Pakistani architecture is intertwined with the architecture of the broader

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

. The major architectural styles popular in the past were

Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...

, Indo-Islamic, Mughal and

Indo-Saracenic architecture Indo-Saracenic architecture (also known as Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal) was a Revivalism (architecture), revivalist architectural style mostly used by British architects in India in the later 19th century, especially in public and gov ...

, all of which have many regional varieties. With the beginning of the

Indus civilization The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE ...

around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC,Guisepi, R.A. . Retrieved on February 6, 2008 for the first time in the area which encompasses today's Pakistan an advanced

urban culture Urban culture is the culture of towns and cities. The defining theme is the presence of a large population in a limited space that follows social norms. This makes it possible for many subcultures close to each other, exposed to social influence ...

developed with large structural facilities, some of which survive to this day. This was followed by the

Gandhara Gandhara () was an ancient Indo-Aryan people, Indo-Aryan civilization in present-day northwest Pakistan and northeast Afghanistan. The core of the region of Gandhara was the Peshawar valley, Peshawar (Pushkalawati) and Swat valleys extending ...

style of

Buddhist architecture Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian subcontinent. Three types of structures are associated with the sacred architecture, religious architecture of History of Buddhism, early Buddhism: monasteries (viharas), places to venerate ...

that borrowed elements from

Ancient Greece Ancient Greece () was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity (), that comprised a loose collection of culturally and linguistically r ...

. These remnants are visible in the Gandhara capital of

Taxila Taxila or Takshashila () is a city in the Pothohar region of Punjab, Pakistan. Located in the Taxila Tehsil of Rawalpindi District, it lies approximately northwest of the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area and is just south of the ...

. Indo-Islamic architecture emerged during the medieval period, which combined Indian and Persianaite elements. The Mughal Empire ruled between the 16th and 18th centuries, and saw the rise of

Mughal architecture Mughal architecture is the style of architecture developed in the Mughal Empire in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout the ever-changing extent of their empire in the Indian subcontinent. It developed from the architectural styles of ea ...

, most prevalent in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

. During the British Colonial period, European styles such as the

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

, Gothic and Neoclassical became prevalent. The British, like the Mughals, built elaborate buildings to project their power. The

Indo-Saracenic Indo-Saracenic architecture (also known as Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal) was a Revivalism (architecture), revivalist architectural style mostly used by British architects in India in the later 19th century, especially in public and gov ...

style, a fusion of British and Indo-Islamic elements also developed. After Independence, modern architectural styles like the

International style The International Style is a major architectural style and movement that began in western Europe in the 1920s and dominated modern architecture until the 1970s. It is defined by strict adherence to Functionalism (architecture), functional and Fo ...

became popular.

Harappan architecture

Archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

s excavated numerous

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

cities, among them are Mohenjo Daro,

Harrappa Harappa () is an archaeological site in Punjab, Pakistan, about west of Sahiwal, that takes its name from a modern village near the former course of the Ravi River, which now runs to the north. Harappa is the type site of the Bronze Age Indus ...

and

Kot Diji Kot Diji (; ) is an ancient site which was part of the Indus Valley Civilization, estimated to have been occupied around 3300 BCE. Located about south of Khairpur in the modern-day province of Sindh, India, it is on the east bank of the Indus R ...

from the 3rd millennium BCE. They have a uniform, appropriate structure with broad roads as well as well thought out

sanitary Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation systems ...

and drainage facilities. The majority of the discovered brick constructions are public buildings such as bath houses and workshops.

Wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

and

loam Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–si ...

served as construction materials. Large scale temples, such as those found in other ancient cities are missing. With the collapse of the

Indus Valley civilization The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE ...

the architecture also suffered considerable damage. Great bath view Mohenjodaro

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. Surviving evidences indicate a sophisticated civilization. Cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro (the "City of the Dead") had populations of some 35,000, they were laid out according to a grid system. Inhabitants lived in windowless baked brick houses built around a central courtyard. 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. The latter rivaled the engineering skill of the Romans some 2,000 years later.

