Historical Background Of

Multan

Multan city Profile

Location:
Multan Division lies between north latitude 29'-22' and 30'-45 and east longitude 71'-4' and 72'-4'55.
It is located in a bend created by five confluent rivers. The Sutlej separates it from Bahawalpur
District and the Chenab from Muzaffar Garh district. District Multan is spread over an area of 3,721
square Kilometers comprising of following four tehsils.
1. Multan Cantonment.
2. Multan Sadar
3. Shujabad
4. Jalalpur Pirwala
Area:
5,630 sq. miles (approximately) / 3,721 square Kilometers.
Population:
1931 - 119000
1941 - 143000
1951 - 190000
1961 - 358000
1972 - 539000
1981 - 732000
1988 - 1,000,000
1998 - 30, 83000 (updated)
Altitude:
About 215 meters (740 feet) above sea level.
Topography:
Vast plain ground dissected by rivers, canals and narrow water channels
Best Season:
October to March (Temperature and rainfall figures quoted are based on ten years research but may
vary slightly) Population Census Organization Report 1981 published in 1984.
Climate:
District Multan has an extreme climate. The extreme temperature of Multan in summer is 49C
whereas 1C in winter. The average rainfall is 127 mm. The land of the district is plain and very
fertile. However, the portions of tehsils Multan and Shujabad close to the river Chenab are flooded
during monsoons season.
District Nazim:
Mr. Mian Muhammad Faisal Mukhtar

How to get there in Multan

By air:
Multan has an airport about 10 Km from city P.I.A.. operates daily flightS between Karachi-Lahorels1amabad via Multan.
By rail:
Multan is connected by rail with all parts of the country and .lies on the main track between Karachi,
Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta.
By road:
Multan has connection with other cities by bus and coach. Tourism Development Corporation of
Punjab operate a regular deluxe coach service between Lahore and Multan.
Fairs and Festivals
Multan is famous for traditional and religious fairs and festivals. There were a .lot of saints whose
shrines are the asse' of Muslims. At every shrine annual. festivals are held Outskirts of Multan are
known for fairs and other gatherings.
What to Buy
Glazed pottery, camel skin products, cotton fabrics and hand woven carpets.

Historical Places

Mausoleum Bahauddin Zakariya

Mausoleum of Rukn-i-Alam

Mausoleum of Shams-ud-Din

Multan Fort

Tombs

Shrine- Jamal-ud-Din Syed "Shah Yousaf Gardez"

Shrine-Bahauddin Zakria

Shrine-Shah Rukn-e-Alam

Shrine-Syed Shams-ud-din "Shah Shams Sabzwari"

Shrine-Hameed-ud-Din Hakim

Shrine-Qutab-al-qutaab "Moj Dariya"

Shrine-Syed Pir Sakhi Shah Hassan Parwana

Shrine-Qazi Qutab-ud-Din Kashani

Shrine-Syed Hasan Khanjzee

Shrine-Hazrat Shah Dana Shaheed

Shrine-Abu Hassan Hafiz Jamal-ud-din "Musa Pak Shaheed"

Shrine-Hazrat Shah Kamal Qadari

Shrine-Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Chisti Nazami

Shrine-Pir Chup Wardi Waly

Shrine-Mollana Hamid Ali Khan Naqshbandi

Shrine-Allama Syed Ahmad Saeed Kazmi

Shrine-Hazrat Khawaja Awais Khagga

Shrine-Pir Syed Wali Muhammad Shah(Chadar Wali Sarkar)

Shrine-Hazrat Gul Shah

Mosques

Jaima Mosque

Sawi Mosque

Mosque Baqarabadi

Mosque Ali Muhammad Khan

Moqsue Phool Hattan Wali

Eid Gah Mosque

History Of Multan Through The

Centuries
200-BC

The earliest history of Multan fades away in the mists of mystery and mythology.Most of the
historians, however agree that Multan beyond any doubt, is the same Maii-us-than which was

