What's new

Old Punjab Province

City of Saints: Multan, Some Rare Images



Photograph of the interior of a mosque in Multan, now in Pakistan, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1880s, part of the Bellew Collection of Architectural Views. The city of Multan has a recorded history that stretches back over two millennia. It was an ancient stronghold of the Buddhist Gandharas, then from the 6th century AD a centre of Hinduism, especially the worship of Surya or the sun god. Following the advent of Islam in South Asia, when the city came under Arab rule in the 7th century, it became a centre for Muslim saints and scholars, where many of their shrines and tombs remain. These include the mausolea of the famed Islamic scholar Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya and his grandson Shah Rukh-i-Alam





Photograph of the ghats or stepped embankments lining the Ravi river in Multan, now in Pakistan, taken by an unknown photographer in the 1880s, part of the Bellew Collection of Architectural Views






This print of the Van Agnew monument in Multan was taken in the 1860s by an unknown photographer. Multan, situated on the frontier of the subcontinent, has had a turbulent political history as the first point of contact for Mughal invaders. It came under the control of British forces by 1849 after a long battle with the Sikh rulers of the Punjab and rebellion in Multan province and the city itself. The memorial obelisk is dedicated to two British officers, Vans Agnew and Anderson, who were murdered after being sent by the resident to take charge of the fort during the troubles






Photograph of Shams-i-Tabrizi Tomb at Multan in the Punjab, Pakistan, from Macnabb Collection, taken by William Henry Baker in the 1860s. This tomb was rebuilt in 1780 and belongs to a celebrated Sufi martyr who was murdered in 1247. The main body of the building is a square surrounded by a verandah. The upper section is octagonal, surmounted by a hemispherical dome covered in glazed blue tiles. Some parts of the wall are decorated with glazed tiles, mainly blue and white, arranged in geometric patterns






Photograph of the Fort at Multan in the Punjab, Pakistan, from the Macnabb Collection, taken by William Henry Baker, in the 1860s. The fort in Multan once had forty-six towers or bastions, including the two flanking towers at each of the four gates. Aurangzeb built a mosque on the site of the temple of Narsingh but the mosque was destroyed in the siege of 1848. The Mausoleum of Rukn-ul-din, or Rukh-i-Alam ('Pillar of the World'), may be seen on the left of the photograph. This tomb is one of the finest achievements of the Multan builders. It is believed to have been executed by order of Ghiyas al-Din Tughluq (r.1325-51), Sultan of Delhi, between the years 1320 and 1324. This domed structure decorated with glazed tiles and has an octagonal plan with battered walls and sloped turrets.






Photograph of the mausoleum of Rukn-ud-din, known as the Rukn-ul-Alam in Multan, the Punjab, Pakistan, taken by William Henry Baker in the 1860s. The Mausoleum of Rukn-ud-din, or Rukh-i-Alam ('Pillar of the World'), may be seen on the left of the photograph. This tomb is one of the finest achievements of the Multan builders. It is believed to have been executed by order of Ghiyas al-Din Tughluq (r.1325-51), Sultan of Delhi, between the years 1320 and 1324. This domed structure has an octagonal plan with battered walls and sloped turrets. The exterior is decorated with glazed tiles and and string courses; the dark blue, azure and white tiles stand out against the red bricks.






Photograph of an Idgah at Multan, Punjab in Pakistan, from the Macnabb Collection, taken by William Henry Baker in 1865. An Idgah is a qibla wall for prayers during the Muslim Eid festival, which marks the end of Ramadan. Multan has numerous mosques and tombs. However, it is particularly noted for its large Fort and three major mausoleums; those of Shams-i-Tabriz, Rukn-i-Alam and Shah Bahawal Haq






Photograph of a temple in the Lachman Tal at Gohad in Madhya Pradesh, taken by George Edward Herne in 1869. The Imperial Gazetteer of India states, "The town [of Gohad] stands on the right of bank of the Vaisali river, a tributary of the Sind, and is surrounded by three walls, within the innermost of which stands a massive fort. The latter was built by the Jat chief Rana Bhim Singh in 1739, and contains a large palace built by Rana Chhatrapati Singh, now used as an office, and several other buildings, all profusely covered with carving...To the south of the palace is a large tank, the Lachman Tal, with a small temple in the centre."






Watercolour by Alfred Frederick Pollock Harcourt (1836-1910) of the tomb of Shams-i Tabriz at Multan in the Punjab, Pakistan, dated 30th December 1876. The image is inscribed on the front in pencil: 'Shamas Tabraiz. 30 Dec 76'; and on the back in ink: 'The Shamas Tabraiz Masjid Multan, Alfred Harcourt.' This tomb was rebuilt in 1780 and belongs to a celebrated Sufi martyr who was murdered in 1247. The main body of the building is a square surrounded by a verandah. The upper section is octagonal, surmounted by a hemispherical dome and covered in glazed blue tiles. Some parts of the walls are decorated with glazed tiles, mainly blue and white, arranged in geometric patterns.
 
Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum 1932

11212610_856853137728474_4497605967966511349_o.jpg




Sialkot in 1964

11241028_856083581138763_4569643159639585452_n.jpg


Opel Model Super 6-1937, Car accident on January 17th 1962 at 2:30 pm in Multan at Abdali Road in front of PIA office Multan.

The vehicle seen in this photograph was registered in Bahawalpur. The large Pakistan International Airlines office seen in the background still operates in the same premises.
Abdali Road is named after Ahmed Shah Abdali, the founder of the Durrani Empire and the modern state of Afghanistan. He was born in Multan in 1722. A mosque and monument named after Abdali still stand, not too far from this site.


