Moenjodaro - A Tourists delight

If you are a lover of archaeology and fond of visiting archaeological sites, then Moenjodaro is the place you should go to.

It's one of the most spectacular and developed urban civilizations of the world that flourished in the second millennium B.C. 5000 years old, it is located in Pakistan on the west bank of River Indus.

The meaning of Moenjodaro is 'Mound of the Dead'. The Indus River civilization flourished for about 800 years during the third and second millennium BC before it vanished from the map of the world. The ruins indicate that Moenjodaro used to be an organized and planned city with master architecture of urban settlement.

Some features of this civilization have come out with peculiar revelations, the inhabitants of this area were highly artistic and innovative. Proficient in the art of town planning, They followed architectural techniques while constructing their buildings so as to counter the effects of heat.

Moenjodaro had intersecting, parallel, straight streets, it also had halls, galleries and a large bathing pool probably used for religious or ceremonial purposes. It had covered drainage system and soaked pits with disposal bins. It also had a decision making area, which seems a nice idea. The buildings were generally made of mud and baked bricks.

Evidence of the existence of a public treasury has been found which indicates that in those days, taxes were being collected. Besides discovering weights and measures, the excavators have also found earrings, necklaces, beads and pearls in that area.

Once you roam around the area surrounding Moenjodaro, you would be startled to see the similarity between various objects used at Moenjodaro 5000 years back and the existing settlements in the area. The bullock carts, boats, drinking jars, toys used even today in the adjoining areas, bear strong resemblance to those used by the ancient citizens of Moenjodaro.

Other objects found in Moenjodaro include models of birds, a small dancing girl made of bronze and a priest king. In Moenjodaro museum, relics on view include engraved seals, ornaments, utensils, pottery, weapons and toys. By studying the coins and potteries discovered in the area, you can get an idea about the trade and cultural links that existed at that time between Moenjodaro and Egypt and other civilizations in that era. Evidence also exists that, in those days, dams were built for storing river water and cultivation was carried out manually with the help of bullock ploughs - a system that still exists in Pakistan.

However, once you are at Moenjodaro, you shouldn't lose this opportunity to visit some other archaeological sites in Pakistan which rich in archaeological heritage. These sites would be a source of immense delight for the tourists.

In the end, after seeing all these magnificent sites in Pakistan, you may wish to visit a hill resort in Pakistan, called Muree. It's 65 KM from the capital of the country, Islamabad, which, though is not an archaeological site, is full of captivating scenic beauty.

Save Buddhist Heritage of Swat, Pakistan

Save Buddhist Heritage of Swat, Pakistan

region inside Pakistan is considered as Switzerland of Pakistan and a tourist jewel, is under Taliban rule right now. I want to remind the world that Taliban destroyed world heritage of the largest Budhha statues while the world watched in horror.

Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years and was known in ancient times as Udyana. The first inhabitants were settled in well-planned towns. The independent monarchs of this region came under Achaemenid influence, before reverting back to local control in the 4th century BC. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought his way to Udegram and Barikot. In Greek accounts these towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. By 305 BC, the region became a part of the Mauryan Empire. Around the 2nd century BC, the area was occupied by Buddhists, the Indo-Greeks, and the Kushans who were attracted by the peace and serenity of the land. Swat is thought to be the probable birthplace of Vajrayana Buddhism. There are many archaeological sites in the district, and Buddhist relics are common, testimony to their skills as sculptors and architects.

The Swat museum has the footprints of the Buddha, which were found in the Swat valley and can now be seen in the Swat museum. When the Buddha died, His relics (or ashes) were distributed to seven kings, who built stupas over them for veneration..

The Harmarajika stupa (Taxila) and Butkarha (Swat) stupa at Jamal Garha were among the earliest stupas of Gandhara. These had been erected on the orders of king Ashoka and contained the real relics of the Buddha.

The Gandhara school is probably credited with the first representation of the Buddha in human form, the portrayal of Buddha in his human shape, rather than shown as a symbol.

As Buddhist art developed and spread outside India, the styles developed here were imitated. For example, in China the Gandhara style was imitated in images made of bronze, with a gradual change in the features of these images. Swat, the land of romance and beauty, is celebrated throughout the world as the holy land of Buddhist learning and piety. Swat acquired fame as a place of Buddhist pilgrimage. Buddhist tradition holds that the Buddha himself came to Swat during his last reincarnation as the Guatama Buddha and preached to the people here.

It is said that the Swat was filled with fourteen hundred imposing and beautiful stupas and monasteries, which housed as many as 6,000 gold images of the Buddhist pantheon for worship and education. There are now more than 400 Buddhist sites covering and area of 160 km in Swat valley only. Among the important Buddhist excavation in Swat an important one is Butkarha-I, containing the original relics of the Buddha

Now Swat is under Talibanic forces, all these heritage are sure to become their target, as they are short sighted, fanatics of Islam. USA must help Pakistan at this stage to save Swat in NWFP, which is much inside Pakistan and nowhere near Afghan border, from going to Taliban and Pakistan government should be pressurised by India, USA and other democratic country from world over to save these heritage at ANY cost.

Gandhara - Exhibition about the Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan

Gandhara - Exhibition about the Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan

Taking place at the art and exhibition hall of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundeskunsthalle), Bonn.

The Buddhist art of Gandharas appears quite familiar the western culture. Generally, Gandhara is a historical region, which is located between contemporary Pakistan and Afghanistan. In its time of prosperity, the ancient region ranges from Bactria over Hindukusch to North India.

From November, 21st to March, 15th, the of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn presents an Exhibition about the Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan, showing a wide range of Gandharas culture. Exhibition covers a great space of time, beginning with the Conquests of Alexander the Great. Despite a certain Greek as well as Roman influence, Gandharas artworks can predominantly be assigned to Buddhism. Focus of Gandhara's exhibition is on the regional development of Gandhara artwork and culture

Taxila

The World Heritage site of Taxila is located in Punjab Province of what is now Pakistan, about 30 kilometers from Islamabad. The site includes numerous related buildings, fortifications, settlements and monasteries, and shows architectural influences for the length of its role as a Buddhist training center, between the 5th century BC through the 2nd century AD. The capital was conquered by several groups, including Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. As a result, Persian, Greek and Asian influences are visible in the ruins of the city.

A Rich Heritage Neglected

A Rich Heritage Neglected. 

It is often said that Pakistan is a young nation with an old civilization. Pakistan came into being only 56 years ago but the civilization of its people goes back to over 5000 years. The United Nations has declared six world heritage sites in Pakistan. Most of these sites can be said to be in various degrees of neglect.

There is no active hostility in the general populace of Pakistan towards its pre-islamic heritage, such as the one represented by the demolition of the Bamian Buddhas in the neighbouring Afghanistan. The Pakistani attitude can best be described as one of a not-so-benign neglect and indifference, more by the elite than by the state. This lack of pride is leading to the neglect and gradual loss of Pakistan’s priceless cultural heritage.

