Graveyards of Nawabs

As grand as their lifestyle was, so are their last abodes of rest. Nawabs are a clear picture of honor and royalty. On our visit to the Cholistan dessert, we headed straight to the graves of Nawabs. Plus in our case was that our cousin is an army personnel that helped us getting the permission to enter inside the graveyard too. All these assets of Nawabs are now under the custody of army and local people are generally now allowed to visit these places anymore.

The architecture was mesmerizing enough from the outside that if somebody comes visit the exterior architecture only, that too would be enough for him to cherish the beauty of the place. But, if like us, somebody gets permission to see the graves too, that for sure would be a cherry on the top.

First talking about the exterior of the graves, the facades are a unique and beautiful blend of raw bricks with tile work in hues of blue. Some framing the pishtaq with Ayat-al-kursi and other Arabic inscriptions, and some adding details to the mashrabiyan on windows with naqashi patterns. What I personally loved the most are those small architectural instruments chatra and other small domical and minaret like structures. They were literally enhancing the beauty of the architecture.

Let’s get inside! So when the doors of the graveyard were opened for us, our jaws remained dropped for a few seconds in the beginning. For someone who really adore architecture marvels, it was no less than a treat and that too all at one place. The intricacy of the details was unbelievably real; covering the whole interior elevation. There were fresco paintings, tile work and as detailed wooden panels of the window. And the way how light was filtering from the windows felt like coming straight from the heavens. 

AND THE CEILING.. it is the crux of the beauty of the whole place. Floor was comparatively simple, yet it should be, to highlight the individual graves. It again, it was a perfectly designed interior of any place.

Most importantly, I loved the royalty blended with the mysticism in every single brick of the place. It is indeed a pure gem and a great asset of the nation.

Rating

Site: 9.5/10

Accessibility: 8/10

Services: 6/10

Residents: 8/10

Market: 6/10

Resourcefulness: 6/10