Type: Monument - Tomb
Province: Sindh
District: Thatta
Period: Historic
Relative Chronology: 16th Century CE
Description: It is located in the Makli necropolis of Thatta. Tomb of Sultan Ibrahim Khan Tarkhan is located to the south of As’habi Baba’s tomb. This monumental tomb is octagonal in plan and located on a 20 cm raised platform. The eight sides are provided with identical shape pointed arches. However, the cordinal arches are slightly larger in size as compare to those four provided on the angles. The entrance to the tomb chamber is provided on its southern side, whereas, the western, eastern and northern sides are filled with perforated stone screens. Presently the western and northern side screens are vanished; however, the eastern side is intact, possessing yellow marble screen. This southern side pointed archway is enclosed with rectangular frame, its height is 7.10 m. whereas, the inner height of the arch is 6.50 m. Internally, this archway is arranged in rectangular shape vestibule, measuring 4.50 x 2.22m. The floor of the vestibule is paved with marble slabs. The dado level is veneered with dressed slabs of yellow marble. The height of the dado level is 44 cm. Above the dado level, rectangular shape recessed panels are provided on either side. It is significant to mention that the defaced traces of decorative designs are denoting that once these recessed panels were richly ornamented. At the inner end of the vestibule, a rectangular shape entrance is provided, measuring 2.20 x 1.27m. It has been provided with engaged jambs and a lintel above. The moonstone on the doorsill is executed in the same order as can be noticed in the eastern archway to the compound wall. This rectangular entrance is surmounted by an arch ventilator, which is measuring 2.20 x 1.46 m. Such type of arch ventilators can also be noticed on the northern, eastern and western sides. These rectangular entrance are provided a horizontal strip with Quranic verses in thulth style. The lettering is wrought with enamelled ceramic tiles depicting in white colour on the blue background and bordered by a white, blue and turquoise colours band of floral scrolls. The same patterns have been replicated on the remaining sides. Most of these embellishments have greatly faded and defaced. The arch ventilators are enclosed by a rectangular frame exhibiting a floral scroll border band, while the spandrels of the ventilator once profusely garnished with floral scrolls and interlacing have mostly defaced except the northern side.
The arches at the angles are provided with smaller alcoves. This alcove arch is executed with half domical ceiling. Inside the northwestern angle arch alcove, on its left side, a staircase is added, leading to the roof. The northeastern arch alcove is exhibiting enamelled ceramic tiles, executed in the left side spandrel, whereas, the right side spandrel is depicting few traces. The southeastern arch alcove seems to be more intact, its spandrels are showing floral interlacing, whereas, the border band is illustrating floral scrolls. Above the rectangular frame of the angle arch alcoves, a sunken panel is provided. The inner side of the above stated sunken panel is enriched by means of floral tendrils, which is bordered by a band of floral scrolls. The northern, southern, eastern and western sides arch alcoves are slightly larger in size as compared to the angle side arches. The floor level is elegantly paved with square brick tiles. The squinches provided to this tomb chamber are in the form of three lined pointed arches, resting on the cornice moulding flanked by the pilasters. The lower inner sides of these squinches are provided with four tiny shouldered arch niches, whereas, the alcove ceilings of the squenches at the four corners are wrought with stucco stalactite work. The rectangular frames of the squinches and the cornice moulding at few places are showing patches of stucco-lustro painting in red colour. This mode of work can be noticed for the first time in the Makli Hill cluster. The height of the squinch from the ground level is 5.88m. The four squinches at the corners are more deeper in composition. These are provided with arch ventilators at their centers, measuring 2 x 2.40m. The zone of transition is 8.30 m higher from the ground level. It has been provided with intersecting recessed arches laid horizontally. The domical ceiling is resting over the circular springing level, which is 8.30 m higher from the ground level. It is providing a base for the domical ceiling. The height of the domical ceiling is 10m from the floor level. It has been elegantly decorated with stucco stalactite work.
The first storey is octagonal in plan with a height is 7.10 m. Above this a pronounced circular shape drum is constructed. The height of the pronounced drum above the circumambulation is 3.30m, whereas, its height from the ground level is 10.40m. The drum has been garnished with enamelled ceramic tiles running in three decorative strips around the drum, where the lower and upper bands are identical depicting indigo blue enamelled tiles, whereas, the central strip is showing Quranic verses in thulth style, executed in enamelled ceramic technique - a style appearing for the first time at Makli Hill. One of the most interesting feature of this tomb is its double dome recorded for the time at Makli Hill. The total height of the dome above the drum is 3.70 m, whereas, the āmalaka is wrought above the bell shaped element, which is 30 cm above the dome. The external height of this fabulous tomb is 14.40 m. While internally its height is 10 m up to the apex of the domical ceiling. Thus the difference between the upper and lower shells of the dome is 4.40 m. A small ventilator can be also be observed on the northern side.
Latitude: 24.758138889
Longitude: 67.903219444
Ownership: Federal Government
Legal Status: Protected by The Antiquity Act 1975 (As amended in 1992)
Title of Publication: Inventory of Cultural Property in the Province of Sindh, Pakistan, 2015
Published In: Government of Sindh, Vol 4
Year of Publication: 2015
Bibliography/Reference: Jansen, Michael, Yasmeen Lari