conquered by Alexander who faced here tremendous resistance. He was fatally wounded while
fighting to capture the citadel. For the first time his sacred shield, which he had taken from the
temple of Illion, Athena, and which he used always to be carried before him in all his battles, rolled in
dust while he fell unconscious on the ground with blood gushing out from his wounds. But that was
the scene which inspired the Macedonians and seeing their king in that state they launched a
lightening attack and captured the citadel without any further harm to Alexander. Alexander, however,
never recovered fully well after this battle and died, on his way back, at Babylon.
400-600AD
History is silent for more than six centuries that is until 454 A.D. when White Huns, the barbarous
nomads, stormed Multan under the banner of their leader Torman. After a fierce fight they conquered
but did not stay for long and Hindu rule continued once again for about two hundred years.
600-700AD
Subsequent history of Multan is well established and more than sufficient light has been thrown on
the cross section by world famous travelers, writers and historians who visited Multan including the
Chinese historian Hiuen Tsang in 641 A. D. The Chinese traveller found the circuit of the city about
30 li which is equal to five miles. He described, "the soil rich and fertile and mentioned about eight
Deva temples. He also mentioned that people do not believe in Buddha rule. The city is thickly
populated-the grand temple dedicated to the Sun is very magnificent and profusely decorated-The
image of Sun Deva also known as "Mitra" is cast in yellow gold and ornamented with rare gems. Its
divine insight mysteriously manifested and its spiritual powers made plain to all and so on".
Multan was first visited by the Muslim arms during the reign of the Khalifa Abu Bekr, in 44 Hijri (664
A.D.), when Mohalib, the Arab General, afterwards an eminent commander in Persia and Arabia,
penetrated to the ancient capital of the Maili. He returned with many prisoners of war. The
expedition, however, seems to have been directed towards exploration of the country as no attempt
was
apparently
made
to
retain
the
conquest.
Mohammad Bin Qasim, the great Muslim general invaded this subcontinent in 712 A. D., and
conquered Sind and Multan. The city was conquered after a fierce and long battle which lasted for
seven days. Many distinguished officers of the Muslim army sacrificed their lives in the battle, but the
Hindu
army
was
defeated.
The author of 'Jawahar-al-Bahoor' ( the famous Arabic History) writes in his book "that Multan at that
time was known as the House of Gold. There was a great Mandir which was also called as the Sun
Mandir. It was so big that six thousand resident worshippers were housed therein. Thousands of
people from every corner of the country used to visit this place to perform their Hajj (Pilgrimage).
They used to circle round it and get their beards and heads shaved off as a mark of respect.

800-900AD
In the periods, of Caliph Mansoor, and Mostasim Bilia, Multan was attacked by Arabs several times.
900-1000AD
Ibn Khurdaba described in his book, "The book of Roads and Kingdoms", "Multan being two months
journey from Zarani the capital of Sijistan, by the name of Farj because Mohammad, Son of Qasim,
Lieutenant of At-Hajjaj, found vast quantities of gold in the city, which was forwarded to the Caliph's
treasury
so
it
was
called
by
the
Arabs
the
House
of
Gold".
Al-Masudi of Baghdad who visited the valley of the Indus in 303 A.H. (915 A.D.) mentioned about
Multan in his book, "The Meadows of Gold", that "Multan is seventy five Sindhian Farsangs from
Mansura. It is one of the strongest frontier places of the Musulmans and in its neighborhood there
are a hundred and twenty thousand towns and villages", Al-Masudi also mentioned about the idol
and explained as to how people living in the distant parts of country travel to Multan to perform
pilgrimage and in fulfillment of their woes and religious obligations, they make offerings of money,

precious stones, perfumes of every kind and aloe wood before it. Both tstakhari of Istakhar, or
Persepolis, who wrote about the middle of the tenth century 340 A.H. (951 A.D.) and Ibn Haukal of
Baghdad who based his work on that of Istakhari, give glowing accounts of Multan which they
described as a large, fortified and impregnable city, about half the size of Mansura, the ancient
Muslim capital of Sindh. They also mentioned about the idol of Multan as being held in great
veneration by Hindus who flocked to it from all parts of India
.
Sultan Sabuktageen, the Afghan King conquered Multan, but after four years, that is, in 980 A.D. it
was conquered by a Sardar of the Karamti Tribe who ruled it for some time.

