Some days leave you speechless. This was one of them.
I had the privilege of organizing a heritage walk for Mr. Andrew Stephen Carol, First Secretary of the Canadian High Commission to Pakistan. With his departure from Pakistan scheduled for mid-August, Mr. Andrew wanted to experience something truly authentic before leaving. I know that Bahawalpur would gift him: a moment straight out of a royal chronicle.
We were heading to the legendary Sadiq Garh Palace in Bahawalpur when fate intervened. As we approached the entrance gate of Mubarak Manzil, we suddenly came across none other than Crown Prince Bahawal Abbas Abbasi of the erstwhile Bahawalpur state.
The Prince was gracious beyond words. He warmly welcomed Mr. Andrew and the group but excused himself from accompanying us for long he had to leave immediately for funeral prayers. Even in that brief encounter, royalty shone through.
We were then escorted to the palace reception at the Maal Khana building of Sadiq Garh Palace, where a refreshing cup of tea was offered. But what truly caught Mr. Andrew’s attention was the scene at the entrance: cars with red number plates, men wearing the traditional Faiz cap (Turkish cap) , and everyone still elegantly dressed in a manner that spoke of a bygone era.
“I was not expecting the royalty of Bahawalpur state with such a marvel. It is mind-blowing a paradigm shift, I believe.” – Mr. Andrew Stephen Carol
After tea, I accompanied Mr. Andrew into Sadiq Garh Palace and words struggle to describe what we saw.
The scale: Two basements, ground floor, first floor, and second floor. Over 120 rooms built for the comfort of state guests.
The entrance: A welcoming fountain in the main hall, and a dedicated space for the Holy Qiswa a beautiful touch of reverence.
The wooden elevators on both sides, crafted with old-world charm, still stand as silent witnesses to royal arrivals and departures.
The coronation hall took our breath away. A semi-circular ceiling adorned with golden motifs and the engraved state emblem of Bahawalpur. On either side of this grand hall lay dining rooms with massive space for grand dinners fit for maharajas and viceroys.
One of the most stunning spaces was the Turkish room beautiful blue fresco work on the walls and a glass ceiling that lets sunlight dance through the colours.
We then passed through the head chef’s room, the crockery room, and finally the kitchen a sprawling setup designed to serve elaborate feasts to royal guests.
On the Basement floor, we entered the treasury room equipped with Chubb Man lockers and Royal Brittan bank locks. A reminder that this palace once held the wealth of a princely state.
Moving up to the first floor, we found bedrooms all around, a front office, and a grand library with elegant reading rooms. A place where knowledge was as treasured as gold.
Throughout the tour, Mr. Andrew was visibly awestruck. He kept pausing, taking photographs, and asking questions. For someone who has seen embassies and state buildings across the world, this was something entirely different.
“Before leaving Pakistan, South Punjab is a must,” he added.
And then came the words that made my day: “This is mind-blowing. It is a paradigm shift.”
As I drove back from Sadiq Garh Palace, I felt a deep sense of pride. Bahawalpur’s heritage is not just history it is living, breathing royalty. It welcomes diplomats and commoners alike with the same warmth, the same tea, and the same silent grandeur.
To Mr. Andrew Stephen Carol: Thank you for seeing what we see. And to the Crown Prince and the custodians of Sadiq Garh Palace: thank you for keeping this marvel alive.
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