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You won't find a luxury hotel of the kind that can be found in Lahore or Islamabad, in Bahawalpur. With the city sitting on the periphery of the Cholistan Desert, the visitors that the city sees include government guests, business travelers, and heritage tourists, unlike the international leisure tourism that can be seen in other cities. Hotels reflect this. They include a chain with a reliable service near the airport, several more mid-range hotels located near Noor Mahal and the city center, couple of guesthouses, and desert camps for travelers that opt for the Cholistan over a hotel room in the city.
For a stay in Bahawalpur, the question should not be about what the best hotel is. It should be what stays best suit what you plan to do.
We Book Accommodation in Bahawalpur
For travelers and organizations visiting Bahawalpur, we also book stay at hotels in Bahawalpur as part of Cholistan Derawar Fort tours offered from our Islamabad office. We confirm your hotel booking, arrange a desert tour with a 4x4, local guide for the Fort, and your airport or road transfer from Islamabad, all before you arrive. To receive rates and availability, message us on WhatsApp at +92 341 111 3777 or email us.
Established in 1748, Bahawalpur was the capital of the Abbasi Nawabs' princely state, which joined Pakistan in 1955. The legacies the Nawabs left behind include the Noor Mahal, which was built in 1872 in the Indo-Italian Palazzo style, along with other royal structures, such as the Gulzar and Darbar Mahals. This is what provides the context for most visits by heritage tourists.
Bahawalpur is also the city that provides access to a 130 km long 4x4 journey to the Cholistan Desert and Derawar Fort. Most tourists choose to visit the Derawar Fort by staying overnight in Bahawalpur, as most visitors to the fort choose to stay overnight in Bahawalpur and avoid camping in the desert.
Bahawalpur is connected by air to Islamabad and Lahore through flights operated by PIA. The road journey from Islamabad via Lahore takes six to seven hours, while the journey from Lahore takes four to five hours.
Yazman Road, near Airport Chowk, New Cantt, Bahawalpur. Part of the Hotel One group.
This hotel is rated firmly in the upper tier of accommodations in Bahawalpur.
Consistently ranked among the upper-tier hotels in Bahawalpur, The Edition is the newest luxury property in a city that has previously only had mid-range options. At the time of publication, room counts and exact amenities could not be verified, so it is advised to check for current availability and operations before booking if the upper-tier rate is essential for the itinerary. It has free continental breakfast, free WiFi, and a restaurant; and offers airport shuttle service and meeting rooms, as well as a 24-hour front desk. Local staff has been commended by guests for their knowledge of the area and have assisted guests with directions to the Derawar Fort and logistics for the Cholistan visits.
International guests should note: Although Bahawalpur is not an unsafe city, due to its proximity from the Indian border, some travel guides and websites advise that some areas do require police escorts for foreigners. The staff of The Edition has assisted foreign visitors in the past with police escorts. Avoid unnecessary hassles on your first day of your trip by confirming the required police escorts prior to your arrival.
The Edition is ideal for business travelers, travelers to visit the Derawar Fort and Cholistan, and foreign travelers as it is equipped with newer amenities, and has a professional staff.
Best for: travelers who want to get the best deal on the most upgraded room possible in Bahawalpur.
Noor Mahal Road, Bahawalpur. Close to all the main monuments.
The location is everything. Being on Noor Mahal Road means this property is a short drive away from the main heritage sites, putting it in a good spot for people who are here for the heritage over the desert. The hotel is of an average mid range level and is treated as a city center hotel with the amenities that come with that.
Best for: heritage-minded guests who want the most convenient accommodation near the Noor Mahal and the Nawabi monuments.
Bahawalpur. An option that is always mentioned.
One of the reliably mentioned properties in the city for family stays and longer stays. Guest reviews comment how clean the rooms are and how the staff are friendly. It is a good mid range option and a good choice for families and local visitors that are coming to the city for work or leisure trips.
Best for: local guests, families, longer stays, rate over comfort.
Bahawalpur.
The Faletti name in Bahawalpur is based on the original Lahore hotel that dates back to the British colonial era in the 19th century. The property in Bahawalpur came up in verified booking sources and in 2025 in guest reviews, so it is worth checking to see current conditions.
Best for: guests who want a heritage hotel brand in a city that has very limited heritage accommodation.
The most atmospheric option for a desert camp between Bahawalpur and Derawar Fort is the best way to go for an organized desert camp for the Cholistan excursion. Instead of having to drive two and a half hours both ways to and from a hotel located in the city, you also get to see the sunrise at Derawar Fort before the day-trip vehicles arrive. Plus, you get to spend the morning there with the fort mostly to yourself, and you return to the city in the afternoon.
