Chiniot
Pakistan · Asia
About Chiniot
Chiniot is a city and the administrative headquarters of Chiniot District in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Located on the bank of the river Chenab, it is the 28th most populous city in Pakistan.
Chiniot is known for its intricate wooden furniture, architecture, and mosques. The Shahi Mosque, Omar Hayat Haveli, Laxmi Narayan temple and the shrines of Shah Burhan and Saeen Sukh are some of the notable specimen of Chinioti architecture in the town.
The origins of Chiniot are obscure, and historical records accurately detailing its founding unavailable. According to some accounts, the city was founded by an ancient king's daughter named Chandan, who while on a hunting expedition, was charmed by the surrounding area, and ordered the construction of the settlement of Chandaniot, alternatively spelt Chandniot, which was named in her honour. The name Chiniot, a contracted version of the original name, eventually gained favour, though the older name had been used up until at least the 1860s.
During Mughal rule, Chiniot was governed as part of the subah, or province, of Lahore....
Chiniot travel guide
Getting there
1 Chiniot railway station. (updated Jan 2026)
See
1 Shahi Mosque. Historic 17th century mosque (updated Jan 2026) 2 Omar Hayat Mahal. An early 20th-century wooden haveli mansion, completed in 1935. (updated Jan 2026)
Eat
There is one very special dish of Chiniot called Chinioti Kunna.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.