• A myth in the city exist about the name is that there was a magician leady called UCH RANI and after her accepting of Islam Lal Bukari (a great religious scholar) change the name of city and gave it the name of UCH Sharif. The seconfd part of the name belong to his name.
• Ghasani called it Bhatya
• Traveler and writer mir mosoom writer of tarech’e mosoomi called it uch

There are numerous factors that played their role in destruction. Natural disasters were the one and ignorance was the other. These monuments were evacuated from the coffins of saints at the time of floods and these monuments were not the holy place anymore as the saint was buried somewhere else and these places became orphan. Tomb of Bahaul Haleem and other nearby tombs are made by coal brunt bricks which are still more stiff and reliable then our bricks today. So people took these valuable bricks when they needed them for construction of their own homes or sometimes for the construction of graves when their loved one died. Two thoughts were behind this act.
 
• These bricks are sacred and therefore will make the grave of their beloved one sacred.
• They are better than the bricks available today.
• Free things are always the best, no matter from where you get them.

In addition to that, some glazed tiles were taken by the villagers of the place when they were fallen and some times pulled away just to keep something from the tomb that is being demolished, so they could have some remaining with them. Although the thought was not destructive, yet it was one of the destructive reasons.

When restoration procedure was started, restoration workers went to villagers and requested them to hand them over all the tiles and bricks that they have with them and villagers did some cooperation and few tiles and bricks were recovered. But what ever was recovered was only a fraction of what was taken away.

Now lets conclude the solutions for this destruction.
• One is placement of watchman who is already there since 1986. He is an employee of Federal Archeological Department and stays near these monuments 8 hours a day. This may seem insufficient, but those 8 hours are the hours when most visitors visit these places and there fore, majority of visitors are still taken care in these 8 hours. Department can arrange one more person and increase the care time to reduce the chances of damage by visitors to further degree.
• A temporary boundary wall around these monuments can be built to stop people touch these monuments.
• Secondly, educate the local population and tell them what worthy monuments they are damaging.
• Preach the population about what is homage and what is disrespect, so they would change their attitude towards these monuments that is totally based on devotion, but is destructive in nature.
 

Restitution means facts finding procedure that tells us how the monument used to look like at the time of its built. There can be three major sources. As the tomb of Bahaul Haleem is damaged badly, its 80% of the area is already gone with water. There are only a couple of walls left and a part of doom that have lost all of its artwork. Therefore, in order ton construct these monuments back, three restitution techniques will be sued.

• Maps and Drawings of the tomb or some sketches or pictures that would give the idea how some tomb used to look like, subject to condition if available.

• Elderly people of the area who have seen the tomb is some better shape then today.

• If first two methods are not applicable, then approximate time of built is condclude and it is observed what other buildings were made in the same time with similar design patters.

 Luckily, few drawings are found of the tomb of Bahaul Haleem, which will be extremely helpful. Moreover, different senior architects from NCA have worked over these monuments and have made architectural planes of restoration.

By Land Sliding

 Uch’s old city was built on a small reef. It is believed that there used to be an old castle and this small mountain is actually the remaining of that old castle. Tombs of Bahaul Haleem along with tomb of Bibi Jivindi and Ustaad Nooria lie close to each other and at the bank of that old city. Floods further made this area delicate and now these monuments stand at the edge of the high area. Soon after floods, land underneath and near the monument slipped towards the sides and played its role in the destruction. This process is not stopped as strong concrete walls are built around the monuments in order to avoid further land sliding.

By Flood & Stroms 

Uch Sharif is a rich cultivating area and there is a network of canals that irrigate the land around. Access of water and enrich soil are the factors that make this area that green. However, whereas this water is important for the fertility of the area, same water has caused enormous damage to the monuments in all respects. The tomb is constructed with clay and bricks and this clay is consistently dissolved and taken away by both rain water and floods. Although the whole tomb was covered with glazed tiles at one time, but once those protecting tiles were gone, erosion of mud started and continues till the time today.

Geographically, Uch lies in the area where wind speed is quite fast. Sand and dusty storms also played their role in the destruction. Fast winds didn’t had significance until tombs walls were intact. However, after its 80% portion is gone, remaining walls are unsupported and bricks from the doom area are collapsing because of it.

