Field guides / Sindh / Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro
Field guide · Heritage
Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro
This is the Kalhora Period tomb of Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro and his nephew Mian Fazal-e-Ali son of Sarfaraz Khan Abbasi Kalhoro.
It is a burnt brick structure plastered with lime. It is built on a raised platform. It has four minarets and a large dome on top. It has niches inside with arches and decorated with frescos. On the exterior can be seen arches and decoration of Hala tiles.
Why go
- ✦Burnt brick under lime plaster, on a raised platform
- ✦Four minarets and a large central dome
- ✦Decorated niches and arches inside
- ✦Holds Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro and his nephew
History
Ghulam Shah chose one of the three hills above the Indus at Neroon Kot — a fishing village named after its ruler Neroon — and built a fort of fire-baked brick there in 1768, the Pacco Qillo. The town that grew around it became Hyderabad and served as the capital of Sindh under both the Kalhoras and, after 1783, the Talpurs. His tomb is among the most richly tiled of the Kalhora mausolea.
Historical Significance
The man who founded Sindh's capital and shaped its last century of independent rule before the British conquest of 1843.
Why Visit
The founder of Hyderabad, buried in the city he made, under some of the finest Kalhora tilework in Sindh.
Interesting Facts
- He founded Hyderabad in 1768 over the ruins of Neroon Kot
- The Pacco Qillo is named for its fire-baked brick — pakko meaning strong or solid
- He ruled from 1758 to 1772 as the third Kalhora Nawab of Sindh
- Hyderabad remained the capital of Sindh under both the Kalhoras and the Talpurs
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March. Hyderabad is very hot from April onwards.
Getting there, Hyderabad is roughly 160 km from Karachi on the M-9 motorway. The Pucca Fort monuments sit together in the old city and are walkable as one visit.
Allow, Two to three hours for the Pucca Fort complex; a half day including the Talpur and Kalhora tombs.
What to Do
Make Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro Part of a Trip
GreenPak resorts within reach, and the journeys that travel this region.
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, within 30 km.