One of the must-see places in Pakistan for us was Moenjo Daro, a pre-historic site in the interior of the Sindh province. We took a flight from Karachi to go to Moenjo Daro, perhaps the premier world heritage site in Pakistan. The flight in a Fokker plane was surprisingly pleasant; we were served newspapers, snacks, coffee, drinks and sandwiches whereas one would be fortunate to get even a candy in a similar short flight in North America. The airport at Moenjo Daro is small but quite functional. It is quite decent for a small location and well maintained, with attractive plants of roses and that omnipresent subcontinental plant, bougainvilleas.

The Moenjo Daro site is literally a stone’s throw from the airport. We were only the second visitor to the site that day; the first one was a justice of the Supreme Court of India who had gone to Karachi for some conference. There are no hotels in Moenjo Daro and none is needed, with the amount of tourist traffic there at present. The only place we could stay at was the government rest house which is located at the entry of the Moenjo Daro complex. A very kind gentleman welcomed us to the rest house (real cheap, only Rs. 250 per night) and asked us to sign a register. I scanned through the last two pages of the register; there was only one Pakistani visitor, the rest were all Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Dutch, etc. There were no restaurants in the vicinity; the only arrangement for food was a cook attached to the rest house who was willing to cook to our order, subject to whatever was available in the store. I couldn’t help contrasting this place with Khajuraho, another place discovered in the last century in the middle of nowhere in Madhya Pradesh, although of much lesser significance from a civilizational viewpoint than Moenjo Daro. Khajuraho is now a bustling tourist attraction, where a small township has come up with hotels, restaurants run by both Indians, French and Italians, shops and other tourist facilities; there is even a daily sound-and-light show in Hindi and English to entertain and inform about the history of the Khajuraho monuments to the visitors. I could just imagine the potential awaiting Moenjo Daro if only there was proper marketing and promotion; if Egypt can attract milions of tourists to its pyramids in the middle of nowhere, why not Pakistan perform a similar feat with Moenjo Daro?

We had the whole rest-house to ourselves that night. It was an eerie experience. The room had cobwebs all over the walls. At night we had a hard time sleeping with strange sounds and a ’pehredaar’ (watchman) blowing his whistle at regular intervals. A clock struck every hour between midnight and five A.M. I could not figure out why the ‘gharhial’ struck only at night time. To make matters worse for us, the bed was quite uncomfortable and the lights went out at around midnight. The place had become a veritable ’bhoot bangla’. My wife cursed me for bringing her to this scary place. And this was without my telling her that we were in perhaps the most lawless area of Pakistan!

The next day, we were taken on a round of Moenjo Daro by the custodian of the place. No matter how much one has read about Moenjo Daro in books and articles, one is still struck with awe when one visits and actually sees the place. Spread over several hectares are the ruins of a city from which the town planners of today can learn a lesson or two. It has wide boulevards, a surprising covered drainage system and community services, like garbage collection and swimming pool which would be the envy of many towns and cities of the subcontinent even today. The engineers displayed amazing skills in bringing water to the swimming pool from a nearby well through a naali drain. The city had both single and double storey homes; some of the double storey homes were served by tall wells so that the residents did not have to carry water from the ground floor to the second floor. There were several wells in the city and they had all smooth, perfectly round brick walls. There were streets for the poor and streets for the rich, and the streets for the rich even had a booth for a security guard. We saw large tandoors which were presumably used for commercial or communal cooking. The bricks used in houses, wells, tandoors or communal baths were quite similar to those being used now. The nearby museum carries specimens of jewellery and pottery found in the city which could have come from the nearby villages. The clay figures also suggested resemblance to gods which were worshipped by the later inhabitants of the area. One has to keep reminding oneself that all this happened more than five millennia ago.

The security at the place was minimal. Old blackened seeds of wheat were scattered at the site. I asked the custodian what precautions were taken to ensure that old relics from the ruins were not stolen or removed from the site. His reply was that people in the surrounding village would catch anyone trying to run away with the stolen stuff. This did not seem to be an entirely satisfactory arrangement to me. He casually gave us a few seeds of blackened wheat as souvenirs to take home with us.

Despite its world heritage status, the whole place is suffering from neglect and many structures are in danger of crumbling. A report in The Dawn newspaper when I was there made for a sad reading. Reporting on a crumbling wall, the report said,

“Archaeologists said that it was a big loss because the wall located in the DKG area was unique in the entire Indus Valley civilization sites. The fallen bricks were seen lying scattered on the spot when this correspondent visited the pre-historic site, while some portions of the same wall were crumbling and about to collapse. The department of archaeology has not taken any measures for the maintenance of the world heritage site. Around two years back, the chief engineer of the department, Mohan Lal surveyed and identified some 93 original walls which were leaning”

The Archaeological Survey of Pakistan spends only Rs. 50,000 per month on this site all of which goes towards the salary of people like the night watchman. The report went on to warn that “The entire DKG area is facing a danger and structures can collapse at any time as the last year’s rains had developed fissures, gullies, crevices and ditches and de-shaped their originality. Even walls in the DKC area were seen leaning and some of them had developed cracks. With temporary artificial support, certain leaning walls have been saved from being fallen. However, the structure of well and drain in DKC area are fast decaying and walls in the area from where ring stones had been recovered had eroded and are about to fall.”

Such, then, is the sad state of maintenance of Pakistan’s premier world heritage spot.

Moenjo Daro owes its discovery to a former Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Sir John Marshall, who discovered the place in 1911. The diggings took place between 1922-28. The inhabitants of the nearby village had already noticed the human remains of the area and called it the mound of the dead, or Moenjo Daro in the Sindhi language; the place still carries that name.

John Marshall’s contribution to the discovery of Pakistan’s heritage is not limited to Moenjo Daro. He also discovered the archaeological sites at the second most famous Pakistani site designated as a world heritage, namely, Taxila. The diggings here took place mostly in the 1930s. This place is on the historic G. T. Road, and is much more popular than the less accessible Moenjo Daro. The place, also known in Sanskrit as Tashashila is the site of the famous international university during the Buddhist period and attracted large number of national and international students in both religious and secular subjects, such as Vedas, Buddhist philosophy, Mathematics and Astronomy. It was on the cross-roads of the world trade routes and finds mention in the travelogues of many foreign travelers, such as Mangasthenes and Hieun Sang. The Taxila museum is a veritable treasure of sculptors, ornaments and artifacts. Its staff is well-informed, knowledgeable and take considerable pride in their work. The curator of the museum was quite friendly and let us into a locked room where some prized items were kept.

After visiting the museum we headed for the two digging sites at Taxila. The first one, two miles up the road, was Sirkap ruins. Sirkap was a well-known city until the time of Kanishka. Here, we were met by a bearded mullah-type, a retired military man, who was the lone custodian at the place. He took us around the place for a brief visit to the ruins of Sirkap. One of the ruins we visited was dug deep and showed signs of three distinct civilizations. Our guide mistook us for fellow Muslims and told us how the place suffered a zawaal or a destruction thrice in its history, caused by the wrath of Allah on pagans, as mentioned in the holy quran.