1000-1100AD
Mahmood Ghaznavi attacked Multan for the first time - conquered it and demolished many Hindu
temples. He demolished the famous 'Sun Mandir' also. Mahmood Ghaznavi attacked Multan for the
second time during 1010 A.D. and conquered it but did not stay for long.
1100-1200AD
Sultan Shahab-ud-din, who is also known as Mohammad Gbory, finally defeated Pirthvi Raj and
conquered India. After consolidating his position in Delhi, the capital of India, led an army attack,
against Multan and conquered it. As such, Multan, which had remained almost independent under
the Arab rulers became a dependency of the house of Ghaznavi. Sultan Mohammad Ghory
appointed
Aii
Karmani
as
his
Governor
of
Multan
and
Uch.
1200-1300AD
In 1218 A.D. Changez Khan invaded Western Turkistan and for the next three centuries history of
Multan is practically the history of incursions from Western and Central Asia to which the invasion of
Changez gave rise. During this period Multan was nominally subject to the Delhi Empire. There
were, however, two periods when Multan was practically a separate Kingdom independent of Delhi.
At times the province was held by powerful governors who, though, unable to secure independence,
were
powerful
factors
in
the
dynastic
changes
of
the
time.
The Administration of Multan suffered due to preoccupation of Delhi Empire in repelling the repeated
raids of Mughals from Khurasan and Central Asia. In 1 284 A.D. the Mughals under Taimur Khan,
defeated and killed prince Muhammad, known as the Martyr Prince who then ruled Multan. In 1305
A.D. an invasion under Aibak Khan was repelled by the redoubtable warrior Ghazi Beg Tughlak, who
is said to have 29 times defeated the invading hordes. In 1 327 A.D. a force under Turmsharin Khan
over-ran
the
distt.
and
retreated
on
payment
of
bribe.
1300-1400AD
After the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, Multan became its western frontier. In the beginning it
was governed by Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha, then captured by jaial-al-Din Manakabarni and finally
annexed by Shams-AI-Din Altamash. When Balban strengthened his frontier guard he posted his
eldest son Sultan Muhammad Khan-i-Shahid here and made him responsible for the defense. It was
under his patronage that Amir Khusrau and Hasan Dehiavi lived in Multan and composed their
poems.
Multan, however, continuously suffered from Mongol invasions. In order to meet these Mongol
pressures Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq was appointed as a warden of the Frontier Marches. From Multan
he rose to be the Sultan of Delhi - Multan remained under the Tughlaqs until it was conquered by
Amir
Taimur
in
1
397
A.D.
During this long period the prosperity of Muitan grew unabated. It was during this period that the city
was adorned by important monuments that established a particular school of Muitani Architecture.

The Tombs of Baha-AI-Din Zakariya, Shah Rukn-AI-Din, Rukn-e-Alam and Shamas Sabzwari have
given to Multan a unique place in the indo-Muslim Architecture. The presence of these tombs of the
saints
mentioned
above
have
also
added
a
religious
tone
to
the
city.
In 1 397 A.D., came the invasion of Taimur whose troops occupied Uch and Multan, sacked Tiamba,
raided the Khokhars of Ravi and passed across Beas to Pakpattan and Delhi.
1400-1500AD
For about forty years after the departure of Taimur there was no government in India in reality. Khizer
Khan Syed governed the Kingdom in the name of Taimur but without any sovereign title or royal
honours. During the troubled reign of his grand son Syed Mohammad, an insurrection broke out in
Multan among the Afghans called Langas. Finally one of the Langa chiefs proclaimed himself as the
king of Multan under the title of Sultan Kutab-ud-din Langa. During the eighty years that Multan was
held by Langa Dynasty, it became the principal caravan route between India and Kandhar.
Commerce and agriculture flourished. All the lands along the banks of the Chenab and the Ghagra
as well as some on the Indus were cultivated and prosperity flourished once again.
1500-1600AD
In 1526 A.D. Shah Hussain Arghun, at that time the ruler of Sind, seized Muitan on behalf of Baber,
the Mughal emperor. He bestowed it on his son Mirza Askari. The Mirza, assisted by Langar Khan,
one of the powerful amirs of Sultan Mahmud Langa, held possession of Multan during the rest of the
Baber's reign. After the death of Baber, Humayun found himself compelled to surrender Multan, in
fact the whole of Punjab, to his eldest brother, Kamran Mirza. The prince established his court at
Lahore
and
deputed
one
of
his
arnirs
to
take
care
of
Multan.
During the confusion that followed the flight of Humayun to Persia the Kingdom of Multan was
captured by Baluchies under their chieftain Fatteh Khan who surrendered it to Hebat Khan, one of
the commanders of Sher Shah Suri. Pleased with his services, Sher Shah Suri bestowed the
Kigndom of Multan on Hebat Khan.
1600-1700
AD
When Humayun recaptured the Indian throne in 1555 A. D. Multan was also amalgamated in the
Mughal Empire, Abul Fazal mentions in "Ain-c- Akbari" that: "Multan was one of the largest provinces
of the empire, extending to the frontiers of Persia including within its limits the modern countries of
Baluchistan, Sindh, Shikarpore and Thatta, besides a portion of Doabas now attached to Lahore. A
royal mint for silver and copper coins was established at Multan along with the mints at Delhi, Agra
and a few other places". Under the Mughal Emperors, Multan enjoyed a long period of peace and
was known as Dar-ul-Aman (city of peace). For more than two hundred years that is from 1548 to
1748 there was no warfare in this part of the Punjab. As a result of these peaceful conditions,
cultivation increased, particularly in the rive rain areas and commerce flourished. Multan thus
became an emporium for trade. The city became the headquarter of a province which covered the
whole of
the South Western Punjab and, at times, included Sindh also.