Gandharan architecture

During classical antiquity, a special Gandharan architecture evolved in the ancient region of

with the rise of

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

. In addition, the

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

and

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

influence led to the development of the

Greco-Buddhist Greco-Buddhism or Graeco-Buddhism was a cultural syncretism between Hellenistic period, Hellenistic culture and Buddhism developed between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD in Gandhara, which was in present-day Pakistan and parts of ...

style, starting from the 1st century AD. The high point of this era was reached with the culmination of the

style. 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

in the extreme north of the

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

. A particularly beautiful example of Buddhist architecture is the ruins of the Buddhist monastery

Takht-i-Bahi Takht-i-Bahi (Pashto/), is an Indo-Parthian archaeological site of an ancient Buddhist monastery in Mardan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The site is considered among the most important relics of Buddhism in all of what was once Gandhara. Th ...

in the northwest province.

Hindu Temple Architecture

During Pre Islamic era in Pakistan, there was a prominent population of Hindus, especially in provinces in Punjab and Sindh. The important temples built during that era include: The Shri Katas Raj Temples ( Punjabi, ) also known as Qila Katas (), is a complex of several

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

temples connected to one another by walkways. The temple complex surrounds a pond named ''Katas'' which is regarded as sacred by Hindus. The complex is located in the Potohar Plateau region of

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

province. The Amb Temples () are part of a

temple complex located at the western edge of the

Salt Range The Salt Range ( and Namkistan نمکستان) is a mountain range in the north of Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends along the south of the Potohar Plateau and the north ...

province. The temple complex was built in the 7th to 9th centuries CE during the reign of the

Hindu Shahi The Hindu Shahis, also referred to as the Kabul Shahis and Uḍi Śāhis, were a dynasty established between 843 CE and 1026 CE. They endured multiple waves of conquests for nearly two centuries and their core territory was described as having c ...

empire. The main temple is roughly 15 to 20 metres tall, and has three stories, with stairwells leading to inner ambulatories. The

Shri Varun Dev Mandir Shri Varun Dev Mandir (, ) is a Hindu temple located in Manora Island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The temple is devoted to Lord Jhulelal (Varuna), the deity that represents water in Hinduism. He is the chief governing deity of all the Seas- ...

and

Sharada Peeth Sharada Peeth is a ruined Hindu temple and ancient centre of learning located in the Neelum Valley of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. Between the 6th and 12th centuries CE, it was among the most prominen ...

are other examples of

Hindu temple architecture Hindu temple architecture as the main form of Hindu architecture has many different styles, though the basic nature of the Hindu temple remains the same, with the essential feature an inner sanctum, the ''Garbhagriha, garbha griha'' or womb-ch ...

in Pakistan. File:Hindu Temple near Budhist Stupa at Katas Raj Temple.JPG, Temples at Katas Raj display characteristics of Kashmiri Hindu temples File:Katas Raj Temples 2.JPG,

Katas Raj Temples The Katas Raj Temples (Punjabi language, Punjabi: شری کٹاس راج مندر, Urdu: شری کٹاس راج مندر), also known as Qila Katas (Punjabi language, Punjabi: قلعہ کٹاس, Urdu: قلعہ کٹاس), is a complex of several H ...

(4th century) in Pakistan File:AMB Temples, three temples inside fort big temple side view.jpg, One of the Amb Temples constructed between the 7th and 9th centuries

Jain architecture

The Nagarparkar Jain Temples () are located in the region around

Nagarparkar Nagarparkar (, ) is a tehsil in at the base of the Karoonjhar Mountains in Tharparkar District in Sindh province of Pakistan. The historic Churrio Jabal Durga Mata Temple is situated here. The taluka is located at a distance of 129 km from ...

, in

's southern

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

province. The site consists of a collection of

Jain temples A Jain temple, Derasar (Gujarati: દેરાસર) or Basadi (Kannada: ಬಸದಿ) is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism. Jain architecture is essentially restricted to temples and monasteries, and Jain buildings gen ...