11141726_855481641198957_4019122862331116378_n.jpg


Shrine of Sufi saint Sheikh Khawaja Noor Muhammad Maharvi 1938. Chishtian, Bahawalnagar


11194444_854230237990764_3444701745734460707_o.jpg
 
Karim Bux Photographic Studio, Sialkot c.1930s


10392355_745611565519299_3844941665346092617_n.jpg




St. Mary's Cathedral, Multan c.1910


10655350_740813485999107_5660955809724546684_o.jpg



Lyallpur (Faisalabad) c.1960s.

1052143_726147490799040_7527732329187115861_o.jpg





Bab-ul-Qasim, Killa Kohna, Gate of the city wall of MULTAN c.1930-1940s

Multan Fort is located in Center of City near to Multan Cricket Club next to Shah Rukn-e-Alam’s Mazar, Multan, Pakistan. It was built in 17th century it divided city, there is no fort now as it was destroyed by British but entire place is known as fort. Multan Fort was created by Murad Baksh son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. This fort now looks as a part of Multan City it separated by a road which looks more like bazar (market) and always looks crowded all day.

10367575_725862450827544_5455775188134382251_n.jpg



The Eidgah, Multan, c.1890

10547708_694298477317275_2627274669764367694_n.jpg



1920

10349142_666466223433834_7755259850524375811_n.jpg




 
Rawalpindi in c.1920's


62126486_2270736369673470_7015265294838923264_n.jpg


Jamia Masjid, Rawalpindi c. 1920s


61334609_2252904334790007_2576605040408002560_o.jpg




DAV High School Rawalpindi c.1920's


59419219_2212817068798734_1666543324841902080_n.jpg
 
1930s: A Gathering on Wedding in Government House - Lahore

967008_601975753160840_1950908815_o.jpg


1960s: Tourists Visiting Jhelum

248259_600228586668890_143785627_n.jpg


1948: A Suburb View of Bahawalpur

431863_598885533469862_2146515496_n.jpg
 
Murree in 1970

61927004_2269875376426236_4675335208961048576_o.jpg



1940

61105642_2251638154916625_7144546975839420416_o.jpg


1960

60355444_2236099663137141_6345605311285428224_o.jpg



The Sunny Bank Barracks, Murree Hills c.1930's


59787887_2218507791562995_6857800845895925760_o.jpg
 
1869: Tomb of Mahan Singh (Father of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) - Gujranwala

919736_590355907656158_1623396876_o.jpg



1865: District Court House, Gujranwala

6501_615904148434667_5732326_n.jpg




1869: Govt Hospital & Dispensary, Gujranwala

544289_579726642052418_132402553_n.jpg


 
1910: Victoria Tower, Jacobabad

6501_615904148434667_5732326_n.jpg



1920s: General Jacob Hospital, Jacobabad

6501_615904148434667_5732326_n.jpg


1905: Street Scene, Jacobabad

6501_615904148434667_5732326_n.jpg
 
1910s: A View of Ranjit Singh Samadh and Parade Ground (later Manto Park and now Iqbal Park)


6501_615904148434667_5732326_n.jpg



A plan of the fort - taken from Murray's Handbook for Travelers in India 1909
Map of Lahore Fort

Lahore%2Bfort.jpg


1. When you stand in Hazoori Bagh with your face towards Badshahi Mosque & back towards the fort, present Roshnai Gate is on your left, while in this sketch, location of this gate is exactly opposite to that. It seems there have been changes with the passage of time.

2. Front fortification and Tosha Khana as well as Stables sections are nearly deteriorated today... if only the authorities maintained it properly it would have been in its glory


A Scene at General Bus Stand - Bahawalpur ca. 1980s

12778749_909236022528539_4216295350914447793_o.jpg
 
1913: Lyallpur (Faisal Abad) City booking office

954603_604234629601619_813507951_n.jpg




1913: Chani Goth Station,Bahawalpur Division

268807_604233736268375_25277890_n.jpg



1907: Railway Quarters, Samasatta - Bahawalpur

964598_603298786361870_41988039_o.jpg
 
1900s: View of Clock Tower Multan

18558819_1687437011281370_5726173323468142195_o.jpg


c. 1940s: Sports at Aitchison College - Lahore


17637060_1626308500727555_1349985016770988979_o.jpg


c. 1920s: Life inside Walled City - Lahore


17435867_1612530052105400_8203304058115926563_o.jpg


c. 1920s: View of the Mall - Murree


16991726_1587292004629205_6957175589666369387_o.jpg
 
1920s: The Officers Club - Rawalpindi

18673332_1693614293996975_299553111589281407_o.jpg


1920.. Westridge Bazar Pindi

18056479_1647546448603760_6355957380698632581_o.jpg


1920s: Railway Station - Rawalpindi



17632060_1623391307685941_5315536532646680717_o.jpg
 
Lahore

54519021_10156384130518214_6604328746717544448_o.jpg




1950

481109_10150953980423214_560687453_n.jpg




photo was taken in Harbanspura or Baghbanpura in some year between 1910-30s

552715_10150953520523214_1433175655_n.jpg




552716_10150951003643214_1660180222_n.jpg




1910

250996_10150948797233214_69648264_n.jpg




Lawrence Garden (now Bagh-e-Jinnah) #Lahore c. 1930s

336303_10150944934368214_669520813_o.jpg
 
1910s: British Army Transportation. Rawalpindi - Nowshera Trek

970285_636214823070266_521660000_n.jpg
 

Back
Top Bottom