1700-1800AD
At the decline of the Mughal Empire Multan had, at first escaped devastation which was experienced
by other parts of the subcontinent. The main reason was the change in the route of the invaders
from Afghanistan to India as it lay through Lahore. So the armies of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah
Abdali left Multan unscathed. After having been a part of the Delhi empire, Multan in 1752, became a
province owing allegiance to the Afghan kings of Kabul. During this period the country was ruled by
Governors of Pathan extraction and under the rule of the Saddozais of Kabul. The Saddozais
governed Multan for more than sixty six years but general conditions remained turbulent.

After consolidating their position at Lahore, the Sikhs marched to the south-west for over two
hundred and fifty miles. They crossed the indus and penetrating into the Deras' under their
Commanders Sardar Hari Singh Bhangi and his sons, jhanda Singh and Ganda Singh along with
Hira Singh, the Sikhs destroyed everything, plundered many villages and killed the people
mercilessly, set the houses of the Muslims on fire and demolished many mosques. Ultimately, under
the command of jhanda Sing and Ganda Sing, they appeared before Multan on March 9 1764 A.D.
(21 Ramadan 11 78 A. H.) looted its suburbs but after collecting millions of rupees they returned.
(1800-1900AD)
By the beginning of 1818 Ranjit Singh succeeded to raise a big army consisting of 25,000 soldiers
equipped with necessary provisions which he placed under Diwan Misr Chand, his most trusted
General. The over all charge of the campaign was not trusted to his elder son Khark Singh and the
contingent set out for Multan with great pomp and show. The famous Zamzama Gun was also
transported to Multan. Nawab Muzaffar Khan Saddozai who was the Governor of Multan for the past
thirty nine years fought courageously but failed to save Multan from the clutches of Sikhs. The death
of Muzaffar Khan was in fact the death of the Muslim rule in Multan. After capturing the Fort the Sikh
soldiers were let loose to arson and debauchery and Latif recorded as under :
The city and Fort were now given up to be plundered by the sikh troops. Great were the ravages
committed by the sikhs on this occasion. About 400 to 500 houses in the Fort were razed to the
ground and their owners deprived of all they had. The precious stones, jewelry, Shawls and other
valuables belonging to the Nawab were confiscated to the state and kept carefully packed by Diwan
Ram Diyal for inspection of the Maharaja. In the town many houses were set on fire and nothing was
left with the inhabitants that was worth having. Hundreds were killed in city sack, and indeed there
was
hardly
a
soul
who
escaped
both
loss
and
violence"
The Sikh rule continued in the Punjab and Multan unchecked but thinking themselves very powerful,
the sikhs crossed the Sutlej and entered into the British Territory. They looted some of' the villages
also. This happened on December 8, 1845 A.D. The outcome of this adventure was a fierce battle
and a disastrous and ignominious defeat of the Sikh Army. Thereafter a treaty was signed between
the British and the Sikhs. Under the new treaty a Council nf Regency was established at Lahore
which empowered the British to intervene into many administrative matters. Keeping in view the
provisions of the treaty the British Resident introduced several measures in order to regulate the ad
'Ministration throughout the Sikh territories. These measures were to be implemented by Diwan Mul
Raj also, who was the Sikh Governor of Multan. The changes were, however, detrimental to the over
all interests of the Diwan as they affected his tight control over the traders and businessmen. The
other decision of the Resident which brought a blow to Diwan Mui Raj was the introduction of
appeals against the decisions of the district officers. such appeals were to be heard by the Lahore
Darbar. These measures infuriated the Diwan, as he considered it as an infringement of his rights.
So keeping in view the insulting attitude of the British Diwan Mul Raj first resigned, then changed his
mind and agreed to continue for some time. Later his resignation was accepted on March 24, 1 848
and Sardar Khan Singh was appointed as the new Diwan of Multan while two British officers, Mr. P.
A. Vans Agnew and Lt. W. A. Anderson were appointed to take care of the administration. When
these officers reached Multan they were received by Diwan Mul Raj but his advisers forced him to
change his mind. In the meanwhile commotion and agitation spread into the city. As such the
helpless Diwan became a tool in the hands of the Sikh Army which rebel.led and the two British off
icers were murdered. The rebelling soldiers gathered around Mul Raj and declared him as their
leader.
This open rebellion infuriated the British Government at Lahore and they decided that Multan should
be captured and amalgamated into the British Territory. So the British Government collected forces

