Makli Necropolis (; ) is one of the largest
funerary sites in the world, spread over an area of 10 kilometres near the city of
Thatta, in the
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
i province of
Sindh
Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...
. The site houses approximately 500,000 to 1 million
tombs built over the course of a 400-year period.
[ Makli Necropolis features several large funerary monuments belonging to royalty, various ]Sufi
Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism.
Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
saints, and esteemed scholars. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
in 1981 as an "outstanding testament" to Sindhi civilization between the 14th and 18th centuries.
Location
Makli Necropolis is located in the town of Makli, which is located on a plateau approximately 6 kilometres from the city of Thatta,[ the capital of lower ]Sindh
Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...
until the 17th century.[ It lies approximately 98 km east of ]Karachi
Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
, near the apex of the Indus River Delta
The Indus River Delta forms where the Indus River flows into the Arabian Sea, mostly in the southern Sindh province of Pakistan with a small portion in the Kutch Region of India. The delta covers an area of about , and is approximately across ...
in southeastern Sindh. The southernmost point of the site is approximately 5 miles north of the ruins of the medieval ''Kallankot'' Fort.
Etymology
The site, and nearby hills, are said to derive their name from a legend in which a Hajj
Hajj (; ; also spelled Hadj, Haj or Haji) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetim ...
pilgrim stopped at the site and erupted into spiritual ecstasy, declaring the site to be Makkah for him. The Sufi
Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism.
Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
saint Sheikh Hamad Jamali is then said to have named the site "Makli", or "Little Makkah", after hearing the story of the pilgrim.[
However, historical evidences does not confirm this. Historian, Ali Ahmad Brohi suggests that the name "Makli" originates from the ancient Mahakali ( Maa Kali) temple, dismissing alternative theories as unconvincing. According to Brohi, the tomb of Jam Nizamuddin II features stones resembling those of an ancient temple.
]
History
The Sufi saint, poet and scholar Shaikh Jamali established a '' khanqah'', or Sufi gathering site, at Makli and was eventually buried there.[ The 14th century Samma ruler, Jam Tamachi, venerated the saint and wished to be interred near the saint, beginning the tradition of using Makli as a funerary site.
The site rose to prominence as a major funerary site during under the rule of the Samma dynasty, who had made their capital near Thatta.]
The most architecturally significant tombs at the site date from around the time of the Mughal era, between 1570 and 1640 CE.
Layout
Makli Necropolis occupies 10 square kilometres, housing at least 500,000 tombs. It stretches from ''Pir Patho'' at the southern end of the Makli Hills, northward in a roughly diamond shape. Its eastern edge is formed by the Makli Hills ridge. The largest monuments are generally found at the southern edge of the site, though the Samma tombs are found in the north.
Architectural evolution
The funerary architecture of the largest monuments synthesizes Muslim, Hindu, Persian, Mughal, and Gujarati influences,[ in the style of Lower Sindh that became known as the ''Chaukhandi'' style, named after the Chaukhandi tombs near ]Karachi
Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
. The ''Chaukhandi'' style came to incorporate slabs of sandstone that were carefully carved by stonemasons into intricate and elaborate designs.
The earliest tombs displayed three to six slabs of stone stacked on top of one another into the shape of a small pyramid. Evolving funerary architecture then incorporated small plinth
A pedestal or plinth is a support at the bottom of a statue, vase, column, or certain altars. Smaller pedestals, especially if round in shape, may be called socles. In civil engineering, it is also called ''basement''. The minimum height o ...
s.
By the 15th century, decorated rosettes and circular patterns began to be incorporated into the tombs. More complex patterns and Arabic calligraphy with biographical information of the interred body then emerged. Larger monuments dating from later periods included corridors and some designs inspired by cosmology.[
]
Pyramidal structures from the 16th century feature the use of minarets topped with floral motifs in a style unique to tombs dating from the Turkic Trakhan dynasty. Structures from the 17th century at the ''Leilo Sheikh'' part of the cemetery feature large tombs that resemble Jain temples from afar, with prominent influence from the nearby region of Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
.
Several of the larger tombs feature carvings of animals, warriors, and weaponry – a practice uncommon to Muslim funerary monuments. Later tombs at the site are sometimes made entirely of brick, with only a sandstone slab.[
The largest structures in the most archetypal ''Chaukhandi'' style feature domed yellow sandstone canopies that were plastered white with wooden doorways, in a style that reflects Central Asian and Persian influences. The size of the dome denoted the prominence of the buried individual, with undersides embellished with carved floral patterns.][ The underside of some canopies feature lotus flowers, a symbol commonly associated with Hinduism.][
Some tombs came to feature extensive blue tile-work typical of Sindh.][ The use of funerary pavilions eventually expanded beyond lower Sindh, and influenced funerary architecture in neighbouring Gujarat.
]
Royal mausolea
The impressive royal mausolea are divided into two major clusters namely Samma cluster and Tarkhan
Tarkhan (, or ; ; zh, c=達干/達爾罕/答剌罕; ; ; alternative spellings ''Tarkan'', ''Tarkhaan'', ''Tarqan'', ''Tarchan'', ''Turxan'', ''Tarcan'', ''Turgan, Tárkány, Tarján, Tarxan'') is an ancient Central Asian title used by various ...
, Arghun, and Mughals
The Mughal Empire was an early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to the highlands of pre ...
cluster. The first cluster has tombs from the Samma period, while tombs from the Tarkhan
Tarkhan (, or ; ; zh, c=達干/達爾罕/答剌罕; ; ; alternative spellings ''Tarkan'', ''Tarkhaan'', ''Tarqan'', ''Tarchan'', ''Turxan'', ''Tarcan'', ''Turgan, Tárkány, Tarján, Tarxan'') is an ancient Central Asian title used by various ...
