There are several Hindu temples in Multan, a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The temples known as Mandirs exist because the population of Multan followed Hinduism[1], Buddhism and tribal religions before the arrival of Islam and the subsequent military conquests by Muhammad bin Qasim and the Afghans. There were two places in Multan from that period of considerable antiquity.
The most important place of the Hindu period was the "Sun Mandir". It was the most important place of worship throughout the South Asia as referred to in many books. It was situated on one of the old Fort. There is however no trace of it now.[1]
Another place was "Suraj Kund" (the pool of sun). It is about five miles to the South of Multan on the Bahawalpur Road. It was a pond 132 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep when full of water. Sawn Mal the Sikh Diwan surrounded it with an octagonal wall. It was a place of pilgrimage till 1947 and two fairs were held here annually. One on the 7th of the Vanishing moon of Bhadon, and the other on the 7th of the rising moon of Magh, the numbers having references to the seven hours of the Sun's Chariot, according to the Hindu belief of the seven Rishies.[1]
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