right from Bannu to Bombay on top priority basis in order to capture Multan and by the end of the
year.
Multan was surrounded from all sides. On December 21) 1848 the Bombay Division commanded by
Brigadier Dundas also reached Multan. On December 27, one British column launched an attack on
the suburbs and the residence of Mul Raj, the "Aam Khas", was bombarded while three other
columns were ordered to make diversion to distract the enemy. The irregular forces commenced he
diversion at noon and by 4 p.m. the whole line of the suburbs including the tomb of Sawan Mal, the
blue Mosque of Shams Sabzwari and the cantonments of the 'Aam Khas' were in possession of the
British. The Bombay Native Rifles actually entered one of the city gates. Meanwhile, a shell from a
mortar blew up the magazine located within the fort. containing 5,000 maunds of powder. The
explosion destroyed the great Mosqueand the lofty dome of Baha-ud-Din Zakariya's Tomb.
On January 2, 1849, breaches in the Khuni Burj and the Delhi Gate were reported, and storming
parties advanced and crossed the intervening ditch, but the city wall was found intact with a height of
30 feet, totally impregnable. A most bloody struggle ensued and the English became masters of the
town. Again, to quote Latif: "Terrible had been the carnage during the siege and frightful the effect of
the British Ordnance. The battered town of Multan presented the appearance of a vessel wrecked
and broken by a tremendous storm which had driven it to an inhospitable shore. The streets were
strewn with slain Sikhs, whose long locks, matted with gore, and beards, blown about by the wind,
gave the dead a demoniacal appearance. Not a house or wall had escaped the effects of the English
shells. All had been scorched and blackened by the bombardment. Mul Raj retired to the citadel with
more than 3,000 picked men, the rest all dispersed and fled. In vain did the Diwan make an
endeavor to rally them. They were dispirited, and nothing was left for the garrison but to sally or.
surrender. Mul Raj was now reduced to the last extremity. A constant storm of shell had reduced the
interior of the fortress to a wreck. Ail the flour having been blown up in the explosion of the grand
mosque, every soldier of the garrison was obliged to grind the wheat for his own food. Mul Raj's
chief advisers urgently pressed him to surrender, and he promised either to do this or take poison.
He was finally arrested by the British and that was the end of the Sikh rule over Multan as well as the
end of loot and plunder which was the main characteristic of the Sikh rule.
As stated above the residents of Multan suffered extensively during this battle. It was another
addition to the history of the power game and bloodshed witnessed by the streets of Multan but life
returned to normal with the passage of time.
(1900-2003AD)
Multan, however, lost its very important position as soon as the British stronghold over the subcontinent grew stronger and stronger. Although peace prevailed in the region but no real progress
was made. When independence was achieved in 1947 Multan was a forgotten region. There was no
industry; no higher and professional educational Institutions, no high standard hospitals; so much so
that there was not even a single recreation park in the whole of the city. It looked more like a town
though its population was nearly one lakh. The site of the Old Fort was in ruins. Thorny bushes and
ditches were in plenty whispering the awful tale of its ruination, Majority of the roads were
unmetalled and the sewerage system too defective to explain. The history of the district since
independence is mainly connected with the expansion of facilities except a few minor changes such
as one of its districts, that is, D.G. Khan has been declared as the Divisional Headquarter and some
of its Tehsils such as Vehari as the new District etc.

