Shikarpoor Historic City, in Sindh, Pakistan, has a rich historical heritage: as a central point on caravan trade routes, it served as the gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. In recognition of that history, in 1998 the government of Sindh named it a protected heritage site-but that status hasn't prevented the ongoing destruction of the city's historic fabric. This book tells the story of Shikarpoor and presents as complete a picture of its threatened historical fabric as possible, through copious maps and images past and present.
- Cover
- Table of Contents
- List of Acronyms
- Glossary of Local Terms
- Acknowledgements
- Author’s Note
- 1. Shikarpoor Historic Town
- Introduction, Background and Development
- Historical Background
- The Daudpotas
- The Kalhoras
- The Afghans
- The Talpurs
- British Rule
- The Shikarpoori Merchants and their Network
- Development of Shikarpoor: Growth Pattern and Expansions Directions
- The Walled City (Seventeenth-Eighteenth Century)
- Early Extensions (Late Eighteenth and Mid-Nineteenth century)
- Colonial Expansions (1843-1947)
- Post-Independence Developments (1947 onwards)
- Administrative and Socioeconomic Aspects
- Present Administrative Set-up
- Socioeconomic Context and Demographics
- Trade, Commerce and Industry
- Connectivity to the City
- Summary
- 2. The Character of Shikarpoor’s Historic Fabric
- Layout of the City: Streets, Circulation and Composition
- Circulation Pattern and Street Hierarchy within Walled Limits
- ‘Mohallas’ or Neighbourhoods
- Plot Parcels
- Components of the Built Fabric: Open spaces, Urban elements and Buildings
- Opens Spaces and Natural Assets
- Parks/Public Gardens
- Graveyards and Mukams
- Small Squares within the Walled City (for Wells)
- Agricultural Lands and Orchards
- Irrigation Canals
- Water Tanks
- Urban Elements
- Archways
- Entranceway to Streets or Open Space
- Entrance Doors
- Inscriptions
- Fire Prevention
- Pedestrian Bridge
- Wells/Hand Pumps
- Drinking-Water Fountains (Sabeel)
- Buildings/Architecture
- Types and Usage
- Building Heights and Number of Storeys
- Ownership and Occupancy
- Materials and Construction Techniques
- 3. The Dominant Building Types
- Residential, Commercial, Religious and Other Public Buildings
- Residential: Havelis and Mansions
- Commercial: Bazaars and Shops
- Covered (Dhak) Bazaar
- Stuart Gunj Bazaar
- Religious: Temples, Mosques and Shrines
- Other Landmark Buildings
- 4. Characteristic Architectural Features of Historic Buildings
- Balcony/Balconette
- Columns/Coupled Columns
- Arched or Decorative Windows/Ventilators
- Pediments/Broken Pediments
- Roundels/Rosettes
- Cornice/Mouldings
- Entrance Portal
- Festoons/Garlands
- Cupolas/Chatris
- Colonnaded/Arcaded Portico or Verandah
- Grills/Iron Work
- Carved Brackets
- Projecting Timber Balcony/Gallery/Room
- Openings with Fixed Openwork Panels/Masonry
- Carved Timber Doors
- Timber Pelmet
- Lamp Niche
- Decorative Parapet
- Stucco Ornamentation
- Courtyard (Sehn)/Open Spaces
- Ornamented Soffit/Ceiling
- Shiwala Temple
- Pitched Roof
- Dome
- Sculpture
- Marble/Stone Carved Panels
- Pilasters
- Room Bridging Over Street
- Garbage chute
- 5. Typological Classification and Grouping
- Architectural and Period Styles
- Group I
- Group II
- Group IIa
- Group IIb
- Group III
- Group IIIa
- Group IIIb
- Group IV
- Group V
- Group VI
- Volumetric Principles and Design Variations: Plan Typology
- Value-Based Grouping
- 6. The State of Conservation and Related Issues
- Physical Condition and Threat Level
- Identified Threats: Causes and Impacts
- Demolitions
- Afghan Fort/Kaffila Serai
- Disappearing ‘Havelis’ and landmarks
- Underutilization and inappropriate use of buildings
- Inappropriate alterations
