Pakistani architecture
With the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC,[1] for the first time in the area which encompasses today's Pakistan an advanced urban culture developed with large structural facilities, some of which survive to this day.
Archaeologists excavated numerous Bronze Age cities, among them are Mohenjo Daro, Harrappa and Kot Diji from the 3rd millennium BCE.
[3] Little is known about this civilization, often called Harappan, partly because it disappeared about 1700 BC for reasons unknown, its language remains undeciphered, its existence was revealed only in the 1920s, and excavations have been limited.
These cities also had a citadel, where the public and religious buildings were located, large pools for ritual bathing, granaries for the storage of food, and a complex system of covered drains and sewers.
During classical antiquity, a special Gandharan architecture evolved in the ancient region of Gandhara with the rise of Buddhism.
[1] In addition, the Persian and Greek influence led to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style, starting from the 1st century AD.
Important remnants of Buddhist construction are stupas and other buildings with clearly recognizable Greek statues and style elements like support columns which, beside ruins from other epochs, are found in the Gandhara capital Taxila[6] in the extreme north of the Punjab.
The Shri Varun Dev Mandir and Sharada Peeth are other examples of Hindu temple architecture in Pakistan.
[11] The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan - first in Sindh - during the 8th century CE meant a sudden end of Buddhist architecture.
Further characteristics are wide prayer halls, round domes with mosaics and geometrical samples and the use of painted tiles.
The most important of the few completely discovered buildings of Islamic architecture is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam (built 1320 to 1324) in Multan.
[13] The Makli Necropolis at Thatta, which includes tombs of various rulers, noblemen and Sufi saints of Sindh was built between the 14th and 18th centuries.
It showcases a wide variety of architecture, including Indo-Islamic, Persian, Hindu and Rajput and Gujarati influences.
[15] Other examples include the Rohtas Fort built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century,[12] and the Tombs of the Talpur Mirs.
The buildings are usually constructed out of red sandstone and white marble, and make use of decorative work such as pachin kari and jali-latticed screens.
The earliest example in Pakistan is the Lahore Fort, which had existed at least since the 11th century but was completely rebuilt by various Mughal Emperors like Akbar and Jahangir (1556–1627) .
[24] Pyramidal structures from the 16th century feature the use of minarets topped with floral motifs in a style unique to tombs dating from the Turkic Trakhan dynasty.
Structures from the 17th century at the Leilo Sheikh part of the cemetery feature large tombs that resemble Jain temples from afar,[24] with prominent influence from the nearby region of Gujarat.
Several of the larger tombs feature carvings of animals, warriors, and weaponry – a practice uncommon to Muslim funerary monuments.
[27] The Chaukhandi tombs are embellished with geometrical designs and motifs, including figural representations such as mounted horsemen, hunting scenes, arms, and jewelry.
A distinct Multani style of architecture began taking root in the 14th century with the establishment of funerary monuments,[28] and is characterized by large brick walls reinforced by wooden anchors, with inward sloping roofs.
The onion dome, frescoes, in-lay work, and multi-foil arches, are Mughal influences, more specially from Shah Jahan's period, whereas chattris, oriel windows, bracket supported eaves at the string-course, and ornamented friezes are derived from elements of Rajput architecture.
The logic behind the movement includes that this way of building is both participatory, with locals being able to participate in the physical construction, and also better suited for the environment, being better resistant against floods and earthquakes.
