Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam

Tomb Of The Fourteenth Century Sufi Saint Shah Rukn E Alam, Built 1320 1324; On Pakistan'S UNESCO Tentative List · Multan, Punjab

The tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam is the great monument of Multan and one of the finest early Islamic buildings in South Asia. It was built between 1320 and 1324, traditionally by Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq for himself while he was governor of the region, and given by his son to the Sufi saint Rukn-ud-Din, grandson of Bahauddin Zakariya, who is buried here. It stands on the old fort mound above the city: a massive octagon of red brick in three stages, with sloping corner towers and one of the largest domes of its age in the region, banded with glazed blue and white tiles and carved timber. Seen from the plain it dominates the skyline. Multan calls itself the City of Saints, and the shrine is still a place of devotion, busy with pilgrims especially at the saint's urs. The building was restored in the 1970s, work that won international recognition. The tomb of Bahauddin Zakariya is a short walk away on the same mound. Multan is famously hot and dusty; come in winter and at the end of the day.

Qasim Bagh, on the old fort mound, Multan, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

Open daily from early morning into the night; entry is free. Shoes are removed at the entrance and heads should be covered. The shrine is busiest on Thursday evenings and during the annual urs. Multan has an airport with domestic flights and is on the M-4 and M-5 motorways; the shrine is on the fort mound in the city centre.

Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos