Multan: The city of saints

Published March 19, 2012
A vendor tends to his stall beside an alleyway in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
A vendor tends to his stall beside an alleyway in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents are seen in narrow alleys in the old town section of Multan.
 ?AFP Photo
Local residents are seen in narrow alleys in the old town section of Multan. ?AFP Photo
An alley-side bazaar is pictured in the old town section of Multan . ?AFP Photo
An alley-side bazaar is pictured in the old town section of Multan . ?AFP Photo
Pigeons fly above an alley lined with dilapidated buildings in the old town section of Multan . ?AFP Photo
Pigeons fly above an alley lined with dilapidated buildings in the old town section of Multan . ?AFP Photo
Colourful buildings are pictured in the old town section of Multan . ?AFP Photo
Colourful buildings are pictured in the old town section of Multan . ?AFP Photo
A pigeon rests on loudspeakers at a mosque in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
A pigeon rests on loudspeakers at a mosque in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents pose inside a 200-year old house undergoing ownership disputes between heirs, residents, and the local government in the old town section of Multan .
Local residents pose inside a 200-year old house undergoing ownership disputes between heirs, residents, and the local government in the old town section of Multan .
Local residents are seen in alleyways in front of a 200-year old house (C, background) undergoing ownership disputes between heirs, residents, and the local government in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents are seen in alleyways in front of a 200-year old house (C, background) undergoing ownership disputes between heirs, residents, and the local government in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents travel past a dilapidated building in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents travel past a dilapidated building in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents travel through narrow alleys past dilapidated buildings in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012 . ?AFP Photo
Local residents travel through narrow alleys past dilapidated buildings in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012 . ?AFP Photo
Local residents go about their daily lives in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Local residents go about their daily lives in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Pedestrians are seen on a street next to a dilapidated building in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Pedestrians are seen on a street next to a dilapidated building in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Dilapidated buildings and residences are pictured in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo
Dilapidated buildings and residences are pictured in the old town section of Multan on March 17, 2012. ?AFP Photo

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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