From Sirkap we went to the other well-known diggings at Jaulian. One has to take a scenic trek up the top of a hill to get to this site. The surrounding view of the valley from this site is panoramic and a tonic to the tired eyes. But the panoramic view is not the only reward of the short trek. The stupas themselves are magnificent. They are guarded day and night and the statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva, their attendants, the animals, and artifacts, even though mutilated and some even decapitated, show the elegance and opulence of the gandhara art.

The Jaulian site has a large monastery with the residential cells of monks. There are several inscriptions in Kharoshti, the script in use until the 5th century AD. Some of the sculptures here are duplicates in plasters, the originals being on display at the Taxila museum. A tank at the centre of the court collected rain water off the wooden roof, the same ancient technique of rain-harvesting which is in vogue again in the water starved India of today. Jaulian is perhaps the best kept historical site in Pakistan. The custodians, too, are better informed and seemed to take a fair bit of pride in what they were guarding.

While crossing the Jehlum River on the Motorway, one’s thoughts turn to what one had read in the history books about the epic battle in which Raja Porus tried to defend his land against the mighty armies of Alexander. One is tempted to ask if there is any monument to commemorate the native hero, but doesn’t even bother to ask because one knows the answer.

Most Pakistanis have never heard of a place known as the Ketas Raj. There are no signs of Ketas Raj while passing through the scenic salt range on the motorway, but if you take the Kalar Kahar exit and ask anyone about it, you will have no problem in reaching the place. To get there, you have to take a well-maintained highway to Choa Saidan Shah. The Ketas Raj comes into view suddenly, without any prior indication, approximately 25 kilometers from the Kalar Kahar exit. It is an impressive complex of seven temples, known as Satghare. It has been described as the second most sacred shrine of the Hindus of Panjab, after the Jawalamukhi temple, now in Himachal Pradesh. This site was once a bustling place of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of Hindus and a huge mela was held here every year; it has turned into ruins in half a century. The Hindus from India approached the Pakistani government several times to open the place to them for pilgrimage but that request was denied every time. We were told during our visit that some yaatris were to visit the place for the first time the following day and the ruins had been spruced up for the occasion. It was not certain whether the pilgrims were to be from India or from Sindh in Pakistan; I did not, however, see a mention of any such pilgrimage in the Indian media.

The temple complex is built around a large tank. There is a legend surrounding the tank which is mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. According to the epic, the Pandav brothers were sent into exile after Yudhishtra lost in the gamble to the Kaurav leader, Duryodhan. Once during the exile, when the brothers were feeling very thirsty, Yudhishtra sent his youngest brother to search for water. The story of the brothers’ search for water is described as follows:

“Yudishthir asks Sahdev to go in search of a lake or stream from where they can drink water. Sahdev finds a lake, and is about to drink water for himself before calling his brothers that there is a voice, with no body to be seen around, asking him to stop and answer his questions first before drinking the water. Sahdev ignores the warning and continues to drink the water. Taking the very first sip of water, Sahdev faints(almost dead) and falls to the ground. Realizing that Sahdev hadn’t returned yet, Yudishthir sends Nakul in search of Sahdev. Nakul finds the lake and Sahdev but decides to drink the water first. The voice again gives him the warning but Nakul also ignores it and drinks the water prior to answering the questions and also faints. Yudishthir get worried and sends Arjun. Arjun finds the lake and Nakul and Sahdev but also drinks the water first ignoring the warning by the voice given to him and faints. Yudishthir then sends Bhim who also lands with the same fate as his younger brothers. Yudishthir then goes himself to find the four brothers. On reaching the lake he decides to drink some water but the voice gives him a warning to answer his questions before drinking the water, he then discovers his four brothers and asks why were his brothers lying fainted on the ground. The voice replies that they had ignored his warning . The Yaksha(a form of "Yama-Lord of Dharma") in that lake had cursed that until anyone who came to drink the water of that lake was to first answer his questions correctly before drinking the water otherwise that person would die. Yaksha offers to Yudishthir that if you are to answer the questions correctly I will spare the life of one of your brothers. Yudishthir then asked the Yaksha to ask the questions.”

The questions were about the philosophy of life. A sample of questions and answers:

Q. What is that which can give eternal happiness?
A : Controlling the mind and managing the thoughts to make the mind devoid of negativities and greed and ego and lust, makes the person get away from all problems and be happy.
Q. Who’s company is eternally beneficent?
A : The company of noble people is eternally beneficial.
Q. What rescues man in danger?
A : Courage is man’s only strength and salvation in danger.

The Yaksh was satisfied with Yudhishtra’s answers and returned to life all his brothers.

There have been other legends associated with the place as well.
We took a brief round of the complex which my mother used to mention to us with great fondness. It has separate bathing quarters for men and women. The surrounding temples are in a dilapidated state and all the idols are now missing from there.

The Ketas Raj has a historical importance that goes beyond its religious significance. This was also a place of learning during ancient times and finds a mention by that genius chroniclers of his travels, Al Beruni. He stayed here for some time and learnt the Hindu philosophy and the Sanskrit language from the Brahmins at this place of learning.

Going through these monuments, one wonders if Pakistanis will embrace these ancient monuments as part of their cultural heritage? There is some evidence that at least some of them, in search of a Pakistani identity, are willing to accept the pre-Islamic culture as their own. Prominent among them is Aitzaz Ahsan, a leader of the Pakistan People’s Party. His recent book, The Indus Saga, has won critical acclaim in Pakistan. Ahsan has tried to reinterpret the two nation theory which created Pakistan. According to this ex-post interpretation, the Indian subcontinent can be divided into two nations because of a civilizational divide. The areas that now forms Pakistan roughly correspond to what he calls part of the Indus civilization; whereas the areas now constituting India correspond to what he terms Gangetic civilization. This division may appear somewhat arbitrary and artificial to the Indians but it makes a lot of sense to those Pakistanis who do not want to define themselves in purely religious terms.

This article would be incomplete if I did not give the Pakistani authorities full credit for taking excellent care of the symbols of Sikh heritage in Pakistan. While the Sikh shrines have benefited from the political games between India and Pakistan and the Pakistani attempts to woo Sikhs from India and abroad, one must give credit where the credit is due. I visited three Sikh shrines during my visit to Pakistan - Punja Saheb, Nankana Saheb and Dera Saheb. All three sites are very well looked after. All three gurudwaras perform the mandatory daily service (the parkash of guru granth saheb) and serve food daily from the langar, the community kitchen. All three shrines have on-site accommodations for the overnight stays of the visiting pilgrims. These sites provide evidence of the great devotion of the Sikhs to these shrines and their support and contributions has played a key role in their preservation. But no amount of devotion and contributions would have sufficed without the full cooperation and support of the Pakistani authorities.

(i)Asaan vanjaa ditte – We lost/destroyed them(/i)
(a villager describing what happened to the statues in the historic Ketas temples)

Tags:
(i)We do admit all these statues were the cultural heritage of Afghanistan, but we will not leave the part which is contrary to our belief.(/i)
(Wakil Ahmad Mutawakil,
Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, on the demolition of Bamiyan Buddha statues)

(i)Asaan vanjaa ditte – We lost/destroyed them(/i)
(a villager describing what happened to the statues in the historic Ketas temples)

Lok Virsa to add new section to Heritage Museum

Lok Virsa to add new section to Heritage Museum

ISLAMABAD (APP)- National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa has planned to add a new section of Mehrgarh 8000 BC to the Heritage Museum.

The section was symbolically included in the museum but still there was a need to showcase its traditions in detail to further improve the displays of museum, said Executive Director Lok Virsa, Mazharul Islam while talking to this news agency here.

“It is the first state museum of ethnology that presents the history and living traditions of people of Pakistan both from the mainstream and the remotest regions of the country,” he said.
From Northern Areas to the borders, the museum encourages and sponsors research in the regional languages, cultural history, arts, crafts and all related aspects of folklore including folktales, ethnotechnology, ethnomusicology, ethnological data, history of folk literature and oral traditions of the country.

Mazharul Islam said that Lok Virsa is a specialized institute charged with the mandate for field research, collection, cultural studies, cultural documentation, scientific preservation, study of oral traditions, folklore, indigenous cultural heritage and traditional culture of Pakistan.
To improve the documentation on various subjects, the research section of Lok Virsa has been made active for preserving the folklore of the country, he added.

“It is the prime national institution in the country dealing with both tangible and intangible cultural heritage and the research activities on folk and traditional heritage are the top priority for the institution,” he added.

K2 (GODWIN AUSTIN)

K2 is the second highest mountain in the world, and is thought by many climbers to be the ultimate climb. Its giant pyramid peak towers in isolation, 12,000 feet above the wide Concordia glacial field at the head of the Baltoro Glacier. The sheer icy summit is flanked by six equally steep ridges. Each of its faces presents a maze of precipices and overhangs. K2 was long considered unclimbable. Attempts in 1902, 1909, 1934, 1938, 1939 and 1953 all failed. The first successful ascent in 1954 started with over 500 porters, 11 climbers, and six scientists. One of the climbers died of pneumonia after 40 days of raging storms. The final ascent was made by a team of two after their oxygen supply had run out, and an emergency descent was made in darkness. K2 is the only major mountain in the world which has surveyor's notation as its common name (K stands for Karakoram, 2 means it was the second peak listed). T.G. Montgomery was the surveyor who assigned the peak this designation in 1856. The mountain's remoteness had rendered it invisible from any inhabited place, so apart from an occasional local reference as Chogori (meaning Great Mountain), it had no other name prior to Montgomery's survey. Since that time, the name Mount Godwin-Austen has occasionally been used, in honor of the man who directed the survey. For the most part, however, K2 has been the name of choice, and has even evolved into Ketu, the name used by the Balti people who act as porters in the region. Additional information added by Stephen Burke: With respect to the commentary on the 1954 Italian expedition that was the first to summit K2, it has since been proven that Compagnoni and Lacedelli did indeed have oxygen until they reached the summit of K2. The myth was dispelled through libel proceedings brought on by climber Walter Bonatti, who had been accused of sabotaging the expedition by keeping the oxygen for himself. The best evidence available in translated format can be found in the latest edition of The Mountains of My Life by Bonatti, or the short book entitled Trial on K2.

Chowkundi

Perhaps, you have never heard of people who thought like this strange ideas, but this was precisely how the people, who built Chowkundi Tombs, did. They built magnificent tombs and spent their life-long earnings on them, but hardly ever planned their living quarters with the same care and interest:

"There is no need of cities and towns either. Nothing, but graves. Graves to house their remains after death: Beautiful, ornate and lasting".

There is hardly any trace of their residential quarters today but, even after centuries, their tombs and graveyards continue to cast their solemn shadows across these vast stretches of wasteland.

Four miles around the site known as Chowkundi Tombs, there are no traces or remains of any ancient human settlement or habitation. Eighteen miles from Karachi, on Karachi-Thatta Highway, this grave yard had already been there for ages, when Karachi was non-existent.

Similar in the case of other such cities, of which there are no more than 20 in Sind and Baluchistan. Normally, graveyards are adjunct to cities or towns, but here the case is different. That is the whole essence of the mystery of Chowkundi site and others of this kind.

In inviting attention to this treasure of art, one need not march into the corridors of history or fly into the labyrinths of legends. It stands on its own merits. The site presents beauty of design, patter and craftsmanship of days gone by, so perfectly well-preserved even after hundreds of years.

Thousands of charcoal and crayon rubbings of the motifs of these tombs have been flown to Europe and America by great number of foreign visitors as gifts. This testifies to the appeal the excellence of designs make on the minds of Western connoisseurs.

In fact, Chowkundi is one of the most beautiful ancient sites in Pakistan. Craftsmen, who built tombs and carved and engraved them were remarkable for their sense of beauty and their devotion to their rich, inherited art. Not one, two or three, but hundreds of tombs, built of angular stone slabs placed one upon another and tapering upwards, like the tombs of Cyrus in Iranian Valley or Murghan, can be seen here at Chowkundi.

These tombs appeal to the aesthetic sense of the visitor from the monument he sees these golden sandstone slabs, beautified by art and craftsmanship. And for curious mind, they offer lot of material to observe and reflect upon. The encrusted superficial layers could be scratched to perhaps establish some very interesting facts. The obvious impression, which one gets is that no poor people could have afforded such splendors.

There a myriad types of floral patterns and geometrical designs, carved out in the huge slabs of stone with such supreme craftsmanship and precision as if done on silk. The best specimens of line and form, tombs present at intricate network of various patterns, incorporating triangles, rectangles, squares and circles, forming well-balanced and charming symmetrical designs. Patterns, resembling lotuses and sunflowers, profusely adorn the designs. Some of the tombs, also, have verses from Koran.

Prominent crown-like figures on the tomb immediately distinguish tombs of men from those of women, which are flat-topped. Their patterns also differ. Sword and shield, bow and arrow, flying horse rider and similar item symbolizing courage and bravery adorn men's tombs; but women's tombs have patterns and designs of delicate and beautiful ornaments, such as necklaces, earrings, rings "kangans" and "jhumkas" etc.

Inviting and enchanting, Chowkundi whispers mysteries of past and seems ever ready to disclose its secrets to the discerning, imaginative mind. For the lovers of art and crafts, as well as antiquarians and archaeologists, tombs are of special interest. Here, poet's mind conjures up the lives of those master craftsmen, who have left the mark of their skill on these tombs, as well as those who lie buried beneath them.

Kabul Gate Rohtas Fort

Rohtas Fort, built in the 1540s by Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan, is one of the most imposing historical monuments in Pakistan. It is situated on the bank of the Kahan River near Dina, 12 miles northwest of Jhelum in Punjab. It was built to resist the forces of the Gakkhars, the most powerful tribe of the Potohar. Village Mlundi was situated here, but after the construction of the fort, the place was named Rohtas after another Rohtas Fort in Behar (India), which Sher Shah had captured earlier.

Rohtas Fort took ten years to complete. Construction started in 1542 and continued after the death of Sher Shah Suri in 1545. The fort is built of grey ashlar masonry.

The Ghakkars, who were feared by Sher Shah Suri, became trusted allies of the Mughals in 1519 and remained so for the next two centuries. It was the Ghakkars who fought along with the Mughals at Sultanpur. Sher Shah Suri built Rohtas in order to check the Ghakkars and to prevent the return of Naseerurdin Muhammad Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor, whom he defeated in 1539. Suri's reign was short, lasting only six years until 1545, yet in that short period, he managed to drive the alien Mughals out of India. He kept 12,000 men at Rohtas to guard the fort and his newly built road, which ran straight through Ghakkar territory to the Indus and possibly beyond. This was the precursor to the Grand Trunk Road.

The site of the fort is on an ancient route to India used by traffic coming from north of the Salt Range to the plains south of it. Here, the Kahan River, after passing through the low-lying hills of the Tarahi Range, enters into relatively flat ground. This was the Ghakkars' territory. The Ghakkars put up stiff resistance to the building of the fort. Sher Shah had to maintain a large garrison in order to keep construction going.

Rohtas is a very large fort, about 3 miles around the perimeter, with massive battlements and walls. For about half a mile along the river, the walls are double. They are tiered on the inside in some places have three levels. The wall-walks in most sections are wide enough to reassure sufferers from vertigo. There are several large gates and numerous posterns, but otherwise hardly any buildings of note. It is the fortifications themselves that are the attraction.

The plan of the fort is adapted to suit the terrain. It is defended by a number of deep ravines, as well as the river, along most of the perimeter wall. The walls are 30 to 50 feet high. In many places they are 30 feet thick at the base. The fort has 68 towers and 12 gates. Most of the gates are in ruins, but a few are in good shape. The gates are known by the names Kabuli, Badshahi, Langar Khani, Talaqi, Khawas Khani, Gatiali, Beriwala, Pipalwala, and Shisha. The upper portion of Sohal Gate, 70 feet high, is now used as a resthouse.

The outside facade of this gate is elaborately decorated. It was probably used for triumphal entries. The gate is flanked by two very large U-shaped bastions. The walls here are well preserved. There is a large well about 1,500 feet away from the Sohal Gate. The well is quite impressive. A long, straight, wide flight of 135 steps leads down into it with almost triangular arches over the top. An interior wall divides the fort in two. The impressive Chand Wali Gate connects the two parts. The northern part is known as Anderkot.

All that remains of Man Singh's Palace inside the fort are two barahdari (viewing pavilions) at each end of the hill. There is an exceptionally large tower on the west wall. On the top platform of this there is a strange stone block and hole, which was probably the place of execution; the victim was thrown through the hole.

From the tower to the northwest corner of the fort there is a small three-arched mosque with moulded inscriptions of Allah and faint traces of paint which may have been original. It is on the left of the Shisha Gate (Mirror Gate), probably so called because to the right of it was the supposed site of a building called Harim's Hall of Mirrors. Sixty steps lead to a deep well with arcaded basement chambers, windows looking onto the well, and vaulted outlets for the water.

The centre portion of the north walls are well preserved. They have hooded machicolations, apertures from which to pour boiling oil onto attackers. Inside the next gate there is a vaulted octagonal room not unlike those in the Lahore Fort. It still has its original carvings and calligraphic mouldings. On the outside are the remains of blue tiles and more calligraphy. On the north side there is a Sikh house from the late 18th or early 19th century. Here is also the Khawas Khan Gate, named after Sher Shah's general who, took the Ghakkar chief Sarang Khan's daughter in forced marriage. The Batiala Gate is in the southeast corner of the fort.

Ten years after Sher Shah's death, his two successors having proved worthless, Humayun returned to Delhi. The Afghan governor of Rohtas made no resistance and fled the fort, along with his garrison. Thus Rohtas never had to serve the purpose for which it was intended. Humayun died a mere six months after his triumphant return to Delhi. The later Mughal emperors visited Rohtas only rarely. It lost its importance as a frontier garrison when Akbar built his great fort at Attock on the Indus in the 1850s.

Post Independence Pakistan

Pakistan was born on the map on 14 August 1947. At its birth Pakistan had two parts commonly referred to as East and West Pakistan.  

During the year 1970 when Pakistan had a war with India, East Pakistan was completely cut off from the West Pakistan and following the elections in 1971, the East Pakistan was separated from the West and since then it is known as Bangladesh.  

The story of separation of East and West Pakistan is a tragic. It becomes worse when stories related to this separation are narrated on both sides. Efforts must be made to avoid blaming each other and concentration must me focused on how to live and help each other to live peacefully and in harmony.  

Pakistan now has 4 provinces namely, Balocistan, Punjab, NWFP and Sindh. The country is governed by the Federal Government based in Islamabad.

Lal-Kurti: walk down colonial path

Situated in the heart of Cantt, about 7kms off Saddar, is a locality, known by the name of Lal-Kurti, where the remnants of colonial rule can still be seen. 

Another aspect which makes this locality quite different from other areas of Rawalpindi is the fact that the multi-ethnic texture of the society-reminiscent of the pre-partition days-can still be felt here. The locality has a history that stretches to mare than 150 years. But has anyone ever wondered how did this area get the name Lal-Kurti? 

According to Brig Siddiqui (retired), an expert on Cantt area in general and Lal-Kurti in particular, the area had been inhabited by the British troops in the middle of the 19th century. 

The soldiers used to wear a red tunic as part of their uniform. Since these troops were stationed in this area, the locals started calling it Lal-Kurti, meaning "red tunic" in the local language. He said the area consisted of Lal-Kurti proper and Dheri Hassanabad up till Tahli Mori. 

- He said the RA Bazaar meant Royal Artillery bazaar, whereas B.I. Bazaar stood for British infantry. There is also the famous Regimental Masjid. 

Brig Siddiqui, whose family has been living in Lal-Kurti for the last 150 years, said such Lal-Kurtis were located in most of the cantonments throughout the country. 

Giving a brief history about the area, Mr. Siddiqui aid Rawalpindi, like most parts of Punjab, was under the rule of Sikhs. 1n March 1849, there was a battle between the Sikhs and the British which ended with the defeat of the former at a place now known as B.I. Bazaar, popularly Mamoojee Road. 

After their victory, the British decided to set up their headquarters in the area. As a result, a plan was prepared and plotting carried out. 

