Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
مقبرہ شاہ رکن عالم | |
C.E. |
The Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam (
Location
The tomb is located in the ancient city of Multan, in central Pakistan. The tomb is situated at the northwestern edge of the Multan Fort.
History
The tomb was built between 1320 and 1324 CE by Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq in the pre-Mughal architectural style.[3] The tomb is considered the earliest example of Tughluq architecture, and pre-dates Tughluq monuments in Delhi.[1]
The tomb was built when Ghiyath al-Din served as governor of Dipalpur, and likely was intended to serve as a tomb for himself,[4][3] before he became Emperor of the Delhi Sultanate. Rukn-e-Alam had initially been buried in the Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya,[4] however, the present tomb was gifted by Muhammad bin Tughluq to the descendants of Rukn-e-Alam,[5] who had his remains interred in the shrine in 1330.[4]
Layout
The shrine's layout is typical of Suhrawadi tombs, with three entrances, a western-facing mihrab, and an original main entrance on the southern axis that featured a small vestibule.[4] The main entrance has since been shifted to the east, in an attempt to align the shrine's axises with Mecca, in accordance with orthodox interpretations of Islam.[4]
Architecture
The shrine represents the culmination of Multani funerary architecture that began with the Shrine of Khalid Walid near Kabirwala.[7]
Mausoleum
The mausoleum is a three-tiered structure. Though the second octagonal tier is typical of Multan,[1] the first tier in the shape of an octagon differs from the nearby Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya and other earlier shrines which rests upon a square shaped base.[1]
The first tier is 15 metres in diameter, and features walls 4 feet thick. The first tier features bands of timber that create a visual break in the exterior brickwork.[1] The octagonal first tier is buttressed by small minaret-shaped towers in each of its 8 corners that provide support to the structure, and narrow as they rise and surpass the height of the first tier.[3]
A second octagon rests upon the first tier that features small domes in each of the eight corners of the building. A third tier rests above the second, and is formed by a dome of 15 meters in diameter.[3] The entire structure is 35 meters tall,[3] with sloping walls. The dome is capped by a structure similar to an amalaka found on Hindu temples.[8]
Decorative elements
The mausoleum is built entirely of red brick, bounded with beams of
The exterior is further embellished with regional-style tile-work in floral, arabesque, and geometric motifs with dark blue, azure, and white tiles - all of which contrast the deep red finely polished bricks. The white dome is decorated with blue tile-work along its lower perimeter.[3]
Interior
The shrine's vast interior features no internal buttresses, nor any interior structural elements to support the interior space,[6] which results in a vast interior space. The interior was initially decorated with elaborate tile work, which was subsequently covered in plaster,[6] though vast interior of the mausoleum is now largely bare.[3] Niches at the ground level serve to enlarge the interior space further.[6]
The carved wooden
Conservation
In the 1970s, the mausoleum was thoroughly repaired and renovated by the Auqaf Department. The entire glittering glazed interior is the result of new tiles and brickwork done by the Kashigars, or tile makers, of Multan.[10]
The tomb is on the tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3]
Gallery
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Detail of the shrine's carved brickwork -
The shrine at night -
The tomb in 1865 -
Underside of the shrine's dome -
Devotees inside the shrine -
External view of the shrine -
The shrine's exterior is embellished with a variety of decorative elements -
A view of the shrine from its courtyard
References
- ^ ISBN 9780300064650.
- ISBN 9783643908360.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam". UNESCO website. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781316827222.
- ISBN 9788124602454.
- ^ ISBN 9780231101332.
- ISBN 9781134613656.
- ISBN 9780470902486.
- ISBN 9781134552764.
- ^ Ikhlaq Ahmed Qadri (November 2000). "History Of Multan (scroll down to read 'The Tomb Of Shah Rukn-e-Alam'". Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
External links
- SN Bukhari (24 August 2009). "Tomb of Shah Rukne Alam Multan". YouTube.