- Thatta
Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Historical Monuments of Thatta
State Party = PAK
Type = Cultural
Criteria = iii
ID = 143
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 1981
Session = 5th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/143Refimprove|date=August 2008Thatta or "Thatto" (
Urdu : ٹھٹہ, Sindhi:ٺٽو) is an historic town of 22,000 inhabitants in theSindh province ofPakistan , near LakeKeenjhar , the largest freshwater lake in the country. Thatta's major monuments are listed among theWorld Heritage Site s. Due to its proximity to the huge port ofKarachi , the picturesque old town is frequented by visitors, especially on weekends.History
The city, formerly commanding the delta of the Indus, was the capital of Lower Sindh from the
14th century . During the ruling period ofSoomro Tribe Thatta was the capital ofSindh for 95 years. Between1592 -1739 , it was governed in the name of the Mughal emperors ofDelhi . In1739 however following theBattle of Karnal the province was ceded toNadir Shah of Persia, after which Thatta fell into neglect.Sights
Thatta's monuments include the Jama Mosque (also Shah Jahan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque), built by
Shah Jahan in 1647-49 and lined with glazed tiles. This edifice has 101 domes and is designed in such a way that imam's voice can reach every corner of this building without the help of any loudspeaker or other device.There are also the tombs of
Jam Nizamuddin ,Satihoo Seven Soomro Sisters (reigned in 1461-1509), several Tarkhan rulers and Mughal officials. A vast oldnecropolis with thousands of graves may be found at the nearbyMakli Hill s.Thatta is historically an important region of Sindh which has served as a centre of literature, religious ideologies and socio political clashes. The amalgamated past of this area made its geographic locations into an unforgettable scenery.
Makli , the heart of interiorSindh is counted among one of the largestnecropolis in the world. Located a few kilometers away from Thatta , Makli is truly the place where history starts to speak about its immaculate past and the legends and myths it has undertaken. Makli is an unforgettable visual experience with the most vibrant archaeological sites inPakistan ; it covers about 15-1/2 square kilometers. The mausoleums and [tombs in Makli are one of the greatest ruins of Sindh and also dictate a lot about Sindh's communal structure from 14 to 18th century. Apart from the mausoleums ofJam Nizam al-Din andJan Beg Takhan , Makli has undertaken a lot ofSufi s, warriors, poets, intellectuals. The artistic monuments at Makli show proof ofIslam ic ideologies and the Hindu mythology as well, which in itself is a great documentation of the socio cultural past of Sind.The huge graves are made of solid rock and the mosuleums of the sun baked brick with different kinds of
Quran ic verses embossed on them. Another historical landmark that resides in Thatta is theShah Jahan Masjid built by Mughalemperor Shah Jahan , which is one of the most beautiful gifts given to Sindh by the Mughal emperor. This mosque was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, for the people of Thatta because they welcomed him with open hearts when his father died.The Shah Jahan, mosque is a great example of highly defined tile work. In total this mosque has 33 arches and 93 domes which are of different sizes which adds the flavor to its beauty. White and Blue tiles of glowing texture have been put together in such a manner that it looks like a beautiful mosaic. The most surprising fact about this mega structure is that unlike other Mughal buildings such as
Badshahi Mosque inLahore , this building has negligible amount of pink sandstone in it. The characteristic that makes this mosque unique is that it has no minarets in it and it only has one dome which lies in the central prayer hall.Walking through the mosque if your eyes move towards the inside of the rooftop, then you cant' stop staring and only one thing comes to your mind that only a genius like Shahjehan can think of such a beauty , who also envisioned the Taj Mahal which is counted among the wonders of the world. Peeping through the landmarks of interior Sindh.ee also
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Thatta District
*Thathawata
*Indus Valley Civilization
*History of Pakistan External links
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