Tilla Shah Graveyard is the historic burial site of the Kalhora dynasty and the Talpur dynasty located in the nearby village Naonabad, Taluka Jam Nawaz Ali, Sanghar District, Sindh Pakistan.
Tilla Shah Graveyard is located at 8.46 kms southeast of Naunabad, Taluka Jam Nawaz Ali, Sanghar District. The cemetery consists of nine buildings (eight cemeteries and one Tajjar building / roof structure).
Some old and modern tombs are scattered throughout these buildings. The cemeteries are the most vulnerable in the situation, the impressive cemetery buildings with frescoes are collapsing at an alarming rate.
Tilla Shah Graveyard is the historic burial site of the Kalhora dynasty and the Talpur dynasty located in the nearby village Naonabad, Taluka Jam Nawaz Ali, Sanghar District, Sindh Pakistan.
Tilla Shah Graveyard Location
Tilla Shah Cemetery is located near the village of Naonabad in the southeast and 8 km from the town of Jam Nawaz Ali to the southeast. The connecting road leads to the necropolis from Jam Nawaz Ali in Sanghar District of Sindh..
Construction and Design of Tilla Shah
The construction of the tombs is an example of Kalhora period architecture. In the cemetery, all the walls of the tombs are painted with paintings. The art of Islamic and Mughal painting is used here on the walls of the tombs. Calligraphy, love stories, fruits, birds, fish, flowers, various geometric designs, vegetable and flower designs are represented on the walls.
The dusty road leading to the historic Tilla Shah Cemetery in Sanghar province contradicts the tradition preserved there. Tilla Shah was the home of several tombs from various historical periods in Sindh, but today, only 12 have survived. Many of the tombs collapsed into piles of bricks. Some are about to disappear. Others perished due to underground salinity.
The Tilla Shah necropolis is located near the village of Naonabad and is just south of the town of Jam Nawaz Ali. The graves are spread over an area of two hectares. It is known as the Tilla Shah because a local pir, Tilla Shah, is buried here. The tomb itself is older than Tilla Shah and her temple; the sanctuary could have been later built even though the tomb was associated with him.
But this tomb is unique. Marked with bright textures and frozen wall paintings with calligraphy. In many ways, the tomb is a testimony to the glory of Sindh’s past. All the tombs are decorated with beautiful paintings, with beautiful pictures of geometric designs and flowers.
Tilla Shah Graveyard History
But the highlight of these frescos is the variety of leaf designs, stalactite designs, arabesque, floral designs, charms and stylish vases – this shows that calligraphy was a favorite of Sindhi artists of the Kalhora and Talpur period.
But we can also use the influence of Islamic, Mughal, Persian art (including Rajasthani or Rajput) on the murals made on the monuments at Tilla Shah Graveyard. The decoration of the Mughal costumes, the chrysanthemum flowers, and the lilies of the field all testify to its influence.
On the inner wall of one tomb, two names, Mian Dolat Khan and Haji Khan, are inscribed with calligraphy. Dolat Khan was Haji Zaee Marri, who remained the commander of the Kalhora rulers. Therefore, this burial place belongs to the tribe of Haji Zaee Marri.
Currently, monuments to buildings in Tilla Shah graveyard are disappearing rapidly. Pneumatic paintings on the walls are also disappearing. And fresco paintings are also declining. The sad story of this deteriorating heritage, however, underscores the need to preserve this historic Sindh treasure & Culture.
The two Talpur Mir’s tombs known as Qubba Mir’s Shahdad have 8 stone tombs, 3 brick mosques, two curvilinear roofs and inscribed stone tombs. Most of these tombs date back to the first half of the 19th century, but the following two tombs date to the 17th and 18th centuries respectively: –
- Umian Nasir Muhammad Mir Fatah Ali Bin Hutak A.H.1105 (1693 A.D.)
- Umian Nasir Muhammad Mir Shahdad
Bin Hutak Talpur Qaum Baloch A.H.1147 (1734 A.D.)
Some of these tombs are excellent examples of soft and refined stone carvings, especially those of Mian Nasir Mhuammad mentioned above.
In one of the mosques there are colorful paintings of Islamic shrines. They are located on the inside of the wall to the west. tilla shah graveyard