. They were built in

Māru-Gurjara style Māru-Gurjara architecture or Solaṅkī style, is the style of West Indian temple architecture that originated in Gujarat and Rajasthan from the 11th to 13th centuries, under the Chaulukya dynasty (also called Solaṅkī dynasty). Although or ...

in 12th century AD to the 15th century - a period when Jain architectural expression was at its zenith. The temples were inscribed on the tentative list for

UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign states and/or international organizations that is governed by int ...

status in 2016 as the Nagarparkar Cultural Landscape. File:Virawah Jain Temple.jpg, Viravah temple, one of Jain temples at Nagarparkar File:Gori temple, ceiling.jpg, Frescoes at Gori temple of the Nagarparkar Jain Temples File:Jain_Temple_Nagarparkar_by_smn121-15.JPG, One of ancient Jain temples at Nagarparkar

Indo-Islamic architecture

Early Era (8th century to 16th century)

The arrival of

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

in today's Pakistan - first in

- during the 8th century CE meant a sudden end of Buddhist architecture. However, a smooth transition to predominantly pictureless

Islamic architecture Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both Secularity, secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Muslim world, Islamic world encompasse ...

occurred.

Ancient artwork detailed exquisite stone carving chaukhandi sindh

The earliest example of a mosque from the days of infancy of

South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...

is the Mihrablose mosque of Banbhore, from the year 727, the first Muslim place of worship in South Asia. Under the Delhi Sultan, the Persian-centralasiatic style ascended over Arab influences. The most important characteristic of this style is the

Iwan An iwan (, , also as ''ivan'' or ''ivān''/''īvān'', , ) is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The formal gateway to the iwan is called , a Persian term for a portal projecting ...

, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. 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

is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam (built 1320 to 1324) in

Multan Multan is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, fifth-most populous city in the Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab province of Pakistan. Located along the eastern bank of the Chenab River, it is the List of cities in Pakistan by populatio ...

The

Makli Necropolis Makli Necropolis (; ) is one of the largest funerary sites in the world, spread over an area of 10 kilometres near the city of Thatta, in the Pakistani province of Sindh. The site houses approximately 500,000 to 1 million tombs built over the c ...

at Thatta, which includes tombs of various rulers, noblemen and Sufi saints of

was built between the 14th and 18th centuries. It showcases a wide variety of architecture, including Indo-Islamic,

and

Rajput Rājpūt (, from Sanskrit ''rājaputra'' meaning "son of a king"), also called Thākur (), is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating fro ...

and Gujarati influences. The Chaukhandi Tombs near

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

are similar in style. Other examples include the Rohtas Fort built by

Sher Shah Suri Sher Shah Suri (born Farid al-Din Khan; 1472 or 1486 – 22 May 1545), also known by his title Sultan Adil (), was the ruler of Bihar from 1530 to 1540, and Sultan of Hindustan from 1540 until his death in 1545. He defeated the Mughal Empire, ...

in the 16th century, and the Tombs of the Talpur Mirs.

Mughal Architecture (16th–18th centuries CE)

emerged in the medieval period during the reign of the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...

in the 15th to 17th centuries. Mughal buildings have a uniform pattern of structure and character, including large bulbous domes, slender minarets at the corners, massive halls, large vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation, usually surrounded by gardens on all four sides. The buildings are usually constructed out of red sandstone and white marble, and make use of decorative work such as ''pachin kari'' and ''

jali A ''jali'' or ''jaali'' (''jālī'', meaning "net") is the term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy, geometry or natural patterns. This form of architectu ...

''-latticed screens. The earliest example in Pakistan is the

Lahore Fort The Lahore Fort (; ; ) is a citadel in the walled interior of Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan. The fortress is located at the northern end of the Walled City and spreads over an area greater than . It contains 21 notable monuments, some of which ...

, which had existed at least since the 11th century but was completely rebuilt by various Mughal Emperors like Akbar and Jahangir (1556–1627) . The Tomb of Anarkali, Hiran Minar and Begum Shahi Mosque also date back to this period. The

Tomb of Jahangir The Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor Jahangir is buried in a mausoleum dating from 1637, located in Shahdara Bagh near city of Lahore, along the banks of River Ravi, in Punjab, Pakistan. The site is famous for its interiors that are extensively embe ...

