Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam

Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan

The Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam located in Multan, Pakistan, is the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fateh.

History

Image of the tomb taken by William Henry Baker in 1865

The tomb was built between 1320 and 1324 CE in the pre-Mughal architectural style. The tomb is said to have built by Ghias-ud-Din Tughlak (r.1320-1325 AD) during his governorship of Depalpur, between 1320 and 1324 CE and was given by his son, Muhammad bin Tughluq to the descendants of Shah Rukn-e-Alam for the latter’s burial in 1330. 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 of Multan.^[1]

The tomb is on the tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2]

Architecture

Interior of the tomb with the shrine

The tomb is situated on the southwest side of the Multan Fort premises. It is one of the many mausoleums of Multan, of Sufi saints and pies.

The building is an octagon, 51 feet 9 inches in diameter internally, with walls 41 feet 4 inches high and 13 feet 3 inches thick, supported at the angles by sloping towers. Above this is a second octagon, 25 feet 8 inches high, then another at 26 feet 10 inches high. There is a narrow passage all around the top of the lower storey for the Moazzan, or public caller to prayers.

This structure is surmounted by a hemispherical dome 58 feet externally in diameter. The total height of the building is 100 feet, including a plinth of 3 feet. As it stands on the high ground, the total height above the road level is 150 feet.^[3]

The mausoleum is built entirely of red brick, bounded with beams of shisham wood, which have turned black over the centuries. The exterior is elaborately ornamented with glazed tile panels, string-courses and battlements. The colours used are dark blue, azure, and white, which contrast the deep red finely polished bricks.

Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan - Front Courtyard

Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan - Back Courtyard

References

External links

Media related to Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam at Wikimedia Commons

SN Bukhari (2009-08-24). "Tomb of Shah Rukne Alam Multan". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-12-07.

World Heritage Sites in Pakistan

Heritage sites	Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta Rohtas Fort Taxila

Tentative sites	Badshahi Mosque Wazir Khan Mosque Tombs of Jahangir, Asif Khan and Akbari Sarai Hiran Minar and Tank Ranikot Fort Shah Jahan Mosque Chaukhandi tombs Archaeological Site of Mehrgarh Archaeological Site of Rehman Dheri Archaeological Site of Harappa Archaeological Site of Ranigat Shahbazgarhi Rock Edicts Mansehra Rock Edicts Baltit Fort Tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha'al-Halim and Ustead and the Tomb and Mosque of Jalaluddin Bukhari Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam Banbhore

List of cultural heritage sites in Punjab, Pakistan

Forts	Derawar Fort Lahore Fort Rohtas Fort

Tourist attractions	Shalimar Gardens, Lahore Hazuri Bagh Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore Kamran's Baradari

Monuments	Minar-e-Pakistan Hakimon ka Maqbara Islamic Summit Minar Nicholson's Obelisk Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal Chauburji Tomb of Bibi Jawindi Tomb of Jahangir Tomb of Nur Jahan Tomb of Lala Rukh House of Abdus Salam, Jhang Shrine of Jalaluddin Bukhari Shrine of Nuriya Shrine of Baha'al-Halim Tomb of Jani Khan Tomb of Nadira Begum Tomb of Ali Mardan Khan Cypress Tomb

Government buildings	Governor's House National College of Arts Quaid-e-Azam Library Lahore High Court building

Religious sites	Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam Data Durbar Complex Badshahi Mosque Katasraj temple

Museums	Lahore Museum Javed Manzil

Coordinates: 30°11′56″N 71°28′17″E / 30.19889°N 71.47139°E / 30.19889; 71.47139

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