Multan: The city of saints

Published March 19, 2012

Multan, one of the oldest cities in the Asian subcontinent and known as the 'City of Saints', is located in central Pakistan some 562 km from the capital Islamabad.

Hindu legends mention Multan as the capital of the Trigarta Kingdom ruled by the Katoch Dynasty, which was involved in the Mahabharata war mentioned in the Hindu epic of the same name.

Multan became part of Pakistan following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, with buildings dating from the 17th and 18th century becoming historical landmarks in Multan. The old city remains in a dilapidated state, with political and security issues discouraging development and tourists from the area. — Photos by AFP

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