What To Do In Kasur Pakistan

Exploring Kasur

Kasur is a major town located on the Indian Pakistan border. Before the Wagah Border was open to traffic between the two countries, this crossing was the man artery pumping blood into the heart of the two nations. Being a mere half an hour away from Lahore on a good day, traveling to Kasur makes for a perfect day trip if you are starting to get tired of the madness and lawlessness of the city. Although you can not cross the border into India from Kasur, there is still more than enough to have you wanting to stay a little bit longer and explore what to do in Kasur.

The highway connecting Lahore and Kasur goes directly into India. The actual city and market are located to the right of the expressway heading to the border. But before you head straight to downtown Kasur, there are a few places that you might want to explore first.

Kasur Museum has extensive exhibits stretching all the way back to prehistory Pakistan and is free to the public. But the place you will want to explore in Kasur is the Baba Kamal Chishti Mazar Shrine. Even if you have had your fill of Sufi darbars in Lahore, this shrine will give you stunning views of the surrounding countryside and even out across the border with India. Perched on top of a steep hill looking out over the city, this is one unique shrine that attracts devotees from around the country.

Heading north to the capital of Pakistan? Read about what to do in Islamabad here!

Ganda Singh Wala Border Parade

If you don’t go to Kasur for any other reason it should be to visit the Ganda Singh Wala Border. You may think that if you have already crossed and attended the more famous Wagah Border ceremony, why should you attend another parade in Kasur? Although both of the border closing ceremonies are similar, they are also totally different experiences. Unlike Wagah where the two counties’ spectators are separated by quite a distance and a high wall, the feeling is far more intimate in Kasur. Seated closer together you can feel more of the brotherly sense of competition on the Ganda Singh Wala Ceremony.

The Wagah Border Ceremony has long been a popular tourist attraction attracting in both India and Pakistan, attracting visitors from around the country and the world. Foreigners at Kasur, however, is a bit of a rarity. During the weekend it has even been heard that international travelers would be denied entry due to high-level military officials being in attendance. Starting at 4:30 and gates opening at 3:30, you will have to make sure you come early enough to make the parade. Although the Ganda Singh Wala Border is a lot shorter than Wagah, you will have more a sense of comradery between the two countries in Kasur.

Want to learn more about heading to the border ceremony? Read my complete guide to Ganda Singh Wala here!

Street Food in Kasur

As night begins to fall, this will be the time to head into the bazaar and pull up a stool at one of the famous cafes located around town. Kasur is known for several dishes that will have travelers coming from all over Pakistani Punjab to just grab a taste. The first of which are sugary snacks that will have you ordering another bag full to take back to your hotel with you. With cold sweet noodles known as mithai and biscuits called andrassy, your mouth will be watering before these plates of snacks are served in front of you.

The other smell that will literally have you lifted from the ground and have your nose pulling you to a restaurant is the aroma of the Kasuri methi fish. With the smoke filling the alleyways and the smell of the fried fish being carried throughout the city, this delicacy will have you wanting to come back to Kasur for seconds.

If you are looking to taste some more Pakistani delicacies, be sure to explore Anarkali Street in Lahore!

Tomb of Sufi Saint Baba Bulleh Shah

One of the things that make Sufi shrines so special is the use of music to get close to and praise Allah. Due to being to these darbars being targeted by Muslim extremist groups, a lot of the singing has stopped throughout the country. With the gates to these shrines being armed to the teeth with police and military, it would seem as if you are stepping into a war zone rather than a holy site. Away from the crowds in Lahore, however, you can get back in touch with authentic Sufi culture at the Bulleh Shah Darbar.

The harmoniums may be locked away in Lahore, but the music is still echoing in the courtyards of this famous shrine. Being the final resting place of the Sufi saint and poet Bulleh Shah, many of his verses and incorporated into his tomb and sung by the musicians seated on the marble tiles in front of the mausoleum. Playing late into the night, you can feel the presence of god with each verse sung and with the swaying of the musicians with each note.

Want to explore more Sufi culture in Pakistan? Check out Bibi Pak Daman in Lahore!

What to do in Kasur

The trip to Kasur makes for the perfect day trip from Lahore. There may not be enough in the city to keep you for more than a few days, but nearly everything you have been searching for in the big city will be found in this small town. In Lahore a lot of the celebrations and rituals are kept out of the public eye in order to protect the safety of devotees. But in Kasur, you will find that people are more willing to let their guard down and worship in whatever way they choose.

Compared with its larger neighbor, you will feel more intimate with Kasur and this is not only at the border closing ceremony. With fewer people than Lahore, it is easier for locals to let their guard down and enjoy a slower pace of life. Although not a small city, Kasur will have the crowds to keep the bazaars lively and the closeness to make you feel welcome while wandering the city streets. With its street food that will have you dreaming of biting into another dish of Kasuri sweets and music that will playback over and over in your head for the rest of your journey, there are experiences in Kasur that can not be found anywhere else in Pakistan.