THE HISTORICAL TOMBS

The history of Multans Muslim architecture begins with the Muslim conquest. Little
is known about the architecture of Multan prior to the 11thcentury, though elsewhere in
Pakistan we can trace the genesis of Muslim architecture from the 8 th century A.D.

During the 13th and 14thcentury, a new style of architecture was introduced for
funerary memorials of the Muslims in and around Multan the style begin with the
tomb of Baha-ud-din Zakariya and culminated in the mausoleum of Shah Rukn al-Din
Rukn-I- Alam, which has been admired as "one the most splendid memorial ever
erected in the honour of the dead.
These two mausoleums served as perfect models for the future architecture. The
architects continued to imitate them for well over six hundred years. The popularity of
the style did not lessen even when the more refined and gorgeous Mughal style of
Rukn-e-Alam is the beautiful tomb of Sultan Ali Akbar at Suraji Miani near Multan,
which was erected in the Mughal period (992/1585).
Some of the common features of all mausolea in Multan are their tapering walls,
single dome and the glazed tile decoration on the exterior. Another widespread feature
is a wooden canopy, over the main grace. Decorated with carving and grills, the
ceiling of the canopy is always adorned with glazed tiles of different motifs.
Occasionally the grills are made of marble, ornamented with beautiful geometric
designs.
THE TOMB OF SAINT BAHAUDDIN ZAKARYA
Standing at the northeastern side of the old fort which is situated on the high mound,
is the tomb of Shikh-al-Kabir, Bahauddin Abu Mohammed Zakariya Al-Qurashi. The
tomb occupies the centre of a vast oblong open area measuring 260 feet N.S by 203
feet E.W and is enclosed by a perimeters brick wall. It has two main gates one on the
east and the other on the West Side. There is a vow of fourteen "Hujras" on the north
for the "Zaireen".
The tomb was almost completely ruined during the siege of Multan in1848 AD by the
British army but was repaired immediately by Makhdum Shah Mahmud. There is no
original inscription on the body of the tomb to show the date of its construction and
the subsequent repairs. However, from the fact that here lies the great Shaikh
Bahauddin Zakariya who had erected it himself during his prime time, it can be said
that it belongs to the early decades of the 13 th century. The Shaikh died on the 7th of
Safar (661/21 December 1262).
THE TOMB OF SHAH RUKN-E-ALAM
The mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e-Alam is also situated on the fort mound. The Shaikh
was the son of Pir Sadar-Al-Din Arif born at Multan on the 9 th of Friday Ramazan
649/26 November 1251. He was the grandson and successor of Shaikh Baha-Al-Din
Zakariya.

Shaikh Rukn-i-Alam (Rukn-al-Din) died on the 7th of Friday (735/3 Jamadial-Awwal,

