Sialkot
Pakistan · Asia
About Sialkot
Sialkot (Punjabi, Urdu: سيالكوٹ) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of the Sialkot District and the 12th most populous city in Pakistan as well as the 7th largest city in Punjab. The boundaries of Sialkot are joined by Jammu in the north east, the districts of Narowal in the southeast, Gujranwala in the southwest and Gujrat in the northwest.
Sialkot is believed to be the successor city of Sagala, the capital of the Madra kingdom which was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 326 BCE. It was made capital of the Indo-Greek kingdom by Menander I in the 2nd century BCE — a time during which the city greatly prospered as a major center for trade and Buddhist thought. In the 6th century CE, it again become capital of the Taank Kingdom, which ruled Punjab for the next two centuries. Sialkot continued to be a major political center until it was eclipsed by Lahore around the turn of the first millennium CE. Sialkot was the capital of the Punjabi Muslim ruler Jasrat Khokhar who reigned over most of Punjab and Jammu in the early 15th century. Under the Mughal Empire, especially Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb's reign, Sialkot became known as a great centre of Islamic scholarship and thought, and attracted scholars because of the widespread availability of paper in the city.
Sialkot city was the birthplace of the Islamic poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, a leading figure of the Pakistan Movement. The city has been noted for its entrepreneurial spirit and productive business climate which have made Sialkot an example of a small Pakistani city that has emerged as a "world-class manufacturing hub." The relatively small city exported approximately $2.5 billion worth of goods in 2017, or about 10% of Pakistan's total exports. The city has been labeled as the Football manufacturing capital of the World, as it produces over 70% of all footballs manufactured in the world. Sialkot International Airport; Pakistan's first privately owned public airport is located 14km west of Sialkot.
Sialkot travel guide
Understand
It was established by Raja Sul and invaded by Alexander the Great in 327 BCE. It was re-established by Raja Sálbán in 200 CE. He built the famous Sialkot Fort. The city is famous for its small industries, such as surgical goods, sports goods, leather garments, musical instruments, uniform badges, health gloves, stainless steel utensils, and many other exportable items. It fetches more than a billion US dollars of foreign exchange every year. The city has progressed rapidly. In order to boost the exports and facilitate the movement of goods and passengers, a dry port has been establishment at Sambrial, and an international airport has been built with the financial support of the local businessmen. The Sialkot-Lahore M-11 Motorway has reduced the driving distance and travel time between the two cities considerably.
Getting there
By plane 1 Sialkot International Airport (سیالکوٹ بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈہ , SKT IATA), 8.7 mi west of, 14 km Sialkot Airport Rd, Sialkot, ☏ +92 52111742575, [email protected]. By plane nearby route is Sialkot International Airport 65 km away from Bhagwal. There are daily flights from most major cities in Pakistan as well as from regional hubs. (updated Nov 2023)
By train The only direct long-distance train to Sialkot is the Allama Iqbal Express from Karachi. Nearest major junction is in Wazirabad and Narowal.
2 Sialkot Junction railway station (سیالکوٹ جوڑ اسٹیشن). Main railway station, in city centre. (updated Jun 2020) 3 Sambrial railway station (سمبڑیال ریلوے اسٹیشن). Small station which is of use if travelling to and from the international airport as it is just 5 km away. Plenty of taxis and rickshaws connect with the airport. (updated Jun 2020)
By road
Sialkot is linked with the National Highway (N-5) via Gujranwala and via Wazirabad. The 103-km-long motorway M11 directly connects Sialkot to Lahore with interchanges near major urban centres of the Sialkot region along the route. The motorway is connected to the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M2) near Lahore via Lahore Bypass. Daewoo bus service is available from Sialkot to different cities of the country including Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
Getting around
There are some air-conditioned buses that roam around the city. These buses pick passengers wherever they see. They are cheap and comfortable. There are also plans for introduction of metro bus service in near future. The most common means of public transport is auto rickshaw. Taxis are also available in plenty. Careem ride hailing service is pretty popular amongst young people and foreigners. Rental car service is available near the bus station and under Jinnah Park Flyover.
