Noor Mahal

Noor Mahal—meaning “Palace of Light”—is a stunning 19th‑century palace located in Bahawalpur, Punjab. Commissioned by Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV (the “Shahjahan of Bahawalpur”) in honor of his wife Maharani Noor Bakht Begum, construction began in 1872 and finished by 1875 at a cost of around Rs 1.2 million. Designed by English engineer Mr Heennan, the palace is an Italian-chateau on neoclassical lines fused with Islamic and subcontinental architectural features, including Corinthian columns, vaulted ceilings, five domes, and glittering crystal chandeliers.

Legend says the Maharani stayed just one night—disturbed by a nearby graveyard—and refused to stay again, so the palace became a royal guest house instead. In 1906, Nawab Bahawal Khan V added a mosque on the premises for Rs 20,000.

After the 1956 merger of Bahawalpur State into Pakistan, it was taken over by the Auqaf and leased to the Pakistan Army in 1971 (purchase finalized in 1997 for PKR 119 million). It was declared a protected monument in 2001 by the Department of Archaeology. Notable historic events include visits by Prince Albert Victor in 1890 and celebrations of Queen Victoria’s 60th birthday in 1897.