Accessibility:
Behind the Bone Care Hospital Hirabad, Hyderabad
GPS Coordinates:
25.405180° N, 68.365611° E
Project Duration:
Started: September 2022, On-Going.
Historical Background:
Talpurs ruled over Sindh for 60 years from 1783 to 1843 A.D. Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur, the founder of the dynasty adopted a novel system of power sharing. He divided Sindh into three regions, Hyderabad, Khairpur and Mirpur Khas, which were each ruled by a separate branch of the family. Hyderabad was ruled by Mir Fateh Ali Khan along with his brothers, Mir Ghulam Ali Khan, Mir Karam Ali and Mir Murad Ali Khan. They became the ‘Chaar Yaar’ (four friends or companions) and the government was called as Chauyari. The tombs of Hyderabad Talpurs are located at Hirabad, Hyderabad and Khudabad (near Hala). Again the tombs at Hyderabad are divided into two groups i.e. Northern Group and Southern Group.The Northern Group, spread over 18375 Sq. Yd. area, includes the tombs of Mir Karam Ali Khan, Mir Murad Ali Khan, Mir Noor Muhammad Khan, Mir Muhammad Naseer Khan, Mir Shahdad Khan, Mir Hussain Khan, Mir Sohrab Khan, their ladies and other relatives while the Southern Group with 4816 Sq. Yd. area consists of the tombs f Mir Muhammad Khan, Mir Shahnawaz Khan, their ladies and other relatives. The Northern Group is privately owned by Mir Hyder Ali Talpur whereas the Sothern Group is a ‘Protected Monument’ under the charge of Culture Department, Government of Sindh. Here we are concerned with Northern Group – popularly known as Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur Tomb Complex. This tomb complex is comprised of two distinct areas: (1) tomb area and, (2) ordinary graveyard area, both separated by a dividing dwarf wall. The tomb area consists of 12 tombs of which two are domed structures, four Tajars with vaulted roofs and the remaining seven flat roof structures. The complex is enclosed by a perimeter wall with a monumental gate.
Project Brief:
Structure-08:
Tajar of Derahs of Mir Murad Ali Khan Talpur and his female relatives Structure-07 is the Tajar of the Derahsof Mir Murad Ali Khan Talpur, it is rectangular in plan, its exterior dimensions are 30’-0” x 20’-5”, interior 25’-6” x 15’-11”, the wall thickness is2’-5 ½” and the total covered area is 759.20sq.ft (70.53 sq.m). It is constructed with burnt bricks of two sizes (8” x 6” x 11/2”) (4” x 6” x 12”), mud is used as mortar, mud mixed with jute used as 1st layer of plaster and lime used in 2nd layer of plaster. The facade is on the southern side with two arch openings and recessed Tudor arch panels within recessed rectangular frames and double recessed rectangular panels above. The remaining three sides are decorated with Tudor arch panels within rectangular frames and double recessed rectangular panels above each panel. Their parapet wall was decorated with Kashi musalas and there were kiosks but at present have collapsed only some traces are surviving. The structure is flat-roof and constructed with Kashi tiles and wooden beams, at present it has partially collapsed. Interior walls have the same decoration as the exterior and there are four graves inside the structure, three are carved and belong to Derahs/wives of Mir Murad Ali Khan and the fourth is of Mir Ghulam Ali Khan.
Structure-09:
Tajar of Derahs of Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur Structure-09 is a Tajar belonging to the Derahs of Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur, it is rectangular, its exterior dimensions are 32’-5” x 23’-8”, interior 23’-10”, 14’-9”, and the wall thickness is 3’-11”. The total covered area of the structure is 767.19sq. ft(71.27sq.m).It is constructed with burnt bricks (8” x 6” x 11/2”), mud and chiroli are used as mortar with chiroli and lime in plaster, and Kashi tiles are used for decoration. The southern facade is adorned with a recessed Tudor arch in the center with a wooden door. On either side of the entrance, there are three recessed Tudor arch panels within recessed rectangular frames. The eastern facade has a wooden door and two arch panels on either side. The northern wall is decorated with seven recessed Tudor arch panels within rectangular frames, whereas the western wall has five panels, and the central panel has a Jali ventilator. Above the panels, there is a fresco painting border on all sides of the structure. The frames are decorated with Kashi tiles; there is a chajja around the structure and kiosks in each corner. Kiosks are square in shape and decorated with small musalas and a ribbed dome.
The vaulted dome rests on a rectangular drum, it is ornamented with Kashi musalas and there are two inverted lotus mouldings with finials. The interior of the tomb is similar in decoration to the exterior and above the panels, there are recessed rectangular panels. The interior walls and the vaulted roof are decorated with fresco paintings and Kashi border above the arch panels. Inside the Tajar, four graves belonging to Derahs of Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur, two graves are laid on a single platform, constructed with marble and carved with floral motifs, Quranic verses, and posts on the corners. There is a place of Janimaz constructed on the head side of the graves
Structure-11:
Flat-roof of Mir Bijar Khan (Second) Structure-11 is a flat-roofed structure belonging to Mir Bijar Khan (Second) with some other graves, the walls have partially collapsed but the roof is completely collapsed. It is rectangular, its exterior dimensions are 29’-0” x 19’-8 ¼”, interior 24’-0” x 17’- 2”, the wall thickness is 2’-6” and the total area is 642. 98 sq.ft (59.73 sq.m).It is constructed with burnt bricks of two sizes (8” x 6” x 11/2”) (4” x 6” x 12”), mud is used as mortar, mud mixed with straw is used as 1st layer of plaster, and lime used in 2nd layer of plaster. The facade was on the eastern side which has collapsed; three walls are surviving in a ruined condition. There are traces of fresco visible in the interior walls and there are six graves laid on a platform, constructed with buff stones and various motifs and Quranic verses and belonging to Mir Abdullah Khan (second), MiBijar Khan (second), Mir Ghulam Hussain Khan (second), Mir Bahram Khan (third), Mi Ghulam Shah (second) andMir BijarKhn (third).
Structure-12:
Flat-roof of Mir Ghulam Muhammad Khan Talpur Structure-12 is a flat-roofed structure belonging to Mir Ghulam Muhammad Khan Talpur and other relatives, it is rectangular, its exterior dimensions are 34’-10” x 24’-3”, interior 30’-10” x 19’-6”, the wall thickness is2’-4” and the covered area is 844.83 sq.ft (78.48 sq.m). It is constructed with burnt bricks (12” x 5” x 3”), mud is used as mortar with lime plaster. The structure has a wooden door on the eastern and western sides and two windows on the southern and northern sides. There is a cornice around the structure and closed kiosks on each corner. Interior walls have recessed rectangular panels and there is a green wooden flat roof. Inside the structure there are five graves laid on the platform, one white marble grave is of Mir Ghulam Muhammad Khan and decorated with carved motifs and all graves have small decorated pots on the corners. Two graves belonging toMir Ghulam Muhammad Khan, Mir Baham Khan (third) and three are the Derahs of Mir Ghulam Muhammad Khan