Days remaining to
Independence Day -
August 14

The four tall arches that relieve the massiveness of the highwalls rise directly from the floor and make a soft, slow-moving contour with a rounded apex. The contour is boldly brought out from the wall surface by a raised marble lining while a painted copper screen adds colour to its inner side. Under this high arch three miniature arches of copper frame actually from the entrance into the chamber. The triple number follows the triple window of the drum and the shape of these miniature arches imitates that of the high arched opening. This shape is so typical in this building that wherever a door is provided, whether in the corner rooms of the interior octagon or at the basement, it invariably influences the design. The copper screen of the high archway integrates the triple opening in its system of design, which is boldly divided with squares and rectangles by tall uprights and cross bars. Within them are little squares with bent sides, each joining with its companion to make up the screen. The whole gives the appearance of a fretted lace pattern. The inner side of this high archway is fitted with teak wood frame exactly copying the outer frame and divided into square panels. Within these panels are geometric designs of octagonal form. Other inter-laced patterns join to build up the whole screen. However, in between them glasses are so fitted to keep the birds and flies away from the tomb chamber. Similarly the low triple arches are fitted with teak wood doorleaves which could be locked at will.

Courtesy: Prof. Ahmad Hasan Dani, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad