Bahawalpur (Urdu, Siraiki, and Punjabi: بہاول پور), is a city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Bahawalpur is the 11th largest city in Pakistan by population as per a 2017 census, with a population of 762,111. It's also the largest city by land area consisting of Cholistan, the largest desert of Punjab. Founded in 1748, Bahawalpur was the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur, ruled by the Abbasi family of Nawabs until 1955. The Nawabs left a rich architectural legacy, and Bahawalpur is now known for its monuments dating from that period. The city lies at the edge of the Cholistan Desert, and serves as the gateway to the nearby Lal Suhanra National Park.