When Nawab Bahawal Khan ascended the throne, there was nothing on the other side of Sutlej. After few months, the Rajputs of Jaisalmeer attacked the Derawar Fort and conquered it, a victory that upset Bahawal Khan. As soon as the ruler of Multan granted him the estate of Adam Wahn, Nawab laid the foundations of the new city and called it Bahawalpur.

As the state prospered, the neighboring Multan was conquered by Ranjit Singh. The rulers of Bahawalpur did not approve of Sikh rule; hence some of the grievances between Lahore and South Punjab can conveniently be traced back to those days. After a few years, the Sikh empire started fading away and lost Multan to the British. Nawab, at that time, did not forget to send in his army to support the British campaign, an effort which was appreciated in every formal durbar for almost a century.

From its initial years, the British saw Bahawalpur as a “strategic ally”. The two signed the treaty of 1833, an agreement that kick-started a new era of development in Bahawalpur. Every Bahawal worked hard than his predecessor Sadiq and every Sadiq set a promising goal for an upcoming Bahawal.

The 20th century brought along the nomination of Nawab Sadiq Khan the fifth, who is considered to be the greatest reformer in the lineage of the Nawabs. It was under his leadership that the calm Bahawalpur was converted into a modern city that could compete with any capital. From stadium to library, and hospital to cinema, Nawab Sadiq made sure that Bahawalpur was the first city in the deserted south to claim anything contemporary. The prosperous state was home to some of the most promising men of craft and had made its mark amongst the 562 princely states. Balancing the course of prosperity and contentment, it became a novel combination of humility and grandeur.

Famed for its palaces across India, Bahawalpur basked in the aura of royalty, yet a kind of mysticism remained a high point in the life of every ordinary resident. Besides the grand palaces like Noor Mehal and Durbar Mehal, mansions like Nishat Mehal, Gulzar Mehal and Farrukh Mehal were equally artistic.

Frisking through all things majestic can be done with the exception of Noor Mehal, a marvel of architecture and emotions that represented a royal love.

The palace was commissioned by Nawab Subah Sadiq Khan the fourth. This Shah Jehan of Abbassids gathered all the best craftsmen for the purpose and put no restraint on resources. Heenan, the European architect of the Palace gave it the appearance of a chateau, but the arches and columns helped established its oriental residents. After the basic drawings were done, the map of the city along with a few coins were buried in the ground as a good omen and the foundation stone was laid. Chandeliers and furnishings were selected from across Europe, but because luck and happiness did not qualify as a merchandise, they could not be procured, something that was to be greatly missed in the days to come. Upon completion, the queen went around surveying her royal home. As she opened a bedroom window, her sight locked on the neighboring graveyard as the absurdity of life dawned on her.