Masjid Sadiq Garh Palace مسجد صادق گڑھ محل — Attraction in Yazman Tehsil

I was absolutely stunned when I laid my eyes on this magnificent palace. There were several reasons for my astonishment. Firstly, the sheer beauty of the palace was overwhelming. Secondly, I was amazed by the opulence that the kings of Bahawalpur had enjoyed. Thirdly, the historical importance of the palace left me in awe. Finally, I was saddened by the dilapidated condition of the palace. It is a pity that such an exquisite piece of architecture has been neglected and left in ruins, all due to the rivalry between the authorities and the heirs of the kings.

There are several theories as to why the palace was left to deteriorate, but one thing is clear: restoring it would generate a substantial amount of revenue for the Pakistani exchequer. The palace has significant historical importance, with Queen Victoria having lived there, and several kings and queens having graced it with their presence. The opulence of the palace is evident in the fact that it had electricity in the 18th and 19th centuries, with special generators placed outside to generate electricity for the palace. The palace even had its own cinema hall, and the movie records are still available with the palace's caretaker. The unique carpets, curtains, tiles, floors, and walls, manufactured from different parts of the world, make the palace more beautiful than Buckingham Palace and other palaces built by the English.

The palace is a two-hour drive from Bahawalpur city and can only be visited during daylight hours. There is no entrance fee, and adjacent to the palace is a dilapidated mosque that visitors should not miss. It's a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the Bahawalpur region. I rate it a...

Regal and majestic, the three-storey heritage palace epitomises the classic silhouette of a fairytale castle. Situated on 125 acres of land on the outskirts of Dera Nawab Sahib in Bahawalpur, a former princely state that merged into Pakistan in 1955. The majestic property was constructed in 1882 and while it has been abandoned for last 3 decades, still retains many of its striking original features. With 120 rooms the palace boasts almost 40,000 square feet of inside space in need of rescue.

With its grand domes, stately entrances and beautiful courtyards, it's hard to understand how this exquisite palace ended up deserted by the Nawabs. Shrouded in mystery and left to weather the sands of time, this abandoned stately building is hiding a treasure trove of secrets within its eerie walls.

The need to conserve this crumbling heritage site is all the more pronounced. The three-storey palace may either be given to Army Authorities for its conservation on the lines of Noor, Gulzar and Darbar Mahals or to the "Agha Khan Trust" for its reuse as a luxury hotel. This site possesses immense tourism potential being close to Derawar Fort, Lal Suhanra National Park etc. Across India, many other former royal households and stately buildings have opened up in a similar way, taking advantage of the country's burgeoning tourist trade. In India, the most gorgeous and regal palaces that have been turned into luxury hotels are: Umaid Bhawan, Rambagh, Udaipur Bilas, Shiv Niwas, City Palace.

The Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Shah Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi were among the prominent leaders who once stayed at this white palace as the guests...

The palace was constructed in 1895. It has seen its days of splendor and magnificence, being the principle residence of one of the wealthiest princes of British India. The palace has ninety-nine rooms which were decorated with the most beautiful and expensive furnishings and carpets. In its heyday, the palace hosted Kings and Queens, Maharajas and Nawabs, Presidents and Prime Ministers and foreign dignitaries. Centuries old treasures of the Abbasid dynasty and wealth of the most fertile districts of Punjab were at its disposal. Its hosts were generous and entertained in a lavish manner. It was just like an oasis in the desert. Sadiqgarh offered such luxuries which were rare in those days. The palace had its own cinema theater. Its motor garages had finest models of the most expansive and fashionable cars of the age. It had an impressive library and a vast collection of antiques and valuables. It can be assumed without a single doubt that many a magical nights have unfolded within its walls and the palace has been a setting for historical moments. It remained a royal residence till a couple of decades after the princely state’s merger into Pakistan. Glories of the palace faded after the demise of the Nawab in 1966. It had to be abandoned due to an ongoing litigation regarding its rightful ownership between the descendents of Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi, the last ruling Nawab of Bahawalpur. The palace lost its remaining glow in years of disuse and...