Pakistan: Chaukhandi Tombs

This site was totally stupendous and should be on a UNESCO World Heritage list and it isn’t (it’s a tentative). The Chaukhandi Tombs are an early Islamic cemetery from the 15-18th centuries during Mughal rule, renowned for their intricate sandstone carvings and unique funerary architecture specific to Sindh and not found elsewhere in the Islamic world. The tombs are built with yellow-colored sandstone, featuring a north-south orientation. A typical tomb consists of six vertical slabs forming a sarcophagus, covered by a second, smaller sarcophagus, creating a pyramid-like shape. The top is often capped with a carved knob resembling a crown or turban. The tombs are adorned with intricate geometric patterns, floral motifs, hunting scenes, weapons, and jewelry. Men’s tombs often feature swords and shields, while women’s tombs have carvings of necklaces, bangles, and anklets. The tombs look quite otherworldly and unique – there are around 1,500 tombs (500-600 of which are fully intact). The site is roughly 35km east from Karachi.