By Local People 

Although this seems ridiculous that followers and devotes themselves causing harm to the monument, but sight of the graves in the graveyard nearby reveals the story itself. Followers followed and honored the Sufias in their life and after death, they consider it a matter of honor for them to have a brick from the tomb of their Ustaad in their own grave. To them, it’s a way of associating themselves with their honorable Peer. On discussing the issue with a local Riaz Ahmed, he mentioned

“These are the stronger people who do this, we, being the poor neither date to do so nor we can stop them from doing this, although most of us consider this act as wrong”.

By Visitors 

There are many villages around the Uch and people at different times visit these saints to offer their homage. While we were doing our research there, we met Mr. Mistree Mohtaar Ahmed, who lived in Ali Poor Shareef which lies at 25 Km from the Uch. He stated that people come and take some stone of the tomb with belief that blessings from those Sufias will reach this way to their homes. And this is not just blame to the local people only; many educated people visiting these monuments were equally responsible. I myself wished I could take some brick, some stone or portion of tile from here, of ours not with blessing point of view, but the thought to keep something marvelous and keep it with me for the rest of my life. I am happy; I am not among those unfortunate people who knowingly or unknowingly are damaging this splendor historical monument.

Hazrat Syed Hassan Kabir ud Din was in the period of Hazrat Makhdoom Jahanian Jahangashat R.A. However it is not certified from History. Hazrat Shah Abdul Haq Muhadis Dehilvi R.A wrote in the "Akhbar ul Akhiyar" that he alived 180 years. He borned in 716 hj. and died in 896 hj.

Some detail found in "Nizha tul Khawatir" that he was a piouse and prominant person in knowledge and blessings. He saw a world. and visit most of the world. Then came to Uch Sharif and lived there. Many person embraced Islam on his hand. He had the ablity when a person look at him then he could not refused the order of Hazrat Hassan.

Hazrat Syed Hassan Kabir was the grand son of most famous shiya pious saint Shah Shams Sabazwari Multani. But he agreed and adopted the path of Suni Fiqa "Ehl-e-Sunnat". He was the follower of Suharwardia Saint Chain.

Bio Data  (Shajra e Nasab) of  Hazrat Hassan Kabir is as follows:

Syed Kabir ud Din Hassan S/O Syed Sadar ud Din S/O Syed Naseer ud Din S/O Syed Shah Shams ud Din Sabazwari Multani S/O Syed Salah ud Din S/O Syed Salam ud Din S/O Syed Momin S/O Syed Mohib Mansoor S/O Syed Ismail S/O Syed Muhammad S/O Syed Ismail S/O Imam Jafir Sadiq S/O Imam Muhammad Baqir S/O Imam Zain ul Abideen S/O Imam Hussain S/O Ali ibn e Abi Talib.

The Tomb of Syed Hassan Kabir in the East side of Uch Gilani (Shams Colony). Because he belong to Ismaili Sadaat by family so the person and peoples of ismaili group take him special respect.  His heir on have  Shiya group/fiqa thoughts. He is known as Hassan Kabir Dariya which indicate about the chairty and donation given by him to the peoples.  

The tomb of Bahaa-Ul-Haleem is the earliest of three domed mausoleum found on a high mound in the town of Uch, a center of Sufism under the Delhi sultanate. Little is known about him, except that he was the teacher of the saint Hazrat Makhdoom Jahaniyan Jahan Gasht, who built the mausoleum. It is believed that this tomb was constructed some 650 years back. The tomb shows the influence of the funerary style that originated around Multan, exemplified by the Tomb of Bahauddin Zakaria.

The tomb of Bahaul Haleem is Octagonal in shape with 3 stories in total. The roof of third story is doom shaped which is mostly destroyed. Only a small curve is left which indicates its structure was almost like that of Bibi Jivindi.
Tomb Structure is decorated with glazed tiles of almost 20 different patterns. Whole tomb, from top to bottom was covered and water proofed with these glazed tiles. Major construction material is Mud and Hardened bricks, however, the seize of these bricks is much smaller then being used today. Inside Structure of the tomb was supported with wooden pegs with with time were worn out and caused whole tomb structure to destabilize.

This tomb is its an octagonal geometry, I mean it has 8 sides. In addition to that