, the fourth Mughal Emperor, was completed in 1637 during the reign of his son and successor

Shah Jahan Shah Jahan I, (Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram; 5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), also called Shah Jahan the Magnificent, was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 until his deposition in 1658. As the fifth Mughal emperor, his reign marked the ...

. The Emperor had forbidden the construction of a dome over his tomb, and thus the roof is simple and free of any embellishments. It stands amidst a garden which also houses the Tomb of Nur Jahan, Tomb of Asif Khan and Akbari Sarai, one of the most well-preserved

caravanserai A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was an inn that provided lodging for travelers, merchants, and Caravan (travellers), caravans. They were present throughout much of the Islamic world. Depending on the region and period, they were called by a ...

s in Pakistan. Mughal architecture reached its zenith in the 17th century during the reign of

. During this time, several additions were made to the Lahore Fort. Other masterpieces of this time include the

Wazir Khan Mosque The Wazir Khan Mosque (, ''Wazīr Khã Masīt''; Persian language, Persian, ) is a 17th-century Mughal Empire, Mughal masjid located in the city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. The mosque was commissioned by the then governor ...

, Dai Anga Mosque, Tomb of Dai Anga, Shalimar Gardens and

Shahi Hammam The Shahi Hammam (; ; ), also known as the Wazir Khan Hammam, is a Turkish bath which was built in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, in 1635 Common era, C.E. during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. It was built by chief physician to the Mughal Court, Ilam ...

. The Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta reflects a heavy

influence. The

Badshahi Mosque The Badshahi Mosque (; ) is a Mughal Empire, Mughal-era congregational mosque, imperial mosque located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was constructed between 1671 and 1673 during the rule of Aurangzeb, opposite of the Lahore Fort on the north ...

was built during the reign of

Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...

in 1673. It is made out of red sandstone with three marble domes, very similar to the Jama Masjid of Delhi. It remains one of the largest mosques in the world. File:Naulakha Pavilion near Sheesh Mahal in Lahore Fort.jpg, Naulakha pavilion (1633) in the

File:Lahore_Fort_view_from_Baradari.jpg, Alamgiri Gate of the

File:Masjid Wazeer Khan, Lahore.jpg, The

File:Beautiful pavilion of Faiz Baksh terrace.jpg,

Shalimar Gardens, Lahore The Shalamar Gardens () or Shalimar Gardens () are a Mughal garden complex besides Baghbanpura, located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The gardens date from the period when the Mughal Empire was at its artistic and aesthetic zenith, and are now ...

File:Main Entrance of Akbari Sarai.jpg, Akbari Sarai File:Badshahi Mosque, Lahore I.jpg,

Regional architecture

Architecture of Sindh

Architecture of province of

is greatly influenced from its neighbouring regions of

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

and

, as well as broader Indo-Islamic architecture. The necropolis at Makli gives a good example of Sindhi architecture. Its architecture of the largest monuments synthesizes Muslim, Hindu, Persian, Mughal, and Gujarati influences, in the style of Lower Sindh that became known as the ''Chaukhandi'' style, named after the Chaukhandi tombs near

. The ''Chaukhandi'' style came to incorporate slabs of sandstone that were carefully carved by stonemasons into intricate and elaborate designs. Ranikot Fort in Sindh By the 15th century, decorated rosettes and circular patterns began to be incorporated into the tombs. More complex patterns and Arabic calligraphy with biographical information of the interred body then emerged. Larger monuments dating from later periods included corridors and some designs inspired by cosmology. 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, with prominent influence from the nearby region of