According to the Imperial Gazetteer the British in order to inhabit the area invited the locals and offered them land. These lands were offered under three different categories, free hold; lease and bazaar area. 

Under the free hold, the lands were offered on the condition that the Britlshers could take it back whenever they wanted without any compensation. 

Whereas, under lease, land was given to the locals on lease for a period of 99 years. These people were asked to build bungalows on 20 kanals and rent them out to British families. 

These locals were paid a monthly rent of Rs120, which continued till the partition of the sub continent. 

The oldest building. according to Brig Siddiqui is the Christ Church, situated behind Pearl Continental, which was built in 1852. 

Talking about the condition of lease, Mr. Siddiqui said a family had a bungalow, where today the Punjab House is situated, The then owner of the house, unaware of the leasing contract, received a notice, under which he was supposed to vacate the residence as the leasing period had ended. The bungalow was then demolished and Punjab House built in its place. 

Mr. Siddiqui said the building where NUST is situated today was once a gymnasium built for the British soldiers. After partition, the GHQ took over the gymnasium. In the 1960s, President Ayub Khan turned it into the National Assembly. 

Afterwards when the National Assembly was shifted to Islamabad, the building housed National Defense College and later National University for Science and Technology. 

The building where Fatima Jinnah Women University is located was originally owned by two Sikh brothers-Soan Singh and Moan Singh-and was called 'Bachan Niwas'. 

Mr. Siddiqui said according to late Gen Shafiqur Rahman ‘Bachan Niwas' was built in 1911 for the then prince of Wales who was on a visit to India.

Later it was converted into the presidency during Gen Zia-ul Haq's rule and then to Sindh House. 

Brig Siddiqui said the 'Chowk' where today a cannon was placed, once had the statue of Queen Victoria, popularly known as Malka ka Buth'. 

This statue had a globe in one hand and a baton in the other, which symbolized that 'Britain ruled the whole world with a baton'. 

The statue was disfigured after partition and in order to avoid further damage to it- it was shifted to MES Store. 

Today, it is located at the premises of the British High Commission in Islamabad. What made the statue quite different was that in those days, most of the statues of Queen Victoria showed her in her old age. This was. the only one which showed her in her younger years. 

Brig Siddiqui said the land where Cantt Library and Odeon Cinema were situated was donated by Soan Singh- and Moan Singh in 1891. 

About the Mall, he said, initially, it was a single road with a track, known as the Mule Track, running parallel to it. This track was meant only for black-skin people who were not allowed to use. The people of the city were not allowed to enter the Cantt area after a certain time. 

Brig Siddiqui said there used to be mint rooms' at the railway station with sign boards saying "dogs and Indians not allowed". According to Bntishers, the Cantt area was meant only for those associated with the royal army. They considered this area as "Camp area" not a 'settled' area. 

When asked how did so my Urdu-speaking people settled in this are Mr. Siddiqui said people from different parts of India working for the British army settled in this area. Besides, Urdu had been made the standard language in the area and even the Britishers were supposed to speak in Urdu.

For this purpose, special people known as Mir Munshis were recruited to teach Urdu to the Englishmen, who also had to pass exams in the language. 

The Britishers had also made their own arrangement of distributing water to the Cantonment area. They had built a 5m1 reservoir near Bhara Kahu from where they brought water to Topi Park, now known as Ayub National Park. (This park had many Buddhist stupas that was why it was called Topi Park). 

It was from here that the Bristishers further distributed water to different areas of the Cantonment. There was also a bungalow in Sarwar Park, known as the 'Gas House' where gas was produced in a special way and provided to lamp-posts. 

There are many important buildings in Lal -Kurti like the COD, 501 and 502 workshops which remind us of toe British era. 

The site where the GHQ is situated today used to be the winter headquarters of the British army's Northern Command. 

Other remnants from the British times are the three Christian graveyard the British War Cemetery being the most famous. Popularly known as the Gora Kabristan and has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II and late Diana Princess of Wales. The cemetery is now looked after by the British High Commission.

British Period: 1857 - 1947

Just before the independence of Pakistan this land remained a part of the British Empire for almost a century. Hence the British culture also left an impact on the life of the people of Pakistan. Amongst the British legacy a new form of architecture which is a blend of Islamic and the Western Architecture emerged. This colonial architecture in the form of Residential Bungalows, Educational Institutions, Churches and Railway Stations is still very attrative and in a good condition. Examples of the British Architecture can be seen in all the major cities of Pakistan. The British patronage towards introducing Railways in the Sub-Continent is indeed a great gift and the operational railroad and railway stations in Pakistan today are the same laid and built by the British before 1947. 

Old Presidency in Rawalpindi, Rest house in Ziarat, Empress Market Karachi, Punjab University’s old Campus, Islamia College Peshawar, and Cathedrals in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar are just few examples of the British Heritage.The British Empire, however, ceased to exist in this part of the world after 14 August 1947.

The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. No other country of the world can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and theft.

The establishment of NFCH is much appreciated and a great interest is shown by the general public hence since its establishment in 1994 hundreds of proposals were received from different agencies and individuals for the conservation, preservation and publication of the Pakistan’s national heritage. It is hoped that with the continued patronage of the government, the Philanthropists and the Business Community to the NFCH we shall be able to achieve the aforesaid goal.

Sikh Period

Sikh Period: 1762-1849 A.D. 

The Sikhs established their Empire in the Punjab after the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1707. With the death of Aurangzeb the country saw a series of rapid governmental changes that stressed it in to the depths of anarchy. Taking advantage of this certain Charat Singh, who was the head of one of the Sikh Clans, established his stronghold in Gujranwala in 1763. Charat Singh died in 1774 and was succeeded by his son, Mahan Singh, who in turn fathered the most brilliant leader in the history of the Punjab: Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was this remarkable leader who united the whole Punjab under one flag. His rule stretched from the banks of the Jamuna to the Khyber and from Kashmir to Multan. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the most powerful of all the Sikh Rulers and ruled over for complete 40 years. After his death in 1840 the Sikh Empire was divided into small principalities looked after by several Sikh Jagirdars. This weak situation provided a good opportunity to the British of East India Company to put an end to the Sikh strong hold in the Punjab in 1849.


Sikhs are the followers of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib. He was the son of Mehta Kalu Chand and Tripta Devi, both of them Khatris by caste. He was born at Nankana Sahib in 1464. Sikhism was born as a direct reaction against rigid, cruel and inhuman practices of Brahamanism and its rigid caste system. But another important factor which influenced the mind of the people who contributed to the growth of Sikhism, was the impact of Islam which had spread from Arabia to Iraq, Turkistan, Persia and Afghanistan and came in to contact with Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism. 


