Makli graveyard is located 98 km east of Karachi. It's diameter is about 8 km. it is one of the famous and largest graveyard of the world. More than 125000 people are buried in this graveyard that includes Sufi saints, local rulers and other people like migrants of different places. It is near to Thatta that remained capital of lower Sindh in different times. This graveyard is included in world heritage with the name ‘Monuments of Thatta’ in 1981.
Historians are agreed that this graveyard is flourished in 14th century. It was established for a holy place of worship later on it is used for burial of people which are mostly migrants of different areas. Jam Tamachi (local ruler) and famous poet and scholar sheikh Hammad Jamali are buried in Makli graveyard. Besides, the place was center of learning. Historians believe that there were around 400 well developed educational institutions. People from different locations (Asia) come here to learn philosophy, religion, and politics. A apart from that they also learn other disciplines as well. And from all learners most of them are buried here.
The graves and tombs are present in Makli graveyard. Some of the graves are built by using local sandstone. Some are plastered brick buildings. The impressive royal mausoleums are divided into two sets, those from the Tarkhan and from the Samma period. In total four historical periods are represented architecturally, namely the Samma, the Arghun, the Tarkhan and the Mughals periods. The tomb of the King Jam Nizamuddin II, is an impressive square structure built of sandstone and decorated with floral and geometric medallions. Similar to this is the mausoleum of Isa Khan Hussain II, a two-story stone building with majestic cupolas and balconies. In contrast to the synthetic architecture of these two monuments, which integrate Hindu and Islamic motifs, are mausoleums that clearly show the Central Asian roots of the Tarkhan and Moghul dynasties. An example is the tomb of Jan Beg Tarkhan, a typical octagonal brick structure whose dome is covered in blue and turquoise glazed tiles. Pavilion or canopy is another typical Indo-Islamic architectural feature, as well as enclosure tombs. The Moghul period is represented by many tombs on the southern side of the necropolis, including the mausoleum of Mirza Jani & Mirza Ghazi Baig, that of Nawab Shurfa Khan, the enclosure of Mirza Baqi Baig Uzbek and of Mirza Jan Baba as well as the impressive restored tomb of Nawab Isa Khan Tarkhan the Younger.
The artisan work and artwork on the graves is superb and matchless. to any necropolis in the world. One is overawed by the vastness of the area, standing amidst countless graves, generally rectangular in shapes, inscribed beautifully of Islamic calligraphy, circular designs, vaulted domes, arches, and towers - rising in endless succession above shapeless mounds of ruins. The massive structure describes who is buried inside
Today, Makli graveyard is heritage site for tourists. People from different places come here to see the old heritage that is still alive. Visitors immediately get impressed by the splendid structures. They start believing that the graves located in Makli graveyard are trademarks of people who are buried here.
Click here for photos of Makli Hills Graveyard
Historians are agreed that this graveyard is flourished in 14th century. It was established for a holy place of worship later on it is used for burial of people which are mostly migrants of different areas. Jam Tamachi (local ruler) and famous poet and scholar sheikh Hammad Jamali are buried in Makli graveyard. Besides, the place was center of learning. Historians believe that there were around 400 well developed educational institutions. People from different locations (Asia) come here to learn philosophy, religion, and politics. A apart from that they also learn other disciplines as well. And from all learners most of them are buried here.
The graves and tombs are present in Makli graveyard. Some of the graves are built by using local sandstone. Some are plastered brick buildings. The impressive royal mausoleums are divided into two sets, those from the Tarkhan and from the Samma period. In total four historical periods are represented architecturally, namely the Samma, the Arghun, the Tarkhan and the Mughals periods. The tomb of the King Jam Nizamuddin II, is an impressive square structure built of sandstone and decorated with floral and geometric medallions. Similar to this is the mausoleum of Isa Khan Hussain II, a two-story stone building with majestic cupolas and balconies. In contrast to the synthetic architecture of these two monuments, which integrate Hindu and Islamic motifs, are mausoleums that clearly show the Central Asian roots of the Tarkhan and Moghul dynasties. An example is the tomb of Jan Beg Tarkhan, a typical octagonal brick structure whose dome is covered in blue and turquoise glazed tiles. Pavilion or canopy is another typical Indo-Islamic architectural feature, as well as enclosure tombs. The Moghul period is represented by many tombs on the southern side of the necropolis, including the mausoleum of Mirza Jani & Mirza Ghazi Baig, that of Nawab Shurfa Khan, the enclosure of Mirza Baqi Baig Uzbek and of Mirza Jan Baba as well as the impressive restored tomb of Nawab Isa Khan Tarkhan the Younger.
The artisan work and artwork on the graves is superb and matchless. to any necropolis in the world. One is overawed by the vastness of the area, standing amidst countless graves, generally rectangular in shapes, inscribed beautifully of Islamic calligraphy, circular designs, vaulted domes, arches, and towers - rising in endless succession above shapeless mounds of ruins. The massive structure describes who is buried inside
Today, Makli graveyard is heritage site for tourists. People from different places come here to see the old heritage that is still alive. Visitors immediately get impressed by the splendid structures. They start believing that the graves located in Makli graveyard are trademarks of people who are buried here.
Click here for photos of Makli Hills Graveyard