. Several of the larger tombs feature carvings of animals, warriors, and weaponry – a practice uncommon to Muslim funerary monuments. Later tombs at the site are sometimes made entirely of brick, with only a sandstone slab. The largest structures in the most archetypal ''Chaukhandi'' style feature domed yellow sandstone canopies that were plastered white with wooden doorways, in a style that reflects Central Asian and Persian influences. The size of the dome denoted the prominence of the buried individual, with undersides embellished with carved floral patterns. The underside of some canopies feature lotus flowers, a symbol commonly associated with Hinduism. They also feature extensive blue tile-work typical of Sindh. The use of funerary pavilions eventually expanded beyond lower Sindh, and influenced funerary architecture in neighbouring Gujarat. The Chaukhandi tombs are embellished with geometrical designs and motifs, including figural representations such as mounted horsemen, hunting scenes, arms, and jewelry. Apart from tombs,

Ranikot Fort Ranikot Fort (; also known as Rannikot), also known as the Great Wall of Sindh (), is a 19th-century (reconstructed) Talpur-era fort near Sann in Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. The fort's ramparts have been compared to the Great Wall of C ...

and Kot Diji Fort are also a good example of Sindhi architecture. File:Kot Diji Fort by smn121-2.JPG, Kot Diji Fort in Sindh File:PK Hyderabad asv2020-02 img12 Talpur Tombs.jpg, Interior of one of the Talpur tombs File:Canopy tomb of Daya Khan Rahu.jpg, Canopy tomb of Daya Khan Rahu File:Jam Mubarak Khan .jpg, View of Tomb of Jam Mubarak Khan File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img08 Shah Jahan Mosque.jpg, The Shah Jahan mosque's main dome has tiles arranged in a stellate pattern to represent the night sky File:PK Thatta asv2020-02 img20 Makli Necropolis.jpg,

features several monumental tombs dating from the 14th to 18th centuries

Architecture of Multan

A distinct Multani style of architecture began taking root in the 14th century with the establishment of funerary monuments, and is characterized by large brick walls reinforced by wooden anchors, with inward sloping roofs. Funerary architecture is also reflected in the city's residential quarters, which borrow architectural and decorative elements from Multan's mausolea. In spite of being in

, the architecture of city of

is more influenced by the architecture of the neighbouring province of

. It is usually expressed in the form of mausoleums of Sufi saints.

Rajput architecture

The

Rajput architecture Rajput architecture is an architectural style associated with the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers. Many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and popular tourist attractions. Rajput architecture represents differen ...

makes an extensive use of

Jali A ''jali'' or ''jaali'' (''jālī'', meaning "net") is the term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy, geometry or natural patterns. This form of architectu ...

s, Chatris and Jharokhas. All these features also have influenced

. The forts of Derawar and

Umerkot Umerkot (Urdu: ; Dhatki language, Dhatki : عمرڪوٽ; Sindhi language, Sindhi: عمرڪوٽ; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: Help:IPA/Hindi and Urdu, �mərkoːʈ formerly known as Amarkot) is a city in the Sindh province of Pakista ...

were built by

clans during the medieval era, and are examples of early Rajput architecture.

Sikh architecture

The Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib,

, commemorates the site where Guru Nanak is believed to have been born. It was rebuilt by the Pakistani Government Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was developed under Sikh Empire during 18th and 19th century in the Punjab region. Named after Sikhism, a religion native to Punjab, Sikh Architecture is heavily influenced by

and Islamic styles. The onion dome, frescoes, in-lay work, and multi-foil arches, are Mughal influences, more specially from

's period, whereas chattris, oriel windows, bracket supported eaves at the string-course, and ornamented friezes are derived from elements of Rajput architecture. One of the most well known examples of Sikh architecture is the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, built in 1839. The building has gilded fluted domes and

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, usually dome-like structure on top of a building often crowning a larger roof or dome. Cupolas often serve as a roof lantern to admit light and air or as a lookout. The word derives, via Ital ...

s, and an ornate

balustrade A baluster () is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its ...

around the upper portion of the building. The dome is decorated with Naga (serpent) hood designs - the product of Hindu craftsmen that worked on the project. The wooden panels on the ceiling are decorated with stained glass work, while the walls are richly decorated with floral designs. The ceilings are decorated with glass mosaic work. Gurdwara Dera Sahib and Gurdwara Panja Sahib are other prominent examples. File:Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur 04.jpg, Darbar Sahib,

gurdwara A gurdwara or gurudwara () is a place of assembly and place of worship, worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is "place of guru" or "home of guru". Sikhism, Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths and rel ...

commemorating

Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also known as ('Father Nanak'), was an Indian spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is t ...

