Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Karachi

Mr. Jinnah, as the quote goes, "Jinnah is one of the most extraordinary men in history" Jawaharlal Nehru (1st Prime Minister of India). The person without whose efforts Pakistan could not have been founded, is honored with a grand mausoleum in Karachi, the former capital of Pakistan.

His tomb was one of the first destinations in my travels to Karachi and in my quest to know the man whose undaunted resolve changed the map of the world forever. 

Liaquat Ali Khan, The first Prime Minister of Pakistan buried alongside his wife.

Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar.

Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, the beloved and devoted sister of Mr. Jinnah.

Mr. Jinnah's cars.

At dusk.

                       

The Mohatta Palace, Karachi

A summer residence of an effluent Hindu businessman Mr. Shivratan Cahndrarattan Mohatta is located near Clifton Karachi. The palace was built in 1927 in the Indian-Anglo Islamic architectural style using pink stone from Rajhastan. Sadly Mr. Mohatta didn't get to enjoy his house that he made so lovingly due to the partition of Hindustan. After partition the palace served as the official residence of Ms. Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, after her death and remaining vacant for some decades the building was turned into a cultural museum. Today it serves not just as a beautiful landmark of Karachi but also as an art gallery and a museum.

It was one of the key places I had on my list when coming to Karachi.

The ceiling.

A piece of art i guess......

In the backyard.

                                

The Empress of Hindustan

Mehr-un-Nisa, known as the empress Nur Jahan of the Mogul Emperor Jahangir. He gave her the first part of his name (Nur-ud-Din Muhammad) and the first part of his royal name (Jahangir) to his beloved wife, hence the name Nur Jahan. She acted as the first Mogul empress and held much of the authority due to Jahangir's illness and retirement from the court. She was the first woman to have coins minted in her name.
Her tomb lies close to that of her husband's and her brother's in Shahdara, Lahore.

                                    

The Tomb of Asif Khan

Asir Khan was the brother in law of the emperor Jahangir. Brother of the empress Noorjahan. He also served as the Mogul governor of Punjab under Jahangir. He also became the father in law of Shah jahan through his daughter Mumtaz Mahal. His tomb is situated adjacent to Jahangir's. It is a simple but beautiful building built in the Timurid style of architecture. Only remnants of the decorative works on the walls and the ceiling remain. Most of the white marble and precious stone was ripped off under the Sikh rule for their temples, the rest of the plaster work fell off with time.

The decorated sarcophagus.

                                    
This site is also part of the UNESCO world heritage sites, along with the mausoleum of Jahangir.

Where the Emperor Lies

Jahangir the Mogul emperor of Hindustan (1605-1627), His was named Saleem after the well known Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Saleen Chishti, who predicted his birth to Akbar, who until then was without an heir. Jahangir was also called Sheikhu Baba by Akbar with affection, that too with reference to the honorable saint.

Prince Saleem took the imperial title of Jahangir, which means "Ruler of the world" or "Global". His reign is considered to be one of the most plentiful of all and he is considered to be the richest of all the Mogul kings. The emperor has been laid to rest in Shahdara Lahore, for he had a deep association to the city and its surroundings.

The main gate with the Akbari/Jahangiri serai

Entrance to the burial chamber

The decorated walls

Floor patterns

The burial chamber

Jahangir's cenotaph