Fort Munro

Fort Munro sits at around 1,900 metres on the Sulaiman range, established in the colonial period as a summer retreat for the administration of the Dera Ghazi Khan district and named after a British officer. It remains the only hill station in southern Punjab, which gives it an outsized importance for a region where summer temperatures routinely pass forty-five degrees: families drive up for the day simply to sit in air that is fifteen degrees cooler. The setting is dry mountain rather than forest, with rocky ridges, scrub and long views out over the plains towards the Indus. There is a small lake, a colonial-era cemetery, viewpoints and a scatter of guesthouses and stalls. Development has been rapid and unplanned in recent years. The road up from Dera Ghazi Khan climbs through the Sulaiman foothills and is scenic in itself.

History

The area was known as Tuman Leghari before Sir Robert Sandeman founded the hill station in 1866, naming it after Colonel Andrew Aldcorn Munro, a Scottish officer who later became Commissioner of the Derajat and Multan divisions. It served as the hot-season headquarters of the Commissioner of Multan, and Sandeman Lodge, the Commissioner's House and a small Christian cemetery date from that time (Wikipedia, Fort Munro).

What's there

• The plains view - long sightlines east over southern Punjab.
• Dry ridge country - rocky slopes and scrub of the Sulaiman range.
• The small lake - the artificial pool at the centre of the settlement.
• Colonial traces - the old cemetery and station buildings.

When to go

April to October, which is exactly when the plains are unbearable and Fort Munro is at its most useful. Weekends are busy with visitors from Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan. Winter is cold and quiet with occasional snow.

Things to know

This is a modest hill station with limited facilities, and visitors comparing it with Murree or the Galiyat will find it plain. Building is unregulated and litter is a problem. Accommodation is basic. The value is the temperature drop and the views, not the amenities.

Nearby

Dera Ghazi Khan is east; the road west continues towards Balochistan.

Key facts