, in Kartarpur, Pakistan File:Gurdwara Dera Sahib and Samadhi of Ranjit Singh.jpg, Golden dome of Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore File:"Samadhi of Ranjit Singh at Sunrise.".jpg, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh in

, an example of Sikh architecture in Pakistan

Indo-Saracenic architecture

During the

British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...

, European architectural styles such as

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

, gothic and neoclassical became more predominant. The Frere Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Mereweather Clock Tower in

, and neoclassical Montgomery Hall in

are some examples. A new style of architecture known as Indo-Saracenic revival style developed, from a mixture of European and Indo-Islamic components. Among the more prominent works are seen in the cities of

( Mohatta Palace, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Building), in

Peshawar Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...

(

Islamia College University Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) () is a public university located in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

(

Lahore Museum The Lahore Museum (; ) is a museum located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Founded in 1865 at a smaller location and opened in 1894 at its current location on The Mall in Lahore during the British colonial period, Lahore Museum is Pakistan's larg ...

University of the Punjab The University of the Punjab (UoP) is a public university, public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. Founded in 1882, its international influence has made it one of the most prestigious universities in South As ...

and

King Edward Medical University King Edward Medical University (Punjabi language, Punjabi, Urdu: ; commonly abbreviated as KEMU) is a Public university, public Medical school, medical university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. It was established as ''Lah ...

). File:PK Karachi asv2020-02 img74 KMC Building.jpg, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Building, Karachi File:Punjab university Art & Design Dept.jpg,

, Lahore File:Lahore Museum, Lahore.jpg, The present building of the

was designed by Sir Ganga Ram and completed in 1894

Post-Independence

After Independence, the architecture of Pakistan is a blend of historic Islamic and various modern styles. This reflects itself, particularly in modern structures. In addition, buildings of monumental importance such as the

Minar-e-Pakistan Minar-e-Pakistan (; ) is a public monument tower located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The tower was built during 1960–1968 on the site where on 23 March 1940, the All-India Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution which was later called the ...

in Lahore or the mausoleum established with white marble known as

Mazar-e-Quaid Mazar-e-Quaid (, ), also known as Jinnah Mausoleum or the National Mausoleum, is the final resting place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Designed in a 1960s Modern architecture, modernist style, it was completed in 1971, and is ...

for the founder of the state expressed the self-confidence of the nascent state. The city of

Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...

was designed by Greek architect

Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis Constantinos A. Doxiadis (14 May 1913 – 28 June 1975), often cited as C. A. Doxiadis, was a Greek architect and urban planner. During the 1960s, he was the lead architect and planner of Islamabad, which was to serve as the new capital city ...

and completed in 1966. The

Faisal Mosque The Faisal Mosque () is the national mosque of Pakistan, located in the capital city, Islamabad. It is the List of largest mosques, sixth-largest mosque in the world, the largest mosque outside the Middle East, and the largest within South Asia ...

in Islamabad, one of the largest mosques in the world, is one of the best examples of modern Islamic architecture. It was designed by Vedat Dalokay and constructed between 1976 and 1986. In 1980 the Heritage Foundation Pakistan was founded to help conserve the traditional Architecture of Pakistan. Focused mainly on conserving traditional Sindhi architecture, the foundation is also the push behind the emergence of an contemporary architectural tradition that utilizes vernacular Sindhi building techniques in concert with new building techniques. It can be seen as the starting point of the Neo-

vernacular Vernacular is the ordinary, informal, spoken language, spoken form of language, particularly when perceptual dialectology, perceived as having lower social status or less Prestige (sociolinguistics), prestige than standard language, which is mor ...

movement in Pakistan, or at least the Sindh region. Designs by Yasmeen Lari, such as the Malki Zero Carbon Cultural Centre and Green Karavan Ghar are examples. 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. The

National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a sp ...

in Islamabad, built in 2007 is in the shape of a blooming flower. The four main petals of the monument represent the four provinces of

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (; ; , ; abbr. KP or KPK), formerly known as the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), is a province of Pakistan. Located in the northwestern region of the country, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the fourth largest province of Paki ...

