Ghulam Shah Kalhoro Tomb

LOCATION
The mausoleum of Ghulam Shah Kalhora, the oldest and the most refined and impressive of the
Kalhora monuments in Hyderabad, is located to the west of the residence of the Inspector
General of Prisons, Sindh, which is situated on the north of the National Highway near City
Gate Hotel, Hyderabad.
SITE PLAN
'Tomb Of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro''
• INTRODUCTION
• The mausoleum of Ghulam Shah Kalhora, the oldest and the most refined and
impressive amongst the Kalhora monuments . The tomb of Mian Ghulam Shah
Kalhora, the founder of Hyderabad, represents the typical architecture of Kalhora’s
period. The tomb was constructed in 1772 A.D. by his son Sarfraz Khan Kalhora.
• From the outside, it is a formidable fort.
• Each side of the fortification wall, was built with burnt bricks laid in mud mortar
with its core filled with mud bricks.
• The mausoleum is built on a raised rectangular platform.
• The mausoleum itself is a great massive square building. The entrance, on the
eastern side, tall, pointed archway. The. exterior is divided into three horizontal
panels above the dado level. Each panel was once covered with glazed colored
tiles having two floral patterns.
• Many of these tiles are now badly damaged, and those of the façade are totally
disappeared .
FEATURES OF THE TOMB
• Exterior: The mausoleum is built on a raised rectangular platform, three feet ten inches high,
measuring 118 feet by 114 feet. The low parapet wall which runs right around the raised platform on which
the building stands is constructed of thin panels of perforated stones. The panels are divided by means of
small pillars placed at regular intervals. The perforated patterns on the panels and the surface tracery of the
cornerstones are reminiscent of similar work at Fatehpur Sikri. Another interesting feature of the raised
platform at the masons marks cut into the flagstones of the platform. Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhora itself is
36 feet high-a great massive square building 56 feet across on each side. The entrance, on the eastern side
is in the form of recessed, tall, pointed archway. The lofty exterior is divided into three horizontal panels
above the dado level. Each panel was once covered with glazed colored tiles having two floral patterns
alternating with each other. Many of those tiles are now badly damaged, and those of the facade are
totally missing and have been plastered over by way or repairs.
• Interior: Main monumental entrance on West Facade lead one into an enclosure where the walls of
the chamber were once totally covered with elaborate frescoes with bands of Persian scrip. On the
southern side inscribed couplets set in relief, in marble medallions. There is a gallery at the squinch level
which can be reached through flight of steps built into the thickness of the wall. In the north-western
corner of the chamber, which also leads to the roof o the mausoleum. The introduction of a gallery at the
squinch level, again is an interesting feature of Muslim Architecture.
• Enclosure: Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhora Tomb is
located in a rectangular enclosure. From the distance, it
appears like a gigantic fort instead of a funerary building
• Plan: Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhora itself is 36 feet high-a

great massive square building 56 feet across on each side. It
is built on square plan, the main arched entrance which
open to west, leads to main chamber of the tomb. The tomb
is octagonal from the interior
• Elevation Details: The facade of the tomb is

marked with sunken panels. These panels repeat on all four
sides. The facade of the tomb looks as if the structure has
got three storey's. This has been achieved by dividing each
side of the facade in tee ornamental storey's. Each side of
the entrance contains double blind arches, one upon the
other.
• The facade of the tomb is ornamented with an amulet
pattern. Above it, are glazed blue tiles that give beauty to
the facade. Blue tiles were profusely used by the Kalhoras in
their buildings.
• The tomb's interior, exquisitely decorated with paintings,
gilding, frescoes, Kashi tiles and arched windows filled with
terracotta grilles of geometrical and arabesque patterns, has
lost its lustre. Its central dome collapsed in the 1890s.
MAIN
GATE
TUDOR ARCH THIS FOUR RECESSED ARCHES THIS MERLONED PARAPET ARE DESIGNED WITH THE
CUSPED ARCH
SHOW BALANCE IN THIS GATE REPEATATION OF TUDOR ARCHES
in the fortification
wall this element is
used for rain water
drainage
The lofty exterior is divided into three
horizontal panels above dado lavel. Each
panels was covered with glazed coloured tiles
having two floral patterns alternating with
each other, this tiles of the façade are totally
missing and have been plaster
ed over by way of repair
Entrance with the recessed tall

