Hiran Minar

Hiran Minar (Sheikhupura)

Hiran Minar; Urdu: ہرن مینار (Minaret of Antelope) is set in peaceful environs near Lahore in Sheikhupura, Pakistan. It was constructed by Emperor Jahangir as a monument to Mansiraj (lit: 'Light of the Mind'), his favorite pet deer or antelope.

The structure consists of a large, almost-square water tank with an octagonal pavilion in its center, built during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan; a causeway with its own gateway connects the pavilion with the mainland and a 100-foot (30 m)-high minar, or minaret.

At the center of each side of the tank, a brick ramp slopes down to the water, providing access for royal animals and wild game.

Unique features of this particular complex are the antelope's grave and the distinctive water collection system. At each corner of the tank (approximately 750 by 895 feet (273 m) in size), is a small, square building and a subsurface water collection system which supplied the tank; only one of these water systems is only extensively exposed today.

Masjid e Tooba

Masjid e Tooba or Tooba Mosque (Urdu: مسجد طوبٰی‎) is in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, and is locally known as the Gol Masjid.

Masjid e Tooba was built in 1969 in Defence Housing Society Karachi, Karachi. It is just off main Korangi Road. Masjid e Tooba is often claimed to be the largest single-dome mosque in the world. It is also major tourist attraction in Karachi. Masjid e Tooba is built with pure white marble. The dome is 72 meters (236 feet) in diameter and is balanced on a low surrounding wall with no central pillars. Masjid e Tooba has a single minaret standing 70 meters high. The mosque is the 18th largest in the world with the central prayer hall having a capacity of 5,000 people.

It was built keeping acoustics in mind. A person speaking inside one end of the dome can be heard at the other end. This mosque was designed by Pakistani architect Dr Babar Hamid Chauhan and the engineer was Zaheer Haider Naqvi.

Tomb of Quaid-e-Azam

Mazar-e-Quaid (Karachi)

Mazar-e-Quaid, also known as the Jinnah Mausoleum or the National Mausoleum, is the final resting place of Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, as well as his sister, Māder-e Millat (Mother of the Nation) Fatima Jinnah, and Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Located in the Jamshed Quarters neighborhood of Karachi, the mausoleum (Urdu: مزار‎ (mazār), of Persian origin), completed in the 1960s, is an iconic symbol of Karachi throughout the world. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations among foreign visitors to Karachi.

The location is usually calm and tranquil which is significant considering that it is in the heart of one of the largest global megalopolises. The glowing tomb can be seen for miles at night. Official and military ceremonies take place here on special occasions, such as on 23 March (Pakistan Day), 14 August (Independence Day), 11 September (the anniversary of Jinnah's death) and 25 December (Jinnah's birthday). Dignitaries and officials from foreign countries also visit the mausoleum during official tours.

In the interior of the grave complex, there are three graves in a row and one to the north. The northern one, which is decorated with a series of black floral design at the base, belongs to Miss Fatima Jinnah, Quaid-e-Azam's sister. Out of the three graves, the northern one belongs to Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. The extreme southern grave belongs to Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar. In the middle lies buried Nurul Amin, who rose to be the Vice-President of Pakistan.

Pictures:

Exterior of Mazar-e-Quaid

At Night

Grave of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Blogger: Umair Mushtaq

Faisal Mosque

The Faisal Mosque (Urdu: فیصل مسجد‎) is the largest mosque in Pakistan, located in the national capital city of Islamabad. Completed in 1986, it was designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, shaped like a desert Bedouin's tent, is an iconic symbol of Islamabad throughout the world.

It is situated at the north end of Faisal Avenue, putting it at the northernmost end of the city and at the foot of Margalla Hills, the westernmost foothills of the Himalayas. It is located on an elevated area of land against a picturesque backdrop of the Margalla Hills. This enviable location represents the mosque's great importance and allows it to be seen from miles around day and night.

The Faisal Mosque was conceived as the National Mosque of Pakistan and named after the late King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who supported and financed the project.

The largest mosque in Pakistan, the Faisal Mosque was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 until 1993, when it was overtaken in size by the newly completed Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Subsequent expansions of the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Makkah and the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Madina, Saudi Arabia, during the 1990s relegated Faisal Mosque to fourth place in terms of size and capacity (tied with Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia).

Outer View of Mosque.

Outer View of Mosque.

Inside View of Mosque.

Inside view of Mosque,

Blogger: Umair Mushtaq

Badshahi Mosque (Lahore).

The Badshahi Mosque (Punjabi, Urdu: بادشاہی مسجد‎, Imperial Mosque) in Lahore was commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Constructed between 1671 and 1673, it was the largest mosque in the world upon construction. It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and the seventh largest mosque in the world. It is Lahore's most iconic and famous landmark and a major tourist attraction. Aurangzeb's mosque's architectural plan is similar to that of his father, Shah Jehan, the Jama Masjid in Delhi; though it is much larger. it also functions as an idgah. The courtyard which spreads over 276,000 square feet, can accommodate one hundred thousand worshippers; ten thousand can be accommodated inside the mosque. The minarets are 196 feet (60 m) tall. The Mosque is one of the most famous Mughal structures, but suffered greatly under the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In 1993, the Government of Pakistan included the Badshahi Mosque in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pictures of Outer View:

Pictures of Interior View: 

Thanks for Viewing.

Blogger: Umair Mushtaq

LAHORE FORT (Shahi Qila)

The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as the Shahi Qila (Urdu/Punjabi: شاہی قلعہ, Royal Fort), is a citadel in the city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City of Lahore in Iqbal Park, which is one of the largest urban parks in Pakistan. The trapezoidal composition is spread over 20 hectares.

History:
In 1575, Mughal emperor Akbar occupied the fort, which was used to guard the northwest frontier of the kingdom. He rebuilt the fort with solid bricks and lime and over time lofty palaces were built to which additional beauty was lent by luxuriant gardens. The other structures built by him included the Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am, Jharoka-e-Darshan, and Masjidi Gate.

Gates:
Mughal Emperor Akbar built two gates. Akbari Gate was built in 1566 and now called Maseeti Gate. One of Akbar's wives built a mosque outside the gate around 1614. The other gate was replaced later by the Alamgiri Gate. The Alamgiri Gate is the entrance of the fort. It was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1674.

Pictures:

Akbari Gate

Alamgiri Gate / Main Gate

Interior View

Blogger: (Umair Mushtaq)

History of Architecture in Pakistan.

Pakistan is very rich in terms of Architecture. Many old, ancient and Holy places are present in Pakistan. Lahore (City of Pakistan) is very famous for its old buildings. Many tourists from all over the world visit this beautiful city. Not only Lahore but other cities of Pakistan also contain wonderful buildings.

              In 1526 Mogul Empire came to Sub-Continent and began to rule it. They were very interested in art. They started to construct beautiful buildings and they build many wonderful buildings in India. In 1707 Mogul Empire left the India.

              In Short, after the Partition of India, Pakistan came into being in 1947. India was divided into two parts. So, many ancient buildings that were constructed by Mogul Empire became part of Pakistan.

              I shall post the history of that ancient buildings in this blog. I hope the people who take interest in Architecture and old Buildings will get benefit from it.
             Thanks!

Blogger: Umair Mushtaq