, and

, while the three smaller petals represent the three territories of

Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative units of Pakistan, administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has b ...

Azad Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir (), abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir ( ), is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entitySee: * * * and constituting the western portion of the larger ...

and the Tribal Areas. Skyscrapers built in the

international style The International Style is a major architectural style and movement that began in western Europe in the 1920s and dominated modern architecture until the 1970s. It is defined by strict adherence to Functionalism (architecture), functional and Fo ...

are becoming more prevalent in the cities.

World Heritage Sites

There are currently six sites in Pakistan listed under the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

: * Archaeological Ruins at

Moenjodaro Mohenjo-daro (; , ; ) is an archaeological site in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan. Built 2500 BCE, it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major city, cities, contemp ...

* Buddhist Ruins at

and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol *

and Shalimar Gardens (Lahore) * Historic Monuments of Thatta * Rohtas Fort *

Gallery

Mughal

File:Moti Masjid lahore fort.jpg, Moti Masjid located within the

File:Jahangir's Tomb.jpg,

File:Masjid Muhabat Khan.jpg, Mahabat Khan Mosque, Peshawar File:Shahjahan Mosque.jpg, Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta File:Unchi Masjid 2 (WCLA).jpg, Oonchi Mosque in Lahore File:Chauburji under the sky.jpg, A Mughal era monument - Chauburji in Lahore

Indo-Saracenic

File:PK Karachi asv2020-02 img17 Mohatta Palace.jpg, Mohatta Palace in Karachi File:Sadiq Garh High School.jpg, Sadiq Dane High School,

Bahawalpur Bahawalpur (Urdu: ; ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 13th largest city of Pakistan and List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, 8th most populous city of Punjab. Bahawalpur is the capital of Bahawalpur Division. Founded in ...

File:King Edward Medical University.jpg, Patiala Block of

, Lahore File:Front Elevation of Noor Mahal.jpg, Noor Mahal, Bahawalpur File:Karachi Chamber of Commerce.jpg, Karachi Chamber of Commerce Building File:DARBAR MAHAL BAHAWAL PUR.jpg, Darbar Mahal, Bahawalpur File:Clock Tower - Ghanta Ghar, Multan - Multan Pakistan.jpg, Multan Clock Tower,

File:Hindu Gymkhana Karachi.jpeg, National Academy of Performing Arts, Karachi File:Frere-Hall-Karachi-Shamail.jpg, Frere Hall, Karachi

Post-Independence

File:Minar e Pakistan.jpg,

File:Ali Mujtaba WLM2018 FAISAL MOSQUE 13.jpg,

File:Adnan Asim's Karachi City. 3 Talwar ( Swords ) Clifton, Karachi.jpg, Teen Talwar, Karachi File:Monument, Islamabad.JPG, Pakistan Monument, Islamabad

References

Notes

Citations

External links

ARTSEDGE Pakistan: The Gift of the Indus

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20061027232320/http://pakistaniat.com/2006/10/10/pakistan-architecture-history/ Architecture in Pakistan: A Historical Overview
Islamic Architecture Pakistan

Modernity and Tradition: Contemporary Architecture in Pakistan

The Architectural Heritage of Bahawalpur
{{Pakistan topics Arts in Pakistan Science and technology in Pakistan

Harappan architecture

Gandharan architecture

Hindu Temple Architecture

Jain architecture

Indo-Islamic architecture

Early Era (8th century to 16th century)

Mughal Architecture (16th–18th centuries CE)

Regional architecture

Architecture of Sindh

Architecture of Multan

Rajput architecture

Sikh architecture

Indo-Saracenic architecture

Post-Independence

World Heritage Sites

Gallery

Mughal

Indo-Saracenic

Post-Independence

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Further reading

External links