Mandi Bahauddin

Mandi Bahauddin is in northern Punjab (Pakistan). It is at the crossroads between Eastern and Western Punjab.

Understand

Alexander the Great fought a battle with Rajah Porus at the nearby city of Phalia. Many conquerors have passed through this region. The city and district forms a central part of Chaj Doab and Punjab. The temperature goes to the extremes in January and June, going to around 48 °C in June and around 1 °C in January. There is rainfall during the Monsoon season. Most people live in rural areas of the district.

Get in

By car

There are two main roads coming into Mandi Bahauddin. One narrow road comes from the Grand Trunk Road. It winds at the banks of the Upper Jhelum Canal. This road is now being repaired and rebuilt. The other road comes from the M-2 Motorway. This road is much faster and comfortable. However, it is recommended to go through the road that comes from Grand Trunk Road. This road comes from Sarai Alamgir near Jhelum. This road goes through many small towns and villages. The villages are made of mud huts with the salt range at the background. The larger towns have brick houses with a big mosque inside. There are some breathtaking views during this journey. In between the jungles there are some open spaces from which you could look at green fields on the banks of another smaller stream with hills at the background. Overall we could easily get to the city from the larger cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

There are developments along the road from GT Road.

By bus and wagon

There are some buses coming from neighboring cities such as Islamabad, Gujrat, Lala Musa, Lahore, Sargodha and Faisalabad. These wagons and buses come very often.

By rail

In the line between Islamabad and Lahore, there is a branch of railways coming from Lala Musa onto Malakwal and Sargodha. The railway station of Mandi Bahauddin comes at this junction. Thus you could easily get a cheap ticket from Lahore and Islamabad.

Get around

By car

This city is famed for having all roads at 90° to each other. Most roads are narrow and often have unnoticeable speed breakers. Yet the major roads are wide enough, just watch out for bikes.

By bus

The few decades-old buses are not very safe. Try not to travel around by bus.

By rickshaw

The primary method of travel through the city. They are everywhere, and tend to be a cheap ride through the city. Plus it's enjoyable (just hold the handles and you will be safe).

By motorcycle

If you know how to ride it, it's still tough to navigate through the chaotic traffic and crazy drivers.

By bicycle

Don't try it's unsafe even if you wear helmet.

See

Canal View Park

Chillianwala Monument is about 45 minutes from the city, site of a battle fought in 1849 between Sikhs and British

Do

Quite a few malls around

Chill. Get the vibes. Fly kites in evenings.

Buy

Handiworks are quite cheap here, so are homemade utensils.

Eat

Mota Fiqa Sweets is best sweets you can ever eat in Pakistan.

Good Desi Restaurants.

Drink

Chai(Tea) in morning and evening.

Sleep

It's safer to sleep with a friend. Rented rooms are not in great condition.

Connect

Enjoy!

Go next

Sarai Alamgir, Gujrat, Jhelum are to the north. Smaller towns are scattered around. Chillianwala is a quiet well-maintained historical site.

South is Sargodha and the motorway connection. Jhal Chakian is a quiet town on the way to Sargodha. It has a well-known restaurant called "Jhal Chakian Daal" as the centerpiece. This place serves one of the best paratha, daal and chai combo in Pakistan.