Historical Monuments at Makli:
An Overview of Makli's Historical Monuments Makli Necropolis in Thatta, a massive Muslim necropolis with historical monuments, is among the world's largest cemeteries. Almost half a million monuments can be found throughout the 10 km 2 cemetery. Enormous tombs and burials of people from all walks of life, including kings and queens, scholars and soldiers, philosophers, governors, and saints, may be found strewn around the diamond-shaped site of Makli. In 1981, it became one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
History:
According to historical reports, over 125,000 saints have found their final resting place in the sleeping city of Makli. Throughout history, the city has been a significant hub for education. There were an estimated 400 educational institutes where students from Asia and the Muslim world studied a variety of subjects, including philosophy, politics, and religion. Still, there is no consensus on who lived in this city originally. The cemetery is widely said to have grown around the mausoleum of Sufi Hamad Jamali, who lived in the fourteenth century.
Mai Makli:
The origin of this location's name, Makli, is also the subject of folklore.Two theories exist: the first is that Makli signifies Mecca-like to the locals, and the other is that the name Makli is linked to the religious woman "Mai Makli," whose prayers are claimed to have prevented Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq from conquering Thatta until her death. She was laid to rest in Makli, next to Jam Nizamuddin's grave, as well.
From the 14th to the 18th centuries, Thatta was the magnificent capital of Sindh, ruled by three successive dynasties: Samma, Argun, and Tarkhan. From 1592 to 1739, Thatta was under the control of the Mughal rulers of Delhi. After Thatta fell into a state of depravity and neglect, the province was eventually given up to Shah Nadir of Iran in 1739.
There are several monuments that stand out due to their size, style, and artwork. The striking square-shaped graves of Jam Nizamuddin II, the 1461–1509 ruler, are made of sandstone and are embellished with geometric and floral motifs. Similarly, before 1644, stone mausoleums featuring grand balconies and cupolas were built for Isa Khan Tarkhan the Younger and his father, Jan Baba.
Diwan Shurfa Khan's, who passed away in 1638, is the most colorful. The dimensions, shapes, and designs of each tomb vary. Certain monuments are constructed with two stories and covered areas, displaying the nameplate of the deceased person within.
Dr. Anne Marie:
Once, Dr. Anne Marie Schimmel, a renowned German Sufi scholar and expert on Iqbal's poetry, expressed her desire to be buried at Makli Necropolis due to its grandeur and scope. Archaeologists will find heaven in Makli, the city of solitude. Both domestic and foreign travelers, as well as pilgrims, find it fascinating. However, Makli became an unresolved mythology in many ways that still exist today.
Architectural Significance:
The Sindh province's social and political history from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries is depicted in the historical monuments in Makli.
Using a range of materials, including sand bricks, stone, and marble, the majority of the upper echelon's tombs and cemeteries during the illustrious Thatta period were constructed with architectural virtuosity, demonstrating the distinctive art of the time. Glazed tiles opulently adorn some of Makli's monuments.
These monuments include a variety of forms, including arched domes and towers with exquisite Islamic calligraphy and devotional carvings that depict themes from many iconographic and theological traditions. The majority of the famous personalities' monuments, which depict Islamic and Hindu architecture, are still intact today, even after being exposed to all types of weather for several centuries. Nonetheless, a significant refurbishment is necessary to preserve the rich legacy for future generations.
Location and accessibility:
Scattered around the edge of the 6.5-kilometer-long Makli plateau, the historical monuments at Makli are located next to the point of the Indus river delta, on the outskirts of Thatta, the ancient center of Islamic civilization. It is located in Pakistan's Sindh province, roughly 89 kilometers east of Karachi. From Karachi, Makli Hill makes for a great day trip. Wide streets provide access to all of the monuments throughout the graveyard's full plot, making navigation simple edge of the 6.5-kilometer-long Makli plateau, the historical monuments at Makli are located next to the point of the Indus river delta, on the outskirts of Thatta, the ancient center of Islamic civilization. It is located in Pakistan's Sindh province, roughly 89 kilometers east of Karachi. From Karachi, Makli Hill makes for a great day trip. Wide streets provide access to all of the monuments throughout the graveyard's full plot, making navigation simple.