Tomb of ustad nuriya

 February 9, 2014

The tomb of Ustad Nuriya stands in the northwest corner of Uch Sharif on a low hillside, the site of an old fort, amid the ruins of several other architecturally significant tombs, among them the tombs of Bibi Jawindi and Baha'al-Halim.

The proposed property consists of 5 monuments at the South-West corner of Uch Sharif- representing the town’s most exceptional architecture.

Tomb of Bibi Jawindi

February 9, 2014

The Tomb of Bibi Jawindi in Uch Sharif, Pakistan, is a culturally significant monument with a rich history. It is one of the five monuments in Uch Sharif currently on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Built-in 1493 by Dilshad, an Iranian prince, the tomb was dedicated to Bibi Jawindi, the great-granddaughter of the famous Sufi saint Jahaniyan Jahangasht.

Situated in the southwest corner of Uch, a city founded by Alexander the Great, in Punjab province's Bahawalpur state, the tomb is a prime example of the region's vibrant "shrine culture." Uch Sharif is renowned for its numerous monuments and shrines, and the Tomb of Bibi Jawindi stands out as an architectural masterpiece.

The exterior of the tomb is octagonal in shape and consists of three tiers. The top tier supports a dome, while the interior features thick angled walls, creating a circular space that spans two stories in height. The tomb is adorned with intricate decorations, including Islamic scriptures, carved timber, and vibrant blue and white mosaic tiles called faience.

Supported by eight tapering towers at each corner, the base tier is surrounded by a compound that has been preserved in its original desert-like state, with most of the area covered by cemented graves. The tomb is surrounded by green vegetation, thanks to nearby river tributaries and canals.

Along with the Tomb of Bibi Jawindi, the proposed property in Uch Sharif includes four other remarkable monuments. Among them is the tomb and mosque of Jalaluddin Bukhari, a 14th-century Central Asian Sufi. The brick-built tomb boasts intricate wooden pillars supporting a flat roof adorned with glazed tiles featuring floral and geometric designs. The adjacent mosque features a spacious hall with wooden pillars and a flat roof decorated with enameled tiles both inside and outside.

Connecting these structures are a series of domed tombs. The first tomb, built by Jahaniyan Jahangasht for Baha’ al-Halim, features three tiers, an octagonal base, and a dome. Similarly, the second tomb, constructed for Bibi Jawindi around 1494, and the third tomb, dedicated to the architect, showcase elaborate architectural elements such as carved timber, cut and molded brickwork, and blue and white faience mosaic tiles. These tombs' basement walls taper and are supported by eight engaged tapering corner towers, adding to their grandeur.

Despite erosion over time, the distinct profile, construction techniques, and decorative interiors of these three tombs remain visible, offering a glimpse into their historical and artistic magnificence.

In conclusion, the Tomb of Bibi Jawindi and the accompanying monuments in Uch Sharif are invaluable cultural treasures. Their exceptional architectural design, craftsmanship, and historical significance make them deserving candidates for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Jaulian, Buddhist Monastery and Stupa, Taxila, Punjab, Pk

March 29, 2018

Location:- 33.7649 N, 72.8749 E

Buddhist Site

Jaulian monastery is among the prominent heritage sites of the province and located close to Taxila. Sir John Marshall, director of the Archaeological Survey of India (1902-28), in his book Guide to Taxila noted the monastery is at the top of a hill close to the village of Jaulian. Marshall said there was reason to believe that the destruction of the Buddhist settlement took place in 5CE at the hands of the invading Huns.

There are two main parts of these ruins, one is the main stupa and other one is the monastery and university of Jaulian.

The main stupa at Jaulian is surrounded by twenty-one votive stupas and is badly damaged. Some of the experts believe that few of these votive stupas here are the tombs of revered monks. There are statues at stupas and most of the statues are preserved. For the purpose of exhibition at museum, a number of these statues are removed. Along with the plaster, at some places, the original structure of the building of Stupa is preserved.

Hall for Main Stupa

Monastery 

Monastery

Healing Buddha :- An odd artifact that is a statue of Buddha with a hole in its navel can be seen here that is called “healing Buddha”. People visit this place with the belief that by putting their finger in the naval hole and praying for the alimenting of patients would help to cure the illness. The carved writing under the statue reveals that this statue was gifted by “Budhamitra Dharmanandin” a friar. 