The Sikh religion is in fact a product of the Sufi and Bhakti school of thought. Guru Nanak was greatly influenced by Kabir and Shaikh Ibrahim Farid (1450 - 1535) a descendent of the famous Sufi saint Shaikh Fariduddin Shakarganj of Pak Pattan whose works were incorporated in the Garanth Sahib. Guru Nanak studied books of Hindu and Muslims religions and it was only after deep study of both the religions that he evolved his own school of thought. The basic principles of the Sikhism are much closer to Islam than to Hinduism. A study of the life, events of the Gurus and the large numbers of the monuments sacred to them will, however, reveal how deeply all the Sikh Gurus in general and Guru Nanak, Ajen Dev and Har Gobind Singh in particular are associated with Pakistan.

Important Sikh Gurus                       Dates

1. Guru Nanak Sahib               (1464-1539 A.D)
2. Guru Angad                         (1504-1522 A.D)
 3. Guru Amar Das                    (1509-1574 A.D)
4. Guru Ram Das                     (1534-1581 A.D)
5. Guru Arjun Dev                  (1563-1606 A.D)
6. Guru Har Gobind                (1595-1645 A.D)
7. Guru Har Rai                        (1631-1661 A.D)
8. Guru Har Krishan                (1656-1664 A.D)
9. Guru Tegh Bahadur            (1622-1675 A.D) 
10. Guru Gobind Singh             (1665-1708 A.D)

Sikh Shrines:

The Gurdwaras are more than a place of worship. They serve as Schools, meeting place and a rest house for the travelers in addition to enshrining the Garanth Sahib. The Gurdwaras are, as such, integral part of the Sikh religious and social life. Since the Sikh Rule lasted for almost a century in the sub-continent there are hundreds of Gurdawaras all over Pakistan but mostly in the Punjab, some of which are very famous such as Nankana Sahib and Punja Sahib. These Gurdwaras are looked after by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) which is under the control of the Ministry of Culture, Islamabad.

The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. No other country of the world can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and loss.

Islamic Period

The light of Islam penetrated in this part of the world as early as 712 A.D from the west with the Arab General Muhammad bin Qasim and during the 10th century A.D from the north with the Turk Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznah ( better known as Mahmud Ghaznavi).

Islam replaced the early way of life of worshipping idols and introduced new philosophy of faith in one God. With Islam in came a new culture in this land from Arabia and Central Asia. Hence, a new type of architecture, hitherto unknown in this area, was introduced. Tens of thousands of Mosques, Madrasahs, tombs and gardens were created by the Muslim rulers all over the Sub-Continent. The new style of Islamic architecture prevailed and matured in this land for over a thousand years. The direct influence of the Muslim Rulers was not only confined to the architecture; their food added a variety of new dishes in the Sub-Continental cuisine. The national dress of Pakistan, “ Shalwar Qamiz” is also a direct gift of the Muslim Turks.  

Since the mother tongue of the Muslim Rulers was Arabic, Turkish and Farsi, it was only natural that the local languages of the Sub-Continent were greatly influenced and new language was introduced. Thus the most important contribution of the Muslim rulers to this land is a new language ‘Urdu’ which became the national language of Pakistan since its independence in 1947.

The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. No other country of the world can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and theft.


The establishment of NFCH is much appreciated and a great interest is shown by the general public hence since its establishment in 1994 hundreds of proposals were received from different agencies and individuals for the conservation, preservation and publication of the Pakistan’s national heritage. It is hoped that with the continued patronage of the government, the Philanthropists and the Business Community to the NFCH we shall be able to achieve the aforesaid goal.

Gandhara Civilization

Pakistan is the land which attracted Alexander the great from Macedonia in 326 B.C., with whom the influence of Greek culture came to this part of the world. During the 2nd century B.C., it was here that Buddhism was adopted as the state religion which flourished and prevailed here for over 1000 years, starting from 2nd century B.C., until 10th century A.D. During this time Taxila, Swat and Charsaddah (old Pushkalavati) became three important centres for culture, trade and learning. Hundreds of monasteries and stupas were built together with Greek and Kushan towns such as Sirkap and Sirsukh both in Taxila. It was from these centres that a unique art of sculpture originated which is known as Gandhara Art all over the world. Today the Gandhara Sculptures occupy a prominent place in the museums of England, France, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, China, India and Afghanistan together with many private collections world over, as well as in the museums of Pakistan. Nevertheless, the zenith of this Gandhara Art is one and only "Fasting Buddha" now on display in Lahore Museum, Lahore.

Finally, the light of Islam penetrated in this part of the world as early as 7th century AD. from the west with the Arabs and during the 10th century AD from the north with the Turks. Islam replaced the early way of life of worshipping idols and introduced new philosophy of faith in one God. With Islam in came a new culture in this land from Arabia and Central Asia. Hence, a new type of architecture, hitherto unknown in this area, was introduced. Tens of thousands of Mosques, Madrassahs, tombs and gardens were created by the Muslim rulers all over the Sub-Continent. The new style of Islamic architecture prevailed and matured in this land for over a thousand years. The most important contribution of the Muslim rulers to this land, however, is a new language ‘Urdu’ which became the national language of Pakistan since its independence in 1947. 
The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. It is hard to find another country which can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and theft.

The establishment of NFCH is much appreciated and a great interest is shown by the general public hence since its establishment in 1994 hundreds of proposals were received from different agencies and individuals for the conservation, preservation and publication of the Pakistan’s national heritage. It is hoped that with the continued patronage of the government, the Philanthropists and the Business Community to the NFCH we shall be able to achieve the aforesaid goal.

Harappa

Harappa is a city in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, about 35km (22 miles) southwest of Sahiwal.

The modern town is located near the former course of the Ravi River and also beside the ruins of an ancient fortified city, which was part of the Cemetery H culture and the Indus Valley Civilization.

This ancient settlement existed from about 3300 BCE and is believed to have had as many as 23,500 residents—considered large for its time. Although the Harappa Culture extended well beyond the bounds of present day Pakistan, its centres were in Sindh and the Punjab.

In 2005 a controversial amusement park scheme at the site was abandoned when builders unearthed many archaeological artifacts during the early stages of construction work. A plea from the prominent Pakistani archaeologist Ahmed Hasan Dani to the Ministry of Culture resulted in a restoration of the site

One of the most fascinating yet mysterious cultures of the ancient world is the Harappan civilization. This culture existed along the Indus River in present day Pakistan and India. It was named after the city of Harappa which it was centered around. Harappa and the city of Mohenjo-Daro were the greatest achievements of the Indus valley civilization. These cities are well known for their impressive, organized and regular layout, road and street network, drainage and step-wells for water. Over one hundred other towns and villages also existed in this region. Only part of this language has been deciphered today, leaving numerous questions about this civilization unanswered.

