Chaukhandi Tombs Historical Facts and Pictures

Spanning over an area of roughly two square miles, the Chaukhandi Tombs, is an Islamic graveyard situated East of Karachi near the Landhi Town in Pakistan. Built during the Mughal Rule sometime between the 15th and 18th century, it is the family graveyard of the Jokhio and Baluch tribes.

Chaukhandi Tomb Images

Chaukhandi Tomb Photos

The graveyard is built in typical Sindh architectural form and is remarkable due to its unique North-South orientation. Some of the more elaborate graves in the cemetery are made from buff colored sandstone with carved decorations, revealing an expert level of craftsmanship in its construction.

Chaukhandi Tomb Pictures

Chaukhandi Tomb

The tombs are built on raised platforms in a triangular form with decorative stone slabs covered in relief with human and figurative designs.

Chaukhandi Tombs Interior

Chaukundhi Tombs Inside Stone Curving

Chaukundhi Tombs Inside View

A typical sarcophagus has six vertical slabs with two long slabs on each side which indicate the length of the body. These six vertical slabs are further covered by a second sarcophagus, but of a smaller size, giving it the shape of a pyramid. The upper box is further covered with four to five horizontal slabs leading to the topmost construction which is carved into a knob.

Chaukundhi Tombs Inside

Inside of Chaukundhi Tombs

Interior of Chaukhandi Tombs

Chaukhandi Tombs Sculpture

The carvings on the men’s graves generally show a horseman with his arms; a shield, sword, bow and arrows. While the carvings on the women’s graves represents ornaments such as rings, bracelets, anklets and necklaces. Also in the case of the men’s graves, a vertical shaped projection is provided at the northern end which intends to hold the turban or crown of the deceased.