Field guides / Sindh / Tomb of Mirza Jani & Mirza Ghazi
Field guide · Heritage
Tomb of Mirza Jani & Mirza Ghazi
This is an octagonal tomb inhabiting the cenotaphs of Mirza Jani Beg and Mirza Ghazi Beg, which stand on a high platform built with dressed stone masonry.
This tomb holds the last independent ruler of Sindh and his son. Mirza Jani Beg Tarkhan reigned from 1585 and was the final sovereign of the Tarkhan line; when Akbar annexed Sindh in 1593, Jani Beg submitted and stayed on as a Mughal governor. His son Mirza Ghazi Beg governed Thatta after him, from 1601 to 1612.
Why go
- ✦Holds the cenotaphs of two Tarkhan rulers of Sindh
- ✦Octagonal, on a high platform of dressed stone masonry
- ✦Pointed cusped arches forming lofty portals
- ✦An unusual cupola pierced with openings
- ✦Extensive Thatta blue tilework in several forms
History
The Tarkhans ruled Sindh from 1554, taking power after the death of Shah Husayn Arghun. Jani Beg ruled as an independent monarch until Mughal pressure forced his submission; the annexation of 1593 ended more than a century of Sindh's separate sovereignty under the Arghun and Tarkhan houses. Father and son were both buried at Makli, the necropolis above Thatta.
Historical Significance
The grave marks the exact point at which Sindh stopped being its own kingdom. It stands within the Makli necropolis, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 as one of the largest funerary sites in the world.
Architecture
Thatta blue tile is used extensively across it, worked in several different forms.
Why Visit
The end of independent Sindh, in one building, inside a World Heritage necropolis of half a million graves.
Interesting Facts
- Mirza Jani Beg was the last sovereign ruler of Sindh before Mughal annexation in 1593
- After submitting to Akbar he continued to govern Sindh — as an imperial appointee rather than a king
- His son Mirza Ghazi Beg was the third Mughal Subahdar of Thatta, 1601–1612
- Makli has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to February. Summer on the Thatta plain is severe and most of these sites offer no shade.
Getting there, Thatta is about 100 km east of Karachi on the N-5. The town's monuments, the Makli necropolis and Banbhore can all be reached in a single run from the city.
Allow, Half a day for Thatta town and Makli together; a full day if Banbhore is included.
What to Do
Make Tomb of Mirza Jani & Mirza Ghazi Part of a Trip
GreenPak resorts within reach, and the journeys that travel this region.
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Tomb of Mirza Jani & Mirza Ghazi, within 30 km.