The Indus Valley civilization (also known as Harappan culture) has its earliest roots in cultures such as that of Mehrgarh, approximately 6000 BC. The two greatest cities, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, emerged circa 2600 BC along the Indus River valley in Punjab and Sindh.[3] The civilization, with a writing system, urban centers, and diversified social and economic system, was rediscovered in the 1920s after excavations at Mohenjo-daro (which means "mound of the dead") in Sindh near Sukkur, and Harappa, in west Punjab south of Lahore. A number of other sites stretching from the Himalayan foothills in east Punjab, India in the north, to Gujarat in the south and east, and to Balochistan in the west have also been discovered and studied. Although the archaeological site at Harappa was partially damaged in 1857 when engineers constructing the Lahore-Multan railroad used brick from the Harappa ruins for track ballast, an abundance of artifacts have nevertheless been found.

The Harappa civilization existed by the banks of Indus river for more than 3000 years ending somewhere around 2000 - 1500 BC. Their trade activities included both exchange of goods as well as paying by money which was represented by bronze coins that were found at the site during the excavation. Their trade with Mesopotamia took place both by road and river as they had floating goods carriers for the purpose.

The secret of the existence of such advanced civilization and their sudden fall is still a mystery.

Indus Valley civilization possibly a Proto-dravid Jain civilization, was mainly an urban culture sustained by surplus agricultural production and commerce, the latter including trade with Sumer in southern Mesopotamia. Both Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were built according to similar plans of well-laid-out streets, "differentiated living quarters, flat-roofed brick houses, and fortified administrative or religious centers." Weights and measures were roughly the same (though not fully standardized) throughout the area and distinctive seals were used, among other applications, for identification of property and shipment of goods. Although copper and bronze were in use, iron was still not employed. Most Hindu mythology talk about iron chariots and horses, which are missing from ivs. "Cotton was woven and dyed for clothing; wheat, rice, and a variety of vegetables and fruits were cultivated; and a number of animals, including the humped bull, were domesticated."Wheel-made pottery—some of it adorned with animal and geometric motifs—has been found in profusion at all the major Indus sites. A centralized administration for each city, though not the whole civilization, has been inferred from the revealed cultural uniformity; however, it remains uncertain whether authority lay with a commercial oligarchy. There appears to be a complete lack of priestly "pomp or lavish display" that was common in other civilizations

By far the most exquisite but most obscure artifacts unearthed to date are the small, square steatite seals engraved with human or animal motifs. Large numbers of the seals have been found at Mohenjo-daro, many bearing pictographic inscriptions generally thought to be a kind of script. Despite the efforts of philologists from all parts of the world, and despite the use of modern cryptographic analysis, the script remains undeciphered. It is also unknown if it reflects proto-Dravidian, proto-Sramanic (Jain), non-Vedic (non-Hindu or non-Brahmnic), or is perhaps related to Brāhmī script. Similar Brāhmī inscriptions can be found at various Jain sites of present day Tamil Nadu in India.

Indus Civilization

This land also witnessed the glorious era of Indus civilization about 8000 years B.C when the first village was found at Mehargarh in the Sibi District of Balochistan comparable with the earliest villages of Jericho in Palestine and Jarmo in Iraq. Here, during the last decade i.e., 1980’s, the French and Pakistani archaeologists have excavated mud built houses of the Mehargarh people and their agricultural land known for the cultivation of maize and wheat, together with polished stone tools, beads and other ornaments, painted jars and bowls, drinking glasses, dishes and plates.  


The archaeologists believe that by 7000 B.C., the Mehargarh people learnt to use the metal for the first time. From the first revolution of agricultural life the man moved to another great revolution in his social, cultural and economic life. He established trade relations with the people of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and the Arab world. He not only specialized in painting different designs of pottery, made varieties of pots and used cotton and wool but also made terracotta figurines and imported precious stones from Afghanistan and Central Asia. This early bronze age Culture spread out in the countryside of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

This early beginning led to the concentration of population into the small towns, such as Kot Diji in Sindh and Rahman Dheri in Dera Ismail Khan district. It is this social and cultural exchange that led to the rise of the famous cities of Moenjodaro and Harappa, with largest concentration of population including artisans, craftsmen, businessmen and rulers.This culminated in the peak of the Indus Civilization which was primarily based on intensively irrigated agricultural land and overseas trade and contact with Iran, Gulf States, Mesopotamia and Egypt. Dames were built for storing river water, land was cultivated by means of bullock-harnessed plough - a system which still prevails in Pakistan, granaries for food storage were built, furnace was used for controlling temperature for 

Indus Seal of Bull 
making red pottery and various kinds of ornaments, beads of carnelian, agate, and terracotta were pierced through and above all they traded their finished goods with Central Asia and Arab world. It is these trade dividends that enriched the urban populace who developed a new sense of moral honesty, discipline and cleanliness combined with a social stratification in which the priests and the mercantile class dominated the society. The picture of high civilization can be gathered only by looking at the city of Moenjodaro, the First Planned City in the World, in which the streets are aligned straight, parallel to each other with cross streets cutting at right angles. It is through these wide streets that wheeled carriages, drawn by bulls or asses, moved about, carrying well-adorned persons seated on them appreciating the closely aligned houses made of pucca-bricks, all running straight along the streets. And then through the middle of the streets ran stone dressed drains covered with stone slabs - a practice of keeping the streets clean from polluted water, seen for the first time in the world.


The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. No other country of the world can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and theft.

The establishment of NFCH is much appreciated and a great interest is shown by the general public hence since its establishment in 1994 hundreds of proposals were received from different agencies and individuals for the conservation, preservation and publication of the Pakistan’s national heritage. It is hoped that with the continued patronage of the government, the Philanthropists and the Business Community to the NFCH we shall be able to achieve the aforesaid goal.

Cultural Heritage of Pakistan

The land where the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is situated today had been a seat of world’s leading Civilizations from the time immemorial. There is plenty of evidence from the pre-historic and historic period to support this argument, e.g. fossil jaws of apes, circa 14 millions years old found from Pothohar. They belong to a species named “Sivapithecus Pakininsis”, said to be the ancestor of Man. A 2 million years old earliest stone hand axe. Now on display in Islamabad Museum, Islamabad.

The legacy of our predecessors at the time of our independence, on August 14, 1947, came to us as a treasure which may be called as Pakistan’s national heritage. So rich and diversified is this heritage that Pakistani nation can be proud of its glorious past, be Islamic, Post Islamic or pre-Islamic period as far back as pre-historic times. No other country of the world can produce the treasure of by gone days as can be found in Pakistan. It is now incumbent upon us to treasure our national heritage and save it from further deterioration and theft.
The establishment of NFCH is much appreciated and a great interest is shown by the general public hence since its establishment in 1994 hundreds of proposals were received from different agencies and individuals for the conservation, preservation and publication of the Pakistan’s national heritage. It is hoped that with the continued patronage of the government, the Philanthropists and the Business Community to the NFCH we shall be able to achieve the aforesaid goal. 

The Cultural Heritage of Pakistan is spread over the centuries, starting from pre-historic times to the present day and which may be summarized in the following periods:
Indus Civilization:

Gandhara Civilization:

Islamic Period:

Sikh Period:

British Period:

Post independence Period