Pirak

Architecture and material culture

The excavaotor records three phases of unbroken occupation in Pirak, In the first period, structures of unburnt brick associated with a large platform were found. A major part of the pottery was a coarse ware decorated with applique bands and fingertip impressions. Both terracota and unburnt clay figurines of horses and camels were found, along with numerous bones of both the species. Terracota button seals of circular, square or curved forms were common. The second period also showed a similar assemblage with large numbers of terracota and clay figurines, which include not only Bactrian camels and horses but also human figures, including riders. Along with numerous tools of copper and bronze, first pieces of iron are also found. The third period (c.1000-800 BCE) produced a greater quantity of iron and a continuation of all the elements of the earlier periods. Along with three varieties and two varieties of barley, rice and sorghum were also found here, which is the first recorded appearance of these two cereals in this region.

Once known as Serai of Aurangzeb, the Mosque forecourt would be thronged by the cavalcade of the emperor when he came to offer his Friday prayers at the grand mosque. Hazuri Bagh provided the stage on which the pomp of the Mughal emperor was showcased, his train a throng of mace-bearers, omerah, grandees and nobles. The traveler Francois Bernier recorded that the way from the citadel, would be lined by hundreds of soldiers in their dazzling uniforms making a glittering passage for the emperor.

The entrance to the mosque with its lofty plinth, makes it imperative to climb its 22 steps to reach the platform, and provides a foretaste of the grandeur within the mosque enclosure.

The Mughalised attractive marble baradari adorning the Hazuri Bagh was put together on the orders of Ranjit Singh in 1818 to celebrate the capture of the famous Koh-i-Noor Diamond from Shah Shuja of Afghanistan. Its Mughal character is beholden to the material removed from Mughal monuments and reused here.

The pavilion was constructed in 1818 and originally consisted of a basement and two storey above ground. Elegant carved marble pillars support the baradari’s delicate cusped arches. The central area, where Ranjit Singh held court, has a mirrored ceiling. Both the garden and the baradari, originally a 45-foot, three-storey square with a basement approached by fifteen steps, suffered extensive damage during the fratricidal Sikh wars and was only reclaimed and laid out according to the original plan during the British period. On 19 July 1932, the uppermost story collapsed due to heavy rainstorm and lightning. Because of a paucity of funds the top storey was never restored; however, the first floor marble fretwork balustrade, which had also been severely damaged, was rehabilitated three years later.

From contemporary illustrations the design of the top storey is evident: a chamber punctured by cusped arch openings, set in the middle of a large terrace and well set back from the edge of the ground floor roof.

The Baradari was the focus of regal displays during the Sikh rule. Although the takht (or throne) was the citadel, Ranjit Singh used the venue of the baradari for conducting functions of state. After his death, the pavilion continued to be utilized by his successors.

Archaeological significance

Mehrgarh is now seen as a precursor to the Indus Valley Civilization. “Discoveries at Mehrgarh changed the entire concept of the Indus civilization,” according to Ahmad Hasan Dani, professor emeritus of archaeology at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, “There we have the whole sequence, right from the beginning of settled village life.” According to Catherine Jarrige of the Centre for Archaeological Research Indus Balochistan, Musée Guimet, Paris

…the Kachi plain and in the Bolan basin (are) situated at the Bolan peak pass, one of the main routes connecting southern Afghanistan, eastern Iran, the Balochistan hills and the Indus River valley. This area of rolling hills is thus located on the western edge of the Indus valley, where, around 2500 BCE, a large urban civilization emerged at the same time as those of Mesopotamia and the ancient Egyptian empire. For the first time in the Indian subcontinent, a continuous sequence of dwelling-sites has been established from 7000 BCE to 500 BCE, (as a result of the) explorations in Pirak from 1968 to 1974; in Mehrgarh from 1975 to 1985; and of Nausharo from 1985 to 1996.

The chalcolithic people of Mehrgarh also had contacts with contemporaneous cultures in northern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran and southern central Asia.

Mehrgarh Period I

Archaeologists divide the occupation at the site into several periods. Mehrgarh Period I 7000 BCE–5500 BCE, was Neolithic and aceramic (i.e., without the use of pottery). The earliest farming in the area was developed by semi-nomadic people using plants such as wheat and barley and animals such as sheep, goats and cattle. The settlement was established with simple mud buildings with four internal subdivisions. Numerous burials have been found, many with elaborate goods such as baskets, stone and bone tools, beads, bangles, pendants and occasionally animal sacrifices, with more goods left with burials of males. Ornaments of sea shell, limestone, turquoise, lapis lazuli, sandstone and polished copper have been found, along with simple figurines of women and animals. Sea shells from far sea shore and lapis lazuli found far in Badakshan, Afghanistan shows good contact with those areas. A single ground stone axe was discovered in a burial, and several more were obtained from the surface. These ground stone axes are the earliest to come from a stratified context in the South Asia.

