City guide
Layyah: A Thal Town on the Indus Plain
Founded by a Baloch chief around 1550, Layyah sits in the sandy doab between the Indus and the Chenab, a Saraiki-speaking town of shrines, farms and winter desert rallies.
- Southern Punjab, Dera Ghazi Khan Division
- Sindh Sagar Doab and the Thal
- Founded c. 1550
- Best season: November–February
Layyah railway station
Layyah at a Glance
About Layyah
Layyah (also spelled Leiah) lies in the Sindh Sagar Doab, the long, sandy wedge of land between the Indus and the Chenab. West of the city the land drops to the green, flood-prone Indus riverain; to the east begins the Thal, once a desert of shifting sand and now a patchwork of canal-fed farms and dunes. The city is the headquarters of Layyah District in Dera Ghazi Khan Division.
The 2023 Census counted 151,274 people in the city and 2,102,386 in the district, which covers 6,289 km² and is divided into Layyah, Karor Lal Esan and Chaubara tehsils. Saraiki, Punjabi and Urdu are the main languages.
The town is said to have been founded around 1550 by Kamal Khan Mirani, of the Baloch family that also gave its name to Dera Ghazi Khan. Over the next three centuries it passed through Mughal, Baloch, Durrani, Sikh and British hands. It became a municipality in 1875 and, in 1982, the headquarters of a new district. Today Layyah is a farming and market town, and each winter it is one of the hubs of the Thal Desert Rally.
Layyah has changed masters many times, yet it has kept its Saraiki voice and its unhurried pace.
Things to See and Do
Shrines, desert and the old river town.
Thal Desert RallyEach winter the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab stages a jeep rally across the Thal in Layyah, Muzaffargarh and neighbouring districts, with camps, music and food stalls. Dates change each year, so check announcements.
Shrine of Khawaja Ghulam Hassan SewagThe tomb of this Naqshbandi Sufi, who founded a khanqah at Hasanabad in the Thal near Karor Lal Esan and died in 1939, draws pilgrims to an annual urs.
Old Layyah city shrineA shrine at the site known as old Layyah city, in Karor Lal Esan tehsil, is one of several devotional sites scattered across the district's riverain villages.
Pak Tea House LayyahA branch of the literary meeting place was opened in the city in February 2025, giving local poets and writers a regular venue.Food and Culture
Saraiki hospitality, desert produce and river fish.
Saraiki home cookingDaal, seasonal vegetables, roti from the tandoor and buttermilk are everyday fare; karahi and tikka are for evenings out.
Chickpeas and pulsesChickpeas and other pulses grow well in the sandy Thal soils and appear in daal, chana and roasted snacks.
Saraiki music and poetryKafi singing, Sufi poetry and dhol music are part of every urs and fair, and of the cultural nights that accompany the desert rally.
Chai and conversationRoadside tea stalls and hujras (men's sitting rooms) are where news is shared; visitors are often offered tea.
A Short History
c. 1550
Founding
Kamal Khan Mirani, a Baloch chief, founds Layyah; the area becomes part of the Mughal province of Multan.
c. 1610–1787
Jaskani rule
The Jaskani Baloch take Layyah from the Miranis and hold it until 1787.
Late 18th century
Durrani governors
Under the Durrani kings the area is ruled by governors, and the seat of power later moves to Mankera.
Early 19th century
Sikh period
Under Sikh rule Layyah again becomes an administrative centre.
1849–1875
British rule
After annexation Layyah is briefly a divisional headquarters, then a tehsil; a municipality is created in 1875.
1901
Mianwali, then Muzaffargarh
The tehsil is moved to the new Mianwali District and later to Muzaffargarh District.
1982
District headquarters
Layyah District is created with Layyah, Karor and Chaubara tehsils.
Getting There and Around
By air
Fly to Multan or Dera Ghazi Khan
Layyah has no airport; Multan has the most flights, and Dera Ghazi Khan is closer for some routes.
By rail
Layyah station
The city has a station on the line through the Thal; services are limited, so check timetables with Pakistan Railways.
By road
Coaches via Multan, Muzaffargarh and Bhakkar
Roads link Layyah with Muzaffargarh and Multan to the south, Bhakkar to the north and Jhang to the east.
Rally season
Plan transport early
During the rally, book transport and rooms early, or join an organised trip from Multan.
Plan Your Visit
Best time to visit
November to February
Comfortable days and rally season in the Thal.
Weather
Hot, semi-arid
Summers are very hot and dusty; the riverain is prone to monsoon floods.
Where to stay
City hotels or Multan
Layyah has modest hotels; Multan offers far more choice.
Etiquette
Respect shrines
Dress modestly, remove shoes at shrines and ask before photographing people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Layyah?
The 2023 Census counted 151,274 people in Layyah city and 2,102,386 in Layyah District, which covers 6,289 km².
Who founded Layyah?
According to local histories, Layyah was founded around 1550 by Kamal Khan Mirani, a Baloch chief related to the founder of Dera Ghazi Khan.
When is the Thal Desert Rally?
It is held each winter, usually in November, by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab. The 2025 edition ran from 6 to 9 November across Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu and Layyah. Check the latest announcement for current dates.
What language is spoken in Layyah?
Saraiki is the main language, with Punjabi and Urdu also widely spoken.
How do I get to Layyah?
Fly to Multan and continue by road via Muzaffargarh, or take a coach. Layyah also has a railway station, though services are limited.
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MianwaliMianwali city guide: Namal Lake, Kalabagh's red hills, Jinnah and Chashma barrages, an old stepwell, historySufi Shrines of PakistanVisit Pakistan's great Sufi shrines: Data Darbar, Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Bhit Shah
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- Type Place guide
- Sources 7 (2 official/academic)
- Reviewed October 2026
- Disputed points None
7 sources
- Table 1: Area, population by sex, sex ratio, density, urban proportion: Punjab districts (Census 2023), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
- Pakistan: Provinces and Major Cities: 2023 Census, City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from PBS data
- Punjab (Pakistan): Urban Localities: 2023 Census, City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from PBS data
- District Layyah: Khawaja Ghulam Hassan Sewag, events, Government of the Punjab
- Schedule for Thal Desert Rally announced, Dawn
- Layyah (overview used to locate primary sources), Wikipedia
- Layyah District (overview used to locate primary sources), Wikipedia
Photo credits (6)
- LayyahRailwayStation.jpg, Mahak library, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Liccs College Layyah law campus.jpg, Nadir.baloach, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Noorpur Thal desert road, engulfed in a sand storm.jpg, Vasiq Eqbal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Chicken Karahi in Pakistan.jpg, Kskhh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pindi Chana.JPG, Miansari66, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Doodh Patti Chai.JPG, Miansari66, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