January 1335). He was buried in the mausoleum of his grandfather, according to his
own will. After sometime, however, his coffin was transferred to the present
mausoleum. It was constructed, according to a popular belief, by Ghiyas-al-Din
Tughluq (1340-1350) during the days of his governorship of Depalpur, but was given
by Feruz Shah Tughluq to the descendents of Shah Rukn-I-Alam for the latters burial.
The mausoleum of Rukn-I-Alam has been admired by not only the travelers and
chroniclers but also by the art-historians and archaeologist who wrote the architectural
history of the subcontinent.
The tomb was built on octagon plan, 90 ft in diameter with walls which are 414 ft
high and 13.3 ft thick. The mausoleum was constructed with burnt bricks and
supported by timber framing, and decorated with tile faced bricks and wood beams.
The whole structure is divided into three stories. Over the second story is a smaller
Octagon, leaving a narrow3 passage all around the place, above which stands a
hemispherical dome. As the tomb is standing on a high artificial mound, it is visible
from about 45 kilometers. Most of its patterns are geometric-created by arranging the
glazed tiles-and a living testimony to creative genius of their designers. The building
is also decorated with some floral as well as calligraphic patterns. In the 1970s the
mausoleum was thoroughly repaired and renovated by the Auqaf Department of the
Punjab Government. The entire glittering glazed interior is the result of new tiles and
brickwork done by the Kashigars of Multan. This clearly demonstrates the talents and
dexterity of the local craftsmen.
THE TOMB OF SHAH SABZWARI
The tomb of Shah Shamas Sabzwari is situated near the Aam Khas Bagh, about a
quarter of a mile on the east of the ancient port on the high bank of the old bed of the
Ravi which is now filled with a multitude of modern buildings. Shah shams Sabzwari
was a celebrated "Ismaili Dai". Very little is known about Shams Sabzaris life.
According to a popular legend, he arrived in Multan at the time of Shaikh Baha-al-Din
Zakariya. He breathed his last at the age of 111 years in 675/1276 and was buried in
Multan.
The main features of the tomb are similar to those of the citys other major tombs. It
has a square hall in an Octagon shape topped by a high dome. There is a verandah allround the grave-chamber, with fine arches in every side and a single entrance to the
hall. In the courtyard, which is at a lower level than that of the verandah, there is small
mosque. Like other decorated tombs of Multan, this tomb is also ornamented with
Kaashi tile work and Naqashi work. But recently a fire damaged its entrance seriously.
THE TOMB OF SHAH YOUSUF GARDEZI

This famous tomb is situated near the Bohar Gate. Its building is quite different from
the citys other tombs, with a rectangular hall and a flat, dome-less roof. The hall,
which has a small door towards the end of one of its longer sides, is constructed in a
big compound. On one side of the compound stands the large hall of an imambargah.
The tombs present building is a completely renovated one. The rectangular building
is thoroughly covered with the blue Multani tiles, decorated with countless floral and
geometric patterns arranged in large rectangles, square and border. The skyline is a
miniature replica of a forts battlement and has a row of arches with borders raised in
relief. Below the parapet wall runs a continuous calligraphic border on all four sides.
The standard of this calligraphy, however, is not very high. Only blue and while have
been used, the motifs include a rich variety of floral patterns.
THE MAUSOLEUM OF SULTAN ALI AKBAR
This tomb is situated in Suraj Miani, a locality in the northwest of the ancient city.
Sultan Ali Akbar was a saint of Islamic order, and was the great grandson of ShamsSabzwari. This is the only epigraphical evidence available about the saint on the
faade of the mausoleum, however, the tomb is a very important contribution towards
the adoption assimilation and spread of Multani architecture where almost every
characteristic of the Rukn-I-Alams tomb including the octagonal plan, tapering
turrets, the three storied well balanced and harmonious elevation, embellished with
colourful tiles revetment, and screened window opening, his some horizontal as well
oblique so also noticeable. It is because of this that the monument has been
nicknamed the "Little Rukn-i-Alam". It has glazed style design used according to the
available space. The mausoleum stands on a six feet high square platform.

Tomb of Hafiz Muhammad Jamal

This tomb is situated near Aamkhas Bagh surrounded with thick heavy wall of small
bricks. The main square building includes a large hall, surrounding veranda and a
Majlis Khana.
The tomb was built in 19th century during the reign of Ranjit Singh ( 1810). The land
for the tomb was given by Sawanmal, the governor of Multan in those days. The main
building was constructed under the supervision of Khawaja Khuda Bakhsh "Tami
Waly" and Khawaja Muhammad Isa of Khanpur. With passage of time the building
and its decoration were badly damaged, although necessary repair work was carried
out on the original pattern in 1972-74. With the exception of the main entrance, the
exterior of the tomb is very simple. However, the interior is profusely decorated with
Kashi work and glass mosaics Shisha MinaKari, While the tomb itself is

exceptionally fine example of mosaic work. All the motifs and pattern are floral, with
different colours.