In 2001, archaeologists studying the remains of two men from Mehrgarh made the discovery that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization, from the early Harappan periods, had knowledge of proto-dentistry. Later, in April 2006, it was announced in the scientific journal Nature that the oldest (and first early Neolithic) evidence for the drilling of human teeth in vivo (i.e. in a living person) was found in Mehrgarh. According to the authors, their discoveries point to a tradition of proto-dentistry in the early farming cultures of that region. “Here we describe eleven drilled molar crowns from nine adults discovered in a Neolithic graveyard in Pakistan that dates from 7,500 to 9,000 years ago. These findings provide evidence for a long tradition of a type of proto-dentistry in an early farming culture.

Mehrgarh Period II and Period III

Mehrgarh Period II 5500 BCE–4800 BCE and Merhgarh Period III 4800 BCE–3500 BCE were ceramic Neolithic (i.e., pottery was now in use) and later chalcolithic. Much evidence of manufacturing activity has been found and more advanced techniques were used. Glazed faience beads were produced and terracotta figurines became more detailed. Figurines of females were decorated with paint and had diverse hairstyles and ornaments. Two flexed burials were found in period II with a covering of red ochre on the body. The amount of burial goods decreased over time, becoming limited to ornaments and with more goods left with burials of females. The first button seals were produced from terracotta and bone and had geometric designs. Technologies included stone and copper drills, updraft kilns, large pit kilns and copper melting crucibles. There is further evidence of long-distance trade in period II: important as an indication of this is the discovery of several beads of lapis lazuli—originally from Badakshan.

Mehrgarh Period VII

Somewhere between 2600 BCE and 2000 BCE, the city seems to have been largely abandoned, which is when the Indus Valley Civilisation was in its middle stages of development.

Jehangir Kothari Parade

Access to the sea at Clifton is provided by the terraced Parade known as the Jehangir Kothari Parade. The site, owned by Mr. Jehangir Kothari, an eminent Karachi citizen, who gifted it along with a handsome donation Rs. 300,000 to the Municipality for the development of recreational facilities. The foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Bombay, Sir George Lloyd on 10 February, 1919 and formally opened by Lady Lloyd on 5 January, 1920. The Lady Lloyd Pier was also opened by her on 21 March, 1921.

The Kiosk at one end of the parade, with its elliptical roof structure, built in Jodhpur stone, has an octagonal seat in the center and was used as a Bandstand in yester-years. The pier is 1300 ft long, 15 ft (4.6 m) wide and ends in a 70 ft (21 m) by 50 ft (15 m) sea-side Pavilion constructed on piles. Gizri limestone and Jodhpur stone were used for its construction. The Bandstand is perhaps the most recognizable structure in the cluster, built by another Parsi magnate, Sir Kavasji Hormusji Katrak,and donated to the city of Karachi in 1926.

The pier is 1300 ft long, 15 ft (4.6 m) wide and ends in a 70 ft (21 m) by 50 ft (15 m) sea-side Pavilion constructed on piles. Gizri limestone and Jodhpur stone were used for its construction

The Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim has been developed around the Jehangir Kothari Parade and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on February 27, 2007, Pakistan’s biggest park constructed under Clifton Beach Development Project on 130 acres (0.53 km²) of land. The old Toyland Theme Park has been replaced with and this park. Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim cost Rs. 600 million and has been completed in 300 working days. More than 10 million people visited the park per year.

Pakistan’s architecture can be divided into two broad categories: classical architecture and modern architecture. Pakistan is known more for its classical architecture, as compared to its modern one. This is because classical architecture in Pakistan is a better personification of its history and culture.

Most of the buildings of classical architecture were built even before independence, and they are the true landmarks of the country. In addition, classical architecture in Pakistan is greatly influenced by the religion Islam, and so this type of architecture also has a religious significance.

Many classical architectural landmarks in Pakistan are famous all over the world. One of these is the Badshahi Mosque. This mosque is one of the greatest examples of classical architectures form the Mughal era, which also has religious importance. The domes and pillar design is similar to Islamic style of architecture around the world.

It is not just a building, but also a representation of a time when the Muslim nation was ruling the subcontinent. Another classical landmark is the Sheesh Mahal, which was also built by the Mughals. It is a beautiful architectural masterpiece and people from all over the world come to Pakistan to have a glimpse of it.

Apart from the Mughal and Islamic architecture, there are also many examples of British classical architecture in Pakistan. These include the Ferere Hall, Empress Market, and St Patrick’s cathedral in Karachi. All these have been built in the gothic style of architecture. Other great examples of classical British architecture in Pakistan are the Karachi railway station and Gymkahana club.

There are also many buildings, which were constructed after independence in the later years, but were built in a classical style as opposed to a modern one. The Secretariat in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, is a good example of Islamic classical architecture in modern times. Most of the government buildings in Pakistan are examples of classical architecture in the modern era.

