The City of Silence

Makli Graveyard is Largest and Ancient City of Silence 

Makli Graveyard is one of the largest necropolises in the world, with a diameter of approximately 8km. It lies approximately more than 90km east of Karachi and this is the place, where some 125,000 local Famos kings, queens, governors, saints, scholars, and philosophers are buried here in brick or stone monuments. The unique structures found in this cemetery are notable for their intricate designs, motifs and tile-work. and others. Makli is located on the outskirts of Thatta, the capital of lower Sindh until the seventeenth century, in what is the south eastern province Sindh of present day Pakistan. It registered on the World Heritage List in 1981 under the name of Historical Monuments of Thatta. The tombs and gravestones spread over the cemetery are material documents marking the social and political history of Sindh. Many have been built using local sandstone, others are plastered brick buildings. The impressive royal mausoleums are divided into two major groups, those from the Samma 1352-1520 and the Tarkhan 1556-1592 period. Today, Makli Hill is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is visited by both pilgrims and tourists, but in strong need of conservation and maintenance. Within the boundaries of the property are situated all the elements and components necessary to express the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, including the tombs and graves located in the necropolis of Makli. Nevertheless, a number of historical monuments have reached an advanced stage of degradation. The integrity of the property is threatened by the significant decay caused by the local climatic conditions, like earthquakes, variations in temperature, winds containing salts and humidity, heavy rains, natural growth, and the shift of the riverbed. In addition, encroachments and vandalism threaten the site, and damage and loss by pilferage have assumed colossal proportions and 2010 flooding unfortunately added to the deterioration of the site as well. The specialty of these graves is their exclusive designs and embroidery work. It truly shows the trends and culture of ancient time. Each and every grave design seems to be a masterpiece of art. One can call those graves a masterpiece of Turk, Iranian and Indian culture. Many shrines are also attended in the Makli Graveyard. The structure of those shrines, monument and tombs are truly strong and unique of its kind.