Field guides / Punjab / Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
Field guide · Heritage
Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
The tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam rises inside Multan Fort as one of the largest and earliest surviving examples of Tughlaq-era funerary architecture in South Asia, built in the early 14th century for the revered Sufi saint. Its octagonal brick body and turquoise-and-blue glazed tilework set the template that Multan's ceramic tradition has followed ever since.
The tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam rises inside Multan Fort as one of the largest and earliest surviving examples of Tughlaq-era funerary architecture in South Asia, built in the early 14th century for the revered Sufi saint. Its octagonal brick body and turquoise-and-blue glazed tilework set the template that Multan's ceramic tradition has followed ever since.
Why go
- ✦Early 14th-century Tughlaq-era architecture
- ✦Multan's signature blue and turquoise glazed tile
- ✦One of the largest tombs of its kind in South Asia
- ✦Active Sufi shrine and pilgrimage site
The Template for Multan's Tilework
Multan is often called the City of Saints, and Shah Rukn-e-Alam's tomb is the reason its glazed-tile tradition became so distinctive, later echoed in the tombs of Uch Sharif and shrines across southern Punjab.
Plan It with GreenPak
Best paired with Multan Fort and the old city's bazaars, use Plan a trip to build a Multan heritage day around it.
Planning tip
When to go, October to March; Multan's summers are extremely hot.
Getting there, Inside Multan Fort, in the centre of the city.
Allow, 1-1.5 hours.
