Bahawalpur is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 13th largest city of Pakistan and 8th most populous city of Punjab. Bahawalpur is the capital of Bahawalpur Division. Founded in 1748 by the Daudpotra family of Sindh, Bahawalpur was the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur, ruled by the Nawabs of Bahawalpur until 1955. The Nawabs left a rich architectural legacy, and Bahawalpur is known for its monuments dating from that period.