In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Pakistan
Sahiwal
ساہِيوال
Spend a half‑day in Sahiwal to reach Harappa (45 min drive) and return; one night only if you need a hotel for registration.
Sahiwal is a transport hub in northern Punjab, 170 km west of Lahore. Its main draw is the nearby Harappa archaeological site, reachable in about 45 minutes by bus or rickshaw. The city itself has few attractions, so a single day (or an overnight stay for registration) is sufficient.
- Country
- Pakistan
- Local name
- ساہِيوال
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Sep (very hot)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PKR
- Money
- Pakistani rupee (PKR, Rs) in cash for almost everything outside big-city hotels and malls; carry US dollars as backup.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High Rs 5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone sell SIMs with passport and biometric registration at franchise shops (not usually at the airport).
- Emergency
- Police 15 · Rescue 1122 · Edhi ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types C, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two- and three-pin sockets; power cuts (load-shedding) are common, especially in the north.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10%.; Driver / guide: Rs 1,000–3,000 a day.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug or hose elsewhere.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea with milk | Rs 30–50 |
| Street snack (samosa, pakora) | Rs 20–40 |
| Meal at modest restaurant | Rs 300–600 |
| Bus ticket Sahiwal → Harappa | Rs 15 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (city) | Rs 150–250 per km |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LHE · Allama Iqbal International Airport (Lahore)
- 170 km (106 mi), about 2 h 18 min by car; then bus or train to Sahiwal106 mi (170 km), about 2 h 18 min by car; then bus or train to Sahiwal
- MUX · Multan International Airport
- 177 km (110 mi), about 2 h 24 min by car; then bus to Sahiwal110 mi (177 km), about 2 h 24 min by car; then bus to Sahiwal
- LYP · Faisalabad International Airport
- 94 km (58 mi), about 1 h 56 min by bus; road is single carriageway without central barrier58 mi (94 km), about 1 h 56 min by bus; road is single carriageway without central barrier
Typical fares
- Bus Sahiwal → Harappa
- Rs 15 each way, every 30 min (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw Sahiwal → Harappa
- Rs 350 one‑way, Rs 500 return (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws (≈Rs 350 one‑way) and local buses (Rs 15–20) are the main options; taxis are available but pricier.
See and do
Known for
- Harappa gateway
- Railway junction
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Harappa archaeological site | Bus from Sahiwal station (Rs 15) every 30 min; 45 min drive; private autorickshaw Rs 350 one‑way | ≈1 h total |
Sleep
- Local guest houses / budget hotels
- Register with District Foreigner Security Cell (10–15 min) after check‑in.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | معاف کرناmaaf karna |
| Thank you | شکریہshukriya |
| How much is it? | کتنا ہے؟kitna hai? |
| Where is the bus stop? | بس اسٹاپ کہاں ہے؟bus stop kahan hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | کیا کارڈ سے ادائیگی ہو سکتی ہے؟kya card se adaigi ho sakti hai? |
| I need a taxi | مجھے ٹیکسی چاہیےmujhe taxi chahiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Assalam o alaikum', right hand on heart; handshakes between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
- Hospitality: Accept tea; let hosts pay the first time; avoid: Refusing all offers
- Dress: Shalwar kameez is comfortable and appreciated; avoid: Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Shrines: Cover heads, shoes off, sit quietly at qawwali; avoid: Filming without permission
- Conversation: Cricket, food and family are safe topics; avoid: Religion, India and the army with strangers
Scams and watch-outs
- All foreign overnight guests must register at the District Foreigner Security Cell; allow 10–15 min.
- Roads from Lahore and Multan are dual carriageways with central barriers; the Faisalabad route lacks a barrier.
Sahiwal is generally safe for day visitors; follow registration rules for overnight stays and keep valuables secure on public transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sahiwal yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Harappa gateway
- Railway junction
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Sahiwal: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Sahiwal, revision 5129492 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5129492
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sahiwal). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.