𝐀𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐡 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐭

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.