- Neglect and inadequate maintenance
- Property divisions
- Lack of development investments
- Degeneration of public, civic, institutional and recreational facilities
- From urban to rural character and pattern
- An ineffective municipality and an absence of a conservation masterplan
- Lack of trained professionals
- 7. Potentials and Prospects
- Urban Revival – the Way Ahead
- Way Ahead: Implementation Actions and Policies
- Proposed Actions for Implementation
- Policy Guidelines
- Epilogue
- Bibliography
- Index
- List of Tables and Figures
- Tables
- Table 1.1 Chronology of important developments in the history of Shikarpoor till the time of Indo-Pakistan Partition; compiled from different historical sources
- Table 1.2 Population estimates and census figures for Shikarpoor
- Figures
- Figure 1.1 Location of Sindh and Shikarpoor in the context of the Region
- Figure 1.2 Map showing routes of Shikarpoori Merchants linking with Central Asia
- Figure 1.3 Map of Shikarpoor showing its extent and growth from walled city to the present day
- Figure 1.4 (A-E) Series of historic maps in the collection of Sindh Archives indicate changes in Shikarpoor’s administrative importance
- Figure 1.5 Present boundaries of Shikarpur District
- Figure 1.6 Boundaries of Shikarpoor’s Union Councils
- Figure 2.1 Map showing street layout inside walled city and its early extensions on the eastern side
- Figure 2.2 Open spaces in Shikarpoor
- Figure 2.3 Shaheed Allah Buksh Municipal Park (Shahi Bagh)
- Figure 2.4 Liaquat Park (Ganesh Bagh)
- Figure 2.5 Plaque inside Ganesh Park
- Figure 2.6 Satellite image showing extents of Manchar Shah Ghazi Graveyard
- Figure 2.7 Shamshan Ghat
- Figure 2.8 (A & B) The temple complex near Shamshan Ghat enclosure
- Figure 2.9 Open spaces within the walled city area
- Figure 2.10 Agricultural fields
- Figure 2.11 The Sindh Wah
- Figure 2.12 Historic map of 1915 showing water tanks
- Figure 2.13 (A & B) Archways
- Figure 2.14 Entranceway to streets
- Figure 2.15 Bab-e-Ahmadi – entrance to a public open space
- Figure 2.16 Ornate entrances of houses
- Figure 2.17 Inscription panels
- Figure 2.18 Fire-fighting hydrants
- Figure 2.19 Sukpul – pedestrian bridge
- Figure 2.20 (A & B) Public wells
- Figure 2.21 (A & B) Water troughs in Shikarpoor
- Figure 2.22 Usage map of historic buildings
- Figure 2.23 (A & B) Motifs and patterns on façades
- Figure 2.24 External plasterwork on historic structures
- Figure 2.25 Ramdas Hall
- Figure 2.26 Vault in ‘Old Sessions Court’
- Figure 2.27 (A-D) Figurative carvings over door tympanums
- Figure 3.1 Schematic layout and section
- Figure 3.2 Double height lounge
- Figure 3.3 (A-C) Flooring patterns and dado tiles
- Figure 3.4 (A & B) Decorative façades of traditional houses
- Figure 3.5 (A & B) Basant Haveli
- Figure 3.6 (A & B) Murlimal Haveli
- Figure 3.7 Khanchand Haveli
- Figure 3.8 Haveli street
- Figure 3.9 Dead-end haveli street
- Figure 3.10 Autaaq – guest house
- Figure 3.11 Bungalow-style residences
- Figure 3.12 Residence inspired by bungalow style
- Figure 3.13 (A & B) Shikarpoor’s Dhak (Covered) Bazaar
- Figure 3.14 Layout of the Dhak (Covered) Bazaar street
- Figure 3.15 (A-D) Shops inside Dhak Bazaar
- Figure 3.16 Stuart Gunj Bazaar
- Figure 3.17 (A & B) Stuart Gunj Bazaar in morning hours
- Figure 3.18 Street profile of the Main Bazaar Street
- Figure 3.19 (A-D) A well-preserved cluster in Dhak Bazaar
- Figure 3.20 (A & B) Gourmet delights of Diwan Hotel
- Figure 3.21 (A & B) ‘Sheva Mandli Shanker Bharti Temple’
- Figure 3.22 (A & B) Khatwari Mandir and Dharamsala
- Figure 3.23 (A & B) Haveli temples
- Figure 3.24 (A-D) ‘Shiwala’ temples
- Figure 3.25 Mosques inside Shikarpoor’s historic core
- Figure 3.26 Early traditions of mosque