tudor archway
A low buff sand stone railing runs round the

edge of the plateform. The beautifully
perforated slab of the railing are supported
by little pillers at intervals.the pattern of the
railing are very neat and
The four side
Corner kiosks Elevations are filled
Kalhoras introduced corner Kiosks, the
attractive architectural element for the first
with repetition of
time in Sindh. The feature had already gained tudor arches
popularity in some of Indian temples. It first
appeared Kalhoras produced this element in
their first time in Sindh. And this element
Used for emphasizing a roof
this window provides natural light

and ventilates the building
The interior is richy
decorated with
paintings and
calligraphy.
The octagonal interior
is entirely covered with
paintings, tiles and
white marble Central mehrab on east wall
The tudor arched alcove

contained with rectangular fram-
work, in each face of the
octagonal structure, is more
distinct and give a nacked, 8 squinches acting as structural as well as aesthetical
unfinished appereance, due to elements. Interiorly the domed chamber is octagonal in
the total obliteration of tiles plan. The square chamber was covered into an octagon
encasement of the eterior with the help of deep arched recesses at the angle.
UPPER GALLERY INSIDE THE BUILDING
In Kalhora ruler tombs the upper galleries made in the tombs built over the thickness of the
walls of the chamber and are closed from outside. Such type of architectural arrangement can
be seen on Essa Khan Tarkhan tomb Thatta and at the tomb of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhora,
Hyderabad.
Inside view of the upper gallery East side entrance to upper gallery
Painted Decoration
architectural element by Kashi tiles or moldings in

plaster or stone carvings and producing different
geometrical, floral, botanical, scenic and even human
depiction representation. The wall paintings were
the distinctive feature of Kalhora period which
mainly depicts folktales, scenes of rustic or social life,
battle scenes etc
• Inside the burial chamber are two graves. The big one in the centre is that of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro.
It is erected over a marble platform measuring 14'-4” in length and 11'-6” in width. The interior also has
paintings, glazed tiles and Quranic calligraphy. The murals adorning the interior of the mausoleum are
lined with pure gold, which became evident during a recent process of cleansing with mild beauty soap.
• The marble cenotaph of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro's tomb was damaged when the dome above it fell
down. The height of the present flat roof of the mausoleum is around 44'-4” from floor level.
North elevation of tomb Interior of the dome blue tiles
Carved Calligraphy On Marble Panels Axial entrance leading to the Tomb

• Reference:
• The Tombs of Kalhora Chief in Hyderabad. Mohd Siddique G Memon. Oxford
Islamic Architecture of Pakistan. Ahmad Nabi Khan
• The Islamic Architectural Heritage of Pakistan. Shaikh Khurshid Hasan
Reference
• http://heritage.eftsindh.com/site/428/hydera
bad/ghulam-shah-kalhoro
• https://www.dawn.com/news/1192622
REFERANCES
• (https://sites.google.com/a/gsbi.org/gvc1311/india)
• SOURCE (Application of Chemicals in the Restoration of Monuments
October 2011Advanced Materials Research 374-377:1442-1445
DOI:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.374-377.1442Authors:Wen Zheng
Huang)
•https://tlp.iasbaba.com/2018/06/day-3-q-5-what-would-you-recommen
d-as-a-solution-to-prevent-the-loss-of-valuable-historical-monuments-t
o-weathering-process-discuss/
)
• (
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c5f1f0c2af152557752c32f10ab
411e65f8a39292834219fae242343eacdcb7a.jpg
)
• Features of the building materials use in architectural and
urban heritage restoration O S Sabot in Kuban State Ag)
• (SOURSE RILEM TC 203-RHM: Repair mortars for historic masonry : e of
mortar in masonry: An introduction to requirements for the design of
repair mortars)
REFERANCES
https://www.academia.edu/39122233/
KALHORA_ARCHITE_CTURE_OF_SIND
Ghulam+Shah+Kalhora.Introduction.MM.V2_3.
pdf
kalhora-period-architecture-in-sindh.pdf

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LOCATION

• Plan: Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhora itself is 36 feet high-a

• Elevation Details: The facade of the tomb is

Entrance with the recessed tall

A low buff sand stone railing runs round the

this window provides natural light

The tudor arched alcove

architectural element by Kashi tiles or moldings in

Carved Calligraphy On Marble Panels Axial entrance leading to the Tomb

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