Heritage
Sufi shrines and their architecture
Sufi shrines are among the most visited historic buildings in Pakistan, and several define regional architectural styles. They include the 14th-century tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan, the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sehwan in Sindh, Data Darbar in Lahore and the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai at Bhit Shah.
Quick facts
- Shah Rukn-e-Alam tomb
- About 1324, Multan
- Uch Sharif
- Cluster of 12th to 15th century tombs
- Bhit Shah
- Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif, 18th century
- Annual gatherings
- Urs festivals, drawing very large crowds
Background
Shrine architecture in Multan established the octagonal, sloping-walled brick tomb with a large dome, widely copied across southern Punjab. In Sindh, glazed blue and white tile facing is the dominant treatment. Shrines are also cultural venues: the annual urs gatherings draw very large crowds and sustain qawwali, dhamaal and Sindhi Sufi poetry traditions.
Key entries
- Multan shrines
Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakariya.
- Sehwan Sharif
Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sindh.
- Uch Sharif
Tiled tombs near Bahawalpur, on the UNESCO tentative list.
- Data Darbar
Lahore; shrine of Ali Hujwiri, the city's largest.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an urs?
- An annual commemoration held at a Sufi shrine, usually marking the saint's death anniversary, with music, poetry and large public gatherings.
- Why is Multan called the City of Saints?
- Because of the number of major Sufi shrines concentrated there, several dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.