Multan: Mosaic of diversity

So much more than gard, garmi and goristan.

ISLAMABAD:

For people who’ve never been to Multan or who have conveniently presumed that it’s a small, unglamorous excuse for a city, it’s time to wake up and smell the kahwa.

Multan is brimming with culture and history and has a variety of activities to quench a tourist’s thirst for adventure. The city, known to be the home of many Sufi shrines, is working tenaciously to move away from its stereotypical image and establish itself as a centre for traditional handicrafts and as an upbeat assemblage of many food and clothing brands.

The Chen One Tower on Abdali Road, for example, which opened in 2005 houses stores like Amir Adnan, Breakout, Chen One, Crossroads, Hub Leather, Junaid Jamshed, Leisure Club, Outfitters and Riverstone, to name a few. Moreover, brands like Khaadi, Nike and Shahid Afridi are just around the corner, and although there are no inauguration dates available as yet, at least there is hope that the Multanis won’t have to participate in the weekly or monthly marathon to larger cities like Lahore or Faisalabad to fulfil their basic urban necessities. If the recent infrastructural boom persists, the city might be able to compete with Pakistan’s metropolitan city within a few years’ time and may even overshadow other centres with its perfect mix of contemporary and archaic.

In a nutshell, Multan is like a 1000-piece puzzle; it may not seem as wild as a rollercoaster ride but is intriguing and pleasingly mysterious. So if you’re in town for a wedding, to visit family or friends or for work, here are some suggestions for what to do and where to go if you have some extra time on your hands and want to experience the true essence of this city.

Shop: A treat for your feet

There are a number of khussa shops near Ghanta Ghar on Abdali Road with a great range of women’s and men’s khussas. Decent Khussa House and Tawakkal Khussa and Chapal House in particular have some creative shoe art to offer. Prices range from Rs200 to Rs2,000 for women’s khussas, but one can easily find khussas for everyday and semi-formal wear that cost around Rs400 to Rs650. For men’s khussas, the prices range from Rs500 to Rs5,000.

Visit: An emblem of the past

Babul Qasim (Qasim Gate), the only remaining gate of the four gates of the Multan Fort, should be on a history lover’s 10 places to visit. During your trip to the gate, you may even want to study the mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, grandson of Bahauddin Zakariya, which is also located on the same premises. The mausoleum itself is a beautiful three-tiered red brick structure with blue tile detailing, while the courtyard surrounding the mausoleum is populated with stone tiles labelled “qabar” (grave), honouring the graves over which the courtyard was built when the mausoleum was renovated in the 1970s. Remember to stop at Nigar Khana for a look at some local handicrafts, especially the blue pottery. For more, visit Pakistan Handicrafts Shop in Sadar Bazaar, Multan Cantt.

Eat: Fastest route to a Pakistani’s heart

Billay da Dera is the perfect eating place to spend an afternoon, especially if you have children with you. About 30 minutes outside of Multan, Billay da Dera is a roadside dhaba on Sher Shah Road that has expanded over quite a large area. It mostly has outdoor seating, with lots of charpaees to sit on along with tents and huts and plenty of space for children to play. The food is delicious and the barbeque platter and parathas are highly recommended. Finish off the meal with a cup of strong milky tea. Note: Price of the platter varies according to the number of people.

Eating places that offer great variety of delicacies

Cafe Time

La Cafe — desserts and coffee.

MUX and Zanzibar — for steaks, burgers and pasta.

Baba Ice Cream — creamy ice cream made from fresh organic milk.

Billay da Dera — a buffet of lip smacking Pakistani cuisine

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2012.