, Arghun, and Mughals
The Mughal Empire was an early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to the highlands of pre ...
periods are clustered together.
Samma cluster
Tombs dating from the Samma Dynasty are clustered together in a 5-acre section at the northern end of the necropolis. The Samma were Rajput princes, who seized control of Thatta in 1335.[ Samma tombs are strongly influenced by Gujarati styles, and incorporate Muslim and Hindu decorative elements.
The tomb of the King Jam Nizamuddin II, completed in 1510, is an impressive square structure measuring 11.4 metres on each side. It was built of sandstone and decorated with floral and geometric medallions. The cuboid shape of the tomb may be inspired by the Ka'aba in Makkah. Its dome was never built, thus leaving the interior exposed to the elements.][ The monument features a large and intricately carved Gujarati-style ''jharoka'', or balcony, and a small peak atop it, which make the tomb resemble a temple. The exterior features 14 bands of decorative motifs that feature both Quranic verses and Hindu symbols,][ though in keeping with Islamic tradition, all decoration takes the form of geometric patterns, with the sole exception of a frieze depicting local ducks.][
The tomb of Jam Nizamuddin's adoptive son, Darya Khan, resembles a ]Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
i fort, and was built after his death in 1521 Darya Khan had been born a slave, but rose to prominence as a general after defeating an Arghun army in battle. He was granted the title "Hero of Sindh," and was eventually made ''Madrul Muham'', or Prime Minister.[
]
Arghun, Trakhan, and Mughal cluster
The tomb of Isa Khan Tarkhan I, who ruled from 1554 to 1565, represents a departure from the funerary architecture of the Sammas. The tomb features a distinctly new cenotaph-style, and is laid out in a rectangular shape with its inner walls entirely covered with Quranic verses. The tomb also has an area dedicated for the graves of 5 of his royal ladies.[
The mausoleum of Isa Khan Hussain II Tarkhan (d. 1651) features a two-story stone building with cupolas and balconies. The tomb is said to have been built during Isa's lifetime. Upon completion, legend states that Isa ordered the hands of the craftsmen to be cut off so that they would not be able to make another monument to rival his own.][
The tomb of Jan Beg Tarkhan (d. 1600), is an octagonal brick structure whose dome is covered in blue and turquoise glazed tiles. Pavilion or canopy tombs (''chattri maqbara'' or umbrella tomb) are another typical Indo-Islamic architectural feature, as well as enclosure tombs.
The Mughul period is represented by many tombs on the southern side of the necropolis, including the mausoleum of Mirza Jani and Mirza Ghazi Baig, that of Nawab Shurfa Khan, the enclosure of Mirza Muhammad Baqi Tarkhan and of Mirza Jan Baba as well as the impressive restored tomb of Nawab Isa Khan Tarkhan the Younger.
]
Conservation
Makli Necropolis was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The site's structural integrity has been affected by siltation, encroachment, poor site management, vandalism, and solid waste.[ The 2010 Pakistan floods further compounded the site's deterioration.][''Damage Assessment Mission to the Necropolis of Makli'', Heritage Foundation, supported by the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, Karachi (2011).]
Gallery
File:Overview of Makli Hills.jpg, General view of the site
File:Beautiful architecture - pillars at Makli, Thatta.jpg, Some monuments feature corridors with roofs supported by intricately carved sandstone.
File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img16 Makli Necropolis.jpg, Some mausolea, such as that of Dean Shurfa Khan, feature strong architectural influences from Central Asia.
File:Tomb of Sultan Jam Nizamuddin.jpg, Jam Nizamuddin II's tomb features a ''jharoka'' that displays Gujarati influences.
File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img20 Makli Necropolis.jpg, The tomb of Isa Khan Hussain II is one of the most notable monuments at the site.
File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img10 Makli Necropolis.jpg, Tomb of Mirza Jani and Mirza Ghazi Baig
File:Quranic artwork at a decorated grave in the necropolis at Makli, Thatta.jpg, Quranic artwork at a decorated grave of a Sufi saint in the necropolis
File:Canopy tomb of Daya Khan Rahu.jpg, Canopy tomb of Daya Khan Rahu
File:Jam Mubarak Khan .jpg, View of Tomb Jam Mubarak Khan
File:Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta-108247.jpg, View of Nizam al-Din Tomb with polygon pavilion
File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img25 Makli Necropolis.jpg, Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim
File:Makli Thatta Sindh Pakistan 06112010053.jpg
File:Makli hills thatta sindh - UNESCO World Heritage Site.jpg
File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img22 Makli Necropolis.jpg, Tomb of Jan baba.
See also
* List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Pakistan
* List of mausolea
* List of forts in Pakistan
* List of museums in Pakistan
References
External links
Oriental Architecture – Makli Necropolis
Makli Hill Photo Gallery
Illustration of Sind Tiles
Ayaz Asif's photo collection of the Makli Hills and the Shah Jahan Mosque.
Archnet.org Digital Library (Photographs)
Two Monuments on Makli Hill
* http://www.fotopedia.com/items/4vlcmdk21v1b9-sL5b9ds78r0
* http://www.fotopedia.com/items/4vlcmdk21v1b9-Rby790BKO18
* http://www.fotopedia.com/items/4vlcmdk21v1b9-sL5b9ds78r0
{{Authority control
World Heritage Sites in Sindh
Thatta District
Cemeteries in Sindh
*
Indo-Islamic architecture
Tourist attractions in Thatta
Tourist attractions in Sindh
Necropoleis
Stepwells in Pakistan