07th March 2018
(All photographs and text used in this article are author's property, please take prior permission if needed of using them)
An elegant, traditional, and unique style of the
shrine is present in Chiniot city. The shrine has four significant structures on its premises; two tombs, one minaret of the mosque, and one arched entrance to the shrine.
Tomb-1
The first
tomb is designed in the shape of a rectangular
pavilion arcade that looks to be inspired by the Mughal architecture ‘Baradari”
design; however, it has seven arched gateway openings on one side and six on
the others. These arches run inside the pavilion as well. The repetitive nature
of the arches gave an overall look of rhythm and symmetry in pattern, a sense
of unity and continuity, and overall exquisiteness in architecture. Each arch
is pointed cinquefoil type which is characterized by five cusps or pointed arches forming a
floral shape. The arch is typically seen in Gothic architecture. The arch
is raised from the impost.
In the front
elevation, the Spandrels above the arches are decorated with floral motifs
created most likely with plaster or lime mixture. However, the spandrels lying
inside the pavilion are adorned with floral mural patterns painted in oil.
Above the
spandrels, a band of brown tile runs all around the front facade, on the
center of which a floral molding is present on all four sides.
Exterior
cornice molding: a decorative feature seen
at the junction of the exterior façade and the roof. It is made by adjoining
two C-Shape sections on the same axis but opposite directions made in plaster the
outer edge is painted in green color.
On the edge of
the roof, a small height of parapet wall runs along the periphery, which is constructed by
installing tiles; these tiles having shaped like pointed arches; a common style
inspired by Mughal architecture.
The corner columns are circular and fluted in style, with a series of parallel grooves
carved into the surface and floral embellishments at the bottom.
On each corner
of the roof slab, a small minaret also has been installed.
On the ground
floor, in the middle of rectangular pavilion graves are present around which walls
are raised in squares to form a tomb. An entrance door is present in the center of
this tomb. On the first floor, a quadrangular dome is raised; a type of dome structure that has a square
or rectangular base instead of a circular one.
The most interesting and unique feature of this tomb, which, I haven’t
seen elsewhere in Pakistan is that a square base lifted in the form of walls
around 07 feet in height above which a dome is raised. On the front of these
square walls, one can see a trademark of Chinioti's workmanship of creating an immaculate design of archivolts. A
series of ornamental moldings form decorative bands around a blind arch in
the center. This archivolt is composed of a series of arch bands, featuring
intricate decorative patterns of floral motifs.
On the corner of this quadrangular dome, fluted pillars are present having balconies and
dome shape moldings on the top.
An amalaka is
a segmented or notched stone that sits on the top of Hindu temples, that
represents a lotus. A molding of a similar design is present on the top of the quadrangular dome. Also, a finial
is raised from the apex of the amalaka.
