THE PROVINCIAL STYLE OF Punjab

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THE EARLIEST PROVINCIAL STYLE TO EMERGE WAS IN PUNJAB, AS HERE THE FIRST CONTACTS WITH ISLAM WERE MADE THROUGH ITS TWO PRINCIPAL CENTERS, MULTAN AND LAHORE.

ARAB INVADED MULTAN FROM THE SINDH REGION EARLIER IN THE EIGHTH CENTURY.

BUT THE PROVINCE RECEIVED A PERMANENT ISLAMIC INFLUENCE IN THE TENTH CENTURY

THE INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PUNJAB PROVINCE WAS MAINLY OF BRICKWORKS AND PRODUCED HIGHLY DECORATED BUILDING ARTS

THEIR PALACES WERE EMBEDDED WITH BRICKWORK AND OTHER WOODEN ELEMENTS, MAINLY THEIR DOORWAYS, WINDOWS AND OTHER HANGING BALCONIES

THE BUILDINGS WERE CONSTRUCTED IN ISLAMIC STYLES WITH THE FUSION OF HINDU CULTURE

A CITY OF UNDIVIDED PUNJAB OF INDIA, MULTAN BECAME A PART OF PAKISTAN IN 1947

THE TOMB OF SHAH RUKHN-I-ALAM

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BUILT BETWEEN 1320 AND 1324

FROM WHICHEVER SIDE THE CITY IS APPROACHED, THE MOST PROMINENT THING THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM MILES ALL AROUND IS A HUGE DOME

THIS DOME IS THE SHRINE OF THE SAINT

THE TOMB IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE FORT PREMISES

TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF TUGHLAQ STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE

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PLANS AT EACH FLOOR LEVEL OF THE TOMB OF SHAH RUKH - I - ALAM

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THE PLAN IS AN OCTAGON (27M DIAMETER) WITH INCLINED WALLS AND CORNER TURRETS

THE SECOND STOREY IS ALSO AN OCTAGON BUT WITHOUT CORNER BASTIONS AND TURRETS

EACH SIDE OF THIS OCTAGON HAS AN ARCHED OPENING FITTED WITH GRILLES AND SET IN RECTANGULAR FRAMES DECORATED WITH MULTANI TILES

EACH CORNER OF THIS STOREY HAS A SMALL KIOSK ON IT

THE THIRD STOREY IS THE DOME & ITS FINIAL

THE TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING IS 31 METERS INCLUDING 12 METERS FOR THE DOME

TOTAL HEIGHT ABOVE THE ROAD LEVEL IS 46 METERS, THE DOME IS REPUTED TO BE THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD

BUILT ENTIRELY OF RED BRICK, BOUNDED WITH BEAMS OF SHISHAM WOOD, WHICH HAVE NOW TURNED BLACK AFTER SO MANY CENTURIES

THE WHOLE OF THE EXTERIOR IS ELABORATELY ORNAMENTED WITH GLAZED TILE PANELS, STRING-COURSES AND BATTLEMENTS

COLORS USED ARE DARK BLUE, AZURE, AND WHITE, CONTRASTED WITH THE DEEP RED OF THE FINELY POLISHED BRICKS

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