See
1 Sialkot Fort. One of the oldest forts in Pakistan, first built by Raja Sálbán, king of the area during the 2nd century CE and is believed to have re-established the city. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Sialkot Cathedral. This cathedral consecrated in 1857 is in cantonment area. (updated Jun 2020) 3 Iqbal Manzil, Iqbal Rd. Birthplace of Muslim poet and philosopher Muhammad Allama Iqba, the national poet of Pakistan. Contains a museum and a library. (updated Jun 2020) Marala Headworks (Marala Head). A quite popular picnic spot on Chenab River. People come to eat fresh fish and boating in the river mostly during the weekends. A good place to enjoy the landscape and natural beauty. Seerat Study Center is on Ghazi Road in cantonment area. Imam Ali ul Haq shrine is on Imam Sahib Road. Baba Bari Sahib — a centuries-old Sikh shrine (Bari Sahib) is located on Zafarwal Road. Jinnah Stadium (International Cricket Test Centre) is on Circular Road. Murray College — a historical college where Iqbal and Faiz studied. It also has Allama Iqbal Library (much bigger than the Allama Iqbal Library at Paris Road). Clock Tower — a century-old clock tower in Saddar Bazar is the most famous landmark of Sialkot. Puran Bhagat Well — another historical site near cantonment area. Local Industry — visit Sialkot Chamber of Commerce to see local products. You can ask them to arrange visit local manufacturing units (Sports goods, garments, leather, surgical instruments, music instruments). Hockey Academy, Gulshan Park near Pulaik. Field Hockey Academy, by first Astro Truff. Sozo water park (Sialkot Cantt. Branch (mid 2010)), Garison park. (under construction)
Parks Gulsan i Iqbal Park Sialkot Park/Garrison Park Sindbad Fun House Khayaban e Iqbal
Buy
Leather garments (original leather coats, jackets & accessories) Sports Goods (soccer, volleyballs. rugby balls, basketballs, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, cricket gear, polo sticks, fishing equipments, boxing & other sport equipment). Sportswear (track suits, T-shirts, gloves, sports wear & karate uniforms) Musical instruments (Scotch Pipe, drums, guitars)
Eat
Chicken Cottage, Hotel Taj Palace, Katchery Road. Coffee, cocktails, snacks. Dinners Club, Hotel Taj Palace, Katchery Road. Pakistani, Chinese. Vivo Cafe & Grill, Ghazi Road at V-Mall Sialkot Cantt, ☏ +92 52 4298991. 13:00-23:30. Upscale. Good Salads, steaks, oriental, continental and Italian food. Best food, Great service. The music played there is lovelly and the staff is very polite to customers. little expensive. KFC, Near Bus Stand, Cantt, toll-free: 111-532-532 (non-geographic number). Fast Food. Pizza Hut, Ghazi Road at V-Mall Sialkot Cantt. Fast food. Yorkshire, Railway Road. Pakistani, Continental. Silver Spoon, Aziz Shaheed Road Sialkot Cantt. Chinese & continental. Eat More Restaurant, Aziz Shaheed Road Sialkot Cantt. Pakistani. Good fried fish. Hot & Cold, Sarko Hotel, Aziz Shaheed Road Sialkot Cantt. Pakistani. Continental. Nawabdin Kulfi, Old City. Faloda, Kulfi Yummy 36, Aziz Shaeed Road Sialkot Cantt. Ice cream. delhi shai, Cantonment Plaza at Sialkot Cantt. Barbecue, shawarma, biryani and many other thing. Rendezvous, Ghazi Road Sialkot Cantt. McDonald's, Clover Mall at Mehmood Ghaznavi Road Sialkot Cantt. Frangoz, Aziz Shaheed Road Sialkot Cantt. and Circular Road. Subway, Ghazi Road, V-Mall Sialkot Cantt. Sandwiches & salads, international chain. Grandiose, Aziz Shaheed Road Sialkot Cantt. lower ground HSBC Bank, ☏ +92 524291554. 12:00-01:00. Cock n Bull, Cantonment Plaza at Sialkot Cantt. Dragon City, Cantonment Plaza at Sialkot Cantt.
Drink & nightlife
Masooms Cafe, Cantonment Plaza Sialkot Cantt. Frangoz Cafe, near McDonald's, Clover Mall, Mehmood Ghaznavi Road, Sialkot Cantt.
Sleep
Hotel one, Wazirabad Road.052-3240495, 052–3240494. Galaxy Hotel, Wazirabad Road, 052–3555557. Hotel Taj Palace, Court Road, 052–4270034. Pace Tower , Aziz Shaheed Road, 052–4266144. Spring Heights, Aziz Shaheed Road, 052–4261910, 052–4265685. Canal View Hotel, Airport Road, 052–5520780. Hotel Stay Inn, Aziz Shaheed Road, 052–4272480.
Go next
Daska Pasrur Sambrial Head-Marala - About 20 km from city, it is a head works on River Chenab. Two canals originate from there. A good place for angling and to eat fresh fish around, and having good views of the Shiwalak Mountains in Kashmir.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.