- Figure 3.27 (A & B) Jamia mosques
- Figure 3.28 Dargah Haji Fakirullah Alvi
- Figure 3.29 (A & B) Government Boys’ High School #2
- Figure 3.30 (A & B) Tourmal Mulchand Chhabria Budha Ashram (Old People’s Home)
- Figure 3.31 (A & B) RBUT Hospital (Civil Hospital)
- Figure 3.32 (A & B) Seth Chellasing and Sitaldas College
- Figure 3.33 (A-C) Dewan Power House
- Figure 4.1 Bar chart of architectural elements
- Figure 4.2 Chimney of a rice mill
- Figure 4.3 Some samples of balconies/balconettes from Shikarpoor’s listed historic buildings
- Figure 4.4 Samples of columns/coupled columns from Shikarpoor’s listed historic buildings
- Figure 4.5 Some samples of windows from Shikarpoor’s listed historic buildings
- Figure 4.6 Some samples of pediments from Shikarpoor’s listed historic buildings
- Figure 4.7 Samples of roundels/rosettes
- Figure 4.8 Samples of cornice/mouldings
- Figure 4.9 Samples of entrance portal
- Figure 4.10 Samples of festoons/garlands
- Figure 4.11 Samples of cupolas/chatris
- Figure 4.12 Samples of colonnaded/arcaded portico or verandah
- Figure 4.13 Samples of grilles/iron work
- Figure 4.14 Samples of carved brackets
- Figure 4.15 Samples of the mohari treatment of façade in different ways
- Figure 4.16 Samples of openings with fixed openwork panels/masonry
- Figure 4.17 Samples of carved timber doors
- Figure 4.18 Samples of timber pelmet
- Figure 4.19 Samples of niche for lamp
- Figure 4.20 Samples of decorative parapet
- Figure 4.21 Samples of stucco ornamentation
- Figure 4.22 Samples of courtyard/open spaces within residences
- Figure 4.23 Samples of patterns used in ornamented soffits of external projections
- Figure 4.24 Samples of shiwala temple
- Figure 4.25 Samples of pitched roof
- Figure 4.26 Variety of domes used in mosques, shrines and temples
- Figure 4.27 Samples of sculpture
- Figure 4.28 Samples of marble or stone carved panels
- Figure 4.29 Samples of pilasters
- Figure 4.30 Samples of room bridging over street
- Figure 4.31 Samples of garbage chute
- Figure 5.1 (A-C) Buildings representing group I
- Figure 5.2 (A-C) Buildings representing Group IIa
- Figure 5.3 Group IIa example built in 1899
- Figure 5.4 (A-C) Buildings forming Group IIb
- Figure 5.5 (A-C) Representative cases of Group IIIa
- Figure 5.6 (A-C) Examples of Group IIIb
- Figure 5.7 (A-C) Representative cases of Group IV
- Figure 5.8 (A-C) Representative cases of Group V
- Figure 5.9 (A & B) Examples of Group VI
- Figure 5.10 Typological grouping
- Figure 5.11 Mapping of ‘degree of value’ groups
- Figure 5.12 Comparative matrix of the buildings comprising the four ‘value based’ groups
- Figure 5.13 (A & B) 1st degree value group
- Figure 5.14 (A-C) 2nd degree value group
- Figure 5.15 (A-C) 3rd degree value group
- Figure 5.16 (A & B) 4th degree value group
- Figure 6.1 Mapping of the present state of deterioration
- Figure 6.2 (A & B) Open spaces inside kafilaserai
- Figure 6.3 (A & B) The Afghan Kafilaserai
- Figure 6.4 (A & B) Murlidhar Haveli
- Figure 6.5 (A & B) Haveli near Nausharo Gate Road and Karan Gate Road junction
- Figure 6.6 Antiques and artefacts shops
- Figure 6.7 (A & B) Lakhmichand Teckchand Municipal Dispensary
- Figure 6.8 Dharamsala complex
- Figure 6.9 (A & B) A temple/dharamsala complex
- Figure 6.10 The Old Municipality building
- Figure 6.11 Hassaram Lala Mahal School
- Figure 6.12 Haphazard alterations
- Figure 6.13 (A-C) Inappropriate alterations defacing façades
- Figure 6.14 Neglect and disrepair
- Figure 6.15 (A & B) Dayal Singh Luni Singh Boys’ Hostel
- Figure 6.16 Buffalo herd on Circular Road
- Figure 6.17 Donkey carts – a common mode of transportation
- Figure 7.1 Mapping of positive and negative components
- Figure 7.2 (A & B) Heritage inventories