Votive Stupas

Votive Stupas

Votive Stupa & Healing Buddha

A monastery was also built here that contained a number of rooms for the students. In addition to these rooms, a large pool for washing was also built here. Two floors are built within the monastery and each floor has twenty-eight rooms. In front of some of the rooms, statues of Buddha are preserved. Stairs were made of stones to reach the upper floor and are still preserved. As a source of some light and the supply of fresh air, each of these rooms had a window. These holes of windows were also used as niche to grip the lamps for students.

Monastery

Monastery

Monastery

Votive Stupa

Buddhist Stupa

Buddhist Stupa

Votive Stupa

Main Stupa Hall

In 455 CE, White Huns burnt the monastery and thus destroyed.

Pipplan Buddhist Monastery

29-03-18

The approximate location of this site is 33°45'56.66"N, 72°51'57.95"E.

Piplan, the ancient Buddhist monastic establishment in Taxila that was named for the thick peepal trees of the area, is a Buddhist archaeological jewel located in a calm valley that has stayed hidden from local and foreign tourists and the public, despite its unique landscape.

PIPLAN IS ANCIENT BUDDHIST MONASTERY IS ON UNESCO WORLD   
HERITAGE LIST AS A PROTECTED ANTIQUITY  

The ancient site lies at the foot of the hills between Mohra Maradu and Julian, the ancient Taxila university. According to Dr Mohammad Ashraf, the former director of the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisation, the site was excavated in 1923-24, under Sir John Marshall, the director general of the Archaeological Survey of India.

 A WELL PRESERVED VOTIVE STUPA BUILT OF ASHLAR DIAPOR MASONARY IN PIPLAN

Department of Archaeology and Museums Deputy Director Abdul Ghafour Lone said that later, study papers had revealed that archaeologists during the excavation had found the site belonged to two different periods.

Studies conducted by the archaeologists found that to the east is a courtyard of a monastery dating back to the late Partian or early Kushan times. It consists of an open quadrangle in the centre, with a range of cells on all four sides. Mr Lone added that in the middle of the courtyard is the basement of a square stupa.

Former archaeology department deputy director Bahadur Khan explained that the early monastery, which was constructed of diaper masonry, fell to ruin before the 5th century, and a second monastery was later constructed on the western side.

Mr Khan said that according to the research, the second monastery was constructed from heavy, semi-ashlar masonry, and was exceptionally well-preserved. The ruins of the second monastery revealed that it comprised a court of cells on the north side, with a hall of assembly, kitchen and refectory to the south and a converted stupa to the east.

 A WELL PRESERVED VOTIVE STUPA BUILT OF ASHLAR DIAPOR MASONARY IN     PIPLAN

The cells were built on two storeys, and as per the traditional Gandharan style of architecture, consisted of an open quadrangle with cells for monks on all four sides and a pillared veranda.

According to Mr Lone, a now dilapidated stupa in a cell was discovered in the southeast corner of the monastery. The floor of the stupa and the cell in which it stands is around 2ft below the rest of the monastery, leaving little doubt among the archaeologists and researchers that the stupa was originally built in one of the cells of the earlier, Kushan-era monastery and then incorporated into the later one.

SMALL STUPA

A still intact 8ft high stupa stands in a chamber of the monastery. It was tradition to build a memorial stupa inside a cell after the prinirvana (death of a venerable monk). This stupa rises to three diminishing tires, the topmost surmounted by a dome and originally crowned by an umbrella, decorated with lotus rosettes and images of Buddha, while at the base of the dome is a series of seated Buddhas. However, due to a lack of preservation and conservation, the stupa is in shambles.

REMAINS OF 8 FT HIGH STUPA STAND IN CHAMBER OF MONASTERY 

According to Mr Lone, only one excavation was carried out by British archaeologists before partition, which recovered 26 coins featuring Azes, Kadphises, Kanishka, Vasudeva and Indo-Sasanian rulers. He said the study had revealed that by the end of the 5th century, the Buddhist site met the same fate as its contemporary monastic settlements in the region, resulting in gradual decay due to human and natural agents.

COURT 

Piplan has been added to the Unesco World Heritage List of the convention concerning the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage, while the Pakistani government has declared the site a ‘protected antiquity’ under the 1975 antiquities act.

 SMALL STUPA

GOOGLE EARTH VIEW