Over the years, modern architecture has become popular in Pakistan, and it is common to see tall skyscrapers and buildings, which are constructed in the modern architectural style. As the country becomes more developed, modern architecture is slowly replacing classical architecture. However, the importance of classical architecture in Pakistan can never be denied, because it is a true representation of the culture, history, and religion of Pakistan. The classical architecture

Merewether Clock Tower

Designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer, the foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Bombay, Sir James Fergusson in 1884. It was formally opened to the public in 1892 by the Commissioner in Sind, Sir Evan James.

The Tower stands on a base of 44 feet square and rises to a height of 102 feet.Merewether Tower is perhaps one of the strangest landmarks in Karachi. No one is quite sure why it was built. But the most commonly circulating rumor is that it was built to honour the freemasons, which is apparent from the strange encryptions and patterns on its walls.

History

The solid brick foundations of Lahore Fort were laid in 1566 under the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great on the location of an earlier mud-fort. To build the new fort, the Emperor brought experienced artisans after the completion of Fatehpur Sikri.Later, Shah Jahan converted the fort into a pleasure resort and added Diwan-i-Khas, Moti Masjid, Naulakha Pavilion, sleeping chambers, and Sheesh Mahal in to the complex. Sheesh Mahal is located within the Shah Burj (King’s Pavilion) block that was actually built by his predecessor Jahangir. The chamber was exclusively used for private council meetings as part of the daily routine of the emperor, whereas the whole block was only accessible to the imperial princes, the vizier, and selected courtiers.The extension work of private quarters by Shah Jahan continued between 1628 and 1634. The distinctive Shah Jahani architecture is reflected in the extensive use of white marble and hierarchical accents of the construction.During the Sikh Empire, Shah Burj became Ranjit Singh’s favourite place. He built a harem over the top of Sheesh Mahal.This was also the place where he used to display his prized possession, the Koh-i-Noor.

Design

The sheesh mahal was built by a famous achitect of mughals. It was built in the middle of Akbar’s rule. The façade, comprising of five cusped marble arches supported by coupled columns, opens into the courtyard. The engrailed spandrels and bases are inlaid with precious stones. The pavilion is in the form of a semi-octagon, and consists of apartments roofed with gilded cupolas and intricately decorated with pietra dura and convex glass and mirror mosaic (ayina kari) with thousands of small mirrors.The decorative features also include stucco tracery (munabat kari) and carved marble screens in geometrical and tendril designs. The roof of the central hall rises up to two storeys. The hall was originally decorated with fresco paintings that were later replaced with glass mosaic in different colours.

The Samadhi

The tomb exmeplifies Sikh architecture, it is gilded fluted domes and cupolas and an ornate balustrade round the top. Ranjit Singh’s ashes are contained in a marble urn in the shape of a lotus, sheltered under a marble pavilion inlaid with pietra dura, in the centre of the tomb.

Other monuments

Two small monuments to the west of the main mausoleum commemorate Ranjit Singh’s son Kharak Singh and grandson Nau Nihal Singh, and their wives.

Recent news

These urns were removed from the marble pavilion and were replaced by a simple slab around 1999. This desecration of the mausoleum was part of the preparations for the Khalsa Tricentenary and the visit of Sikh dignitaries from India. The Samadhi was damaged by the earthquake in October 2005.

In May 2006, following concerns about the state of the samadhi, the Indian Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and expressed her concerns

According to a legend it is named after Moti, a guard of the gate during the Mughal era, who guarded and looked after the gate all his life. The most likely origin of its name, however, seems to be from the word Morchi, which means trench soldier. The Governor’s “Piada” units were stationed here during the pre-Mughal dynasty rule. This is further borne by the fact that the different streets (Mohalla’s) which still bear their old names are the Mohalla Teer-garan (arrow craftsmen), Mohalla Kaman-garan (bow craftsmen). The bazaar around the Mochi gate is renowned for its shops of Dried fruit, kites and fireworks Further inside is the Mohalla Shia, where the traditional Shia (Islamic sect)of Lahore still gather annually, at Moharram (first lunar month of the Islamic calendar) to carry out the Majaalis (Shia religious gatherings) and Maatum (self chest beating)to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(R.A). A number of Imaam Bargahs in the form of Haveli’s are situated here. Apart from their religious significance, some are a masterpiece depicting the architecture of their times.Mubarak Haveli, Nisar Haveli and Laal Haveli are, but a few examples. A Kebab Shop, a sweet mart and an Old Khoo (water well) are some of the well known features of Mohalla Shia.In front of the Laal Haveli is the Mochi Baagh. This, until recently, was a lush green patch with shady trees, it is barren now due to its landscaping to become a “speaker’s corner” in the light of its history of it having numerous renowned political leaders addressing the crowds at this place.