on the National Highway. It is approachable both by road, train and is connected by air with the rest of the country. Multan is famous for its rich historical, and cultural heritage, its crafts and torrid climate
Tradition has it that when Adam was turned out of the Garden of Eden, Multan is the place where Satan landed. But, for millions of Pakistanis, it is a city of saints and mystics. Whatever the truth, Multan is probably the oldest living city in South Asia. It is claimed that Rig-Veda was written in Multan; its architects devised the perfect arch in buildings and wrote the first book on architecture.
Alexander the Great in 326 BC destroyed the stronghold of Malavas or Mali and it is presumed that this stronghold was at Multan or near it. Right from 713 upto 1818 AD, i.e. for some 11 centuries, Multan remained under the Muslim rule of Arabs, Safawids, Samanids, Qiramitas, Ghaznavids, Sultans of Delhi, Langhas (a local independent dynasty), Suris, Mughals, Abdalis, and Saddo Zai Afghans.
From the above it will be clear that Multan remained culturally more under the Arabs and central Asian influence than that of the Indians. This factor deeply influenced its architectural development.
The Arab conqueror, Mohammad Bin Qasim, set up the first school and library in Multan. Many other firsts are claimed in our times. Multan Division produces 40% of Pakistan s wheat, the biggest chunk of its cotton and is a fast growing industrial town. It has some of the beautiful specimens of pre-Moghul Islamic architecture in the shape of Mausoleums of three saints, Sheikh Bahauddin Zakaria, Shah Shams Subzwari and Shah Rukn-e-Alam. Thousands visit their eternal resting places in search of spiritual enlightenment. The walled city still exists, offering the tourists a peep into the style of living that has persisted for centuries. Modern Multan has grown around the old city. Multan today is a prosperous city of the Punjab, but in the past the entire area was known by this name. You can also have finest shopping in Multan
The city is reputed for its artisans and artists since ancient times. Bricks of inlaid works made in Multan have become a symbol of Islamic culture and are used in mosques and mausoleums in various parts of the country. It is said that the Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan had ordered these bricks from Multan for Thatta Mosque. His son, Emperor Aurangzeb ordered the bricks for the Mausoleum of Abu Waraq. These days, the inlaid work is done on utensils, flowerpots, crockery and these are exported abroad. The inlaid work has also been introduced on new materials such as plaster of Paris. Another related skill is that of painting designs on various materials including soft clay, which is later fired in kilns to make it strong and shining. Normally, the designs are made on white surface with blue colors. This Naqqashi designing is known locally as 'Kangri'. It is also done on garments, table-covers and bed covers. The finest quality work is done on the camel skin and several products made of the skin are exported.
Hand-woven carpets are a well-known industry of Multan. The work is done by certain families, which have settled here since the reign of the Ghauris. Apart from woolen carpets, carpets are also made from a mixture of cotton and wool. Hand-made textile, particularly the Silk Textile, has an ancient trade of Multan. It has existed prior to the arrival of the Arabs. In the Islamic era, silk material from Balkh and Bokhara, to the quantity of about 700 mounds was collected every year. There were 150 establishments making cloth from this material, which was re exported, to Central Asia. Textiles of nearly 50 different qualities and colors are still known to have been made here.
Inlaid work on gold, silver and copper jewelry and on utensils had also been a well-known art in Multan. Most of the artisans were Hindus and it has definitely been on the decline since 1947. Multan was also known for its ivory products and there was a market by this name. The city was also famous for wood-work, arms manufacturing, bows and arrows and of course for its masons.
Multan has been generally ignored by the people of Pakistan, because of its reputation as a city of heat dust, beggars and graveyards, which is not true. It is said that when the city limits extended only to the walled city, graveyards were situated outside the wall. This led to the settlement of beggar colonies, which lived on the charity of those whose dear ones were buried in the area. It was a dry and arid approach and the traveler to Multan was accosted by rising dust storms, swarms of beggars which led a wit to say that the city has the gifts of graves' beggars and dust. Things have changed now. The modern Multan lies on modern highways and railways, which besides PIA connect Multan with the rest of the country. The city's population in 1981 was 7,30 000
The visitors passing along the National Highway through the fertile area of Multan have glimpses of the beautiful shrines which are the masterpieces of the Islamic architecture The walls of these shrines are artistically painted with the famous work of Naqqashi' (traditional Islamic art) while the ceilings are studded with pieces and crystals of mirror glass and the floors are laid with colored tiles
Here technology could even be said to have gone beyond aesthetics to touch upon the miraculous. A Tughlaq King had built it as his last resting-place. But God's will was such that it becomes the tomb of a saint. The most interesting feature of the tomb is that the "taqwa" of a soul shows its grandeur and strength, which are regal. Built above Multan on a hill, it commands the city and its people to God's ways. This tomb is not just a building it is an experience in which life and religion are harmoniously blended.