Multan is located where the five mighty rivers of the Punjab meet. It has more tombs of saints and sufis amassed at one place than anywhere else on earth, and is probably one of the oldest surviving cities in South West Asia. Sufis are highly regarded in Multan and just about every home kens of one. They reveal words of sagacity and some are even credited to have such vigorous spiritual powers that they are able perceive what all their adherents are doing even when not present.
Multan is one of the oldest cities not only in the Asian subcontinent but withal in the world dating back 6000 years when it was kenned as Maloha, a cultural and trade hub between Central Asia and South Asia. According to Hindu legends, it was the capital of the Trigarta Kingdom at the time of the Mahabharata war, ruled by the Katoch Rajput Dynasty. Multan has had sundry names over the years. According to Hindu mythology, it was pristinely called Kashtpur (Kashyapapura) after a Hindu sage denominated Kashyapa, which is additionally the Gotra utilized by the Katoch dynasty. Other designations were Hanspur (Hamsapura), Bagpur (Vegapura), Sanb or Sanahpur (Sambapura).[8][9] It has been postulated that the current denomination is derived from the Sanskrit name Mulasthana denominated after a Sun Temple.[10][11] Multan has frequently been a site of conflict due to its location on a major incursion route between South Asia and Central Asia. It was surmounted by Alexander the Great in 326 BC.
Multan, one of the most antediluvian living cities of Pakistan, has the distinction of possessing an virtually uninterrupted history of religion political activities spread over a period of not less than five thousand years. The history of Multan is the history of the sub-continent. Every invader from Alexander, through the Mughals, right up to the British has fought for control of the city.