Desert camps in Cholistan range from the most basic of tent setups to full-on desert camping with beds, a camp cook, bonfires, and the night sky untouched by any form of light pollution. The best of these camps are run by operators that leave from Bahawalpur in their own vehicles and where the drivers know the best locations to get to the derawar Fort in time for the sunrise.
Be sure to ask specific questions. How far is the camp from Derawar Fort? What is the sleeping arrangement? Will you be provided with transportation to visit Derawar Fort? What safety and communication measures are in place? A camp in the desert is not a organized desert camp if there are no transportation measures in place.
A foreign national permit or police escort arrangement. This city is near the Indian border and some officials require individuals to register or travel with an escort. Several confirmed traveler accounts reference this as an active requirement. Hotel One, a hotel in Bahawalpur that has had foreign clients in the past, helps guests with authorizing the police to provide the escort on their behalf.
A 4x4 for the Cholistan. No hotel in the city will provide this, but a good operator based in Bahawalpur, or your Islamabad-based operator, will arrange the vehicle before the desert day rather than on the morning. The difference is a confirmed driver and vehicle at 6 a.m. vs. a hotel negotiation at that time.
A confirmed hotel arrival time. Bahawalpur doesn’t have late-night food options like larger cities, so if you are arriving after dark, confirm the hotel kitchen and room service hours.
Noor Mahal, completed in 1872, is an example of an Italian palazzo style building commissioned by Nawab Bahawal Khan IV. The exterior is one of the most photographed buildings in Punjab, and visitors are allowed to view military exhibits inside the building.
Darbar Mahal, the official residence of the Nawabs of Bahawalpur and used for official state functions.
Gulzar Mahal and other palaces and gardens of the Nawabs.
Bahawalpur Museum showcases displays and artifacts from the princely state era and the Cholistan Civilization.
Lal Suhanra National Park is around 40 km away from the city center and is a wildlife sanctuary with blackbuck, deer, and a variety of migratory birds. A half day excursion from the city hotel.
City monuments, the opportunity to explore the park in the afternoon, and a full day at Derawar Fort are the main elements of a 3 night Bahawalpur holiday.
October to March is the ideal time to go. During this time the winter temperatures are pleasant in Bahawalpur and the desert is easily accessible. The monuments are pleasant to visit during the day.
From April it gets very hot very quickly. May to September the thermometer reads 40 degrees Celsius and the desert is a very dangerous place and no Bahawalpur or Cholistan safari should be conducted during these months.
January and February are the best months. The skies are blue, the days are cool and the Cholistan Jeep Rally often falls in these months.
Make sure you find out from the hotel if they require a police escort as part of the tour and if they do, find out who's responsibility it is to arrange it. There are many unconfirmed reviews of Hotel One Bahawalpur, and they have the most confirmed reviews from foreign travelers. Do not expect to sort it out on the same day.
Make sure you confirm the kitchen hours if you expect to be checking in after 10 PM, especially if you are staying in a hotel that does not offer room service after that time.
What is the transport to Derawar Fort from desert camp? A desert camp without a 4x4 of its own is just a parking spot with an added logistical challenge in the morning.
You may be able to find an ATM in Bahawalpur, but they are not as common as in Lahore or Islamabad, and there are none along the Cholistan route.
Avoid going to Bahawalpur during the summer. The desert is not a safe place during that time of the year, and because all of the attractions (Derawar Fort, Lal Suhanra, etc) are outside, they cannot be enjoyed safely either.
What is the best hotel in Bahawalpur? The best hotel with the service, location, and the atmosphere for foreigners is Hotel One Bahawalpur. The other is The Edition Bahawalpur.
Is there a five-star hotel in Bahawalpur? Not as we know them in Lahore and Islamabad. The best in city non-chain hotels are mid-scale compared to what is available in Lahore and Islamabad.
Is there a Serena hotel in Bahawalpur? There is no Serena hotel in Bahawalpur. If you find a listing saying there is, you should confirm this by contacting Serena hotels.
Can you go and stay by Derawar Fort? No, you cannot stay in a hotel. For non-campers, this means a stay in Bahawalpur.
What is the ideal time to travel to Bahawalpur? October through March
What are the best months to travel? January and February are the most comfortable and the months that correspond to the Cholistan Jeep Rally.
Are police escorts required in Bahawalpur? Review of hostels shows some foreign national visitors require escorts. Hotel One Bahawalpur has the most documented experience and has an operator for the escort. Please confirm upon arrival.
We will confirm the hotel and name of the room, arrange the cholistan day, book the licensed guide for Derawar Fort, and coordinate the foreign visitor protocol. One contact from Islamabad to the fort and back.
Call / WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Website: https://www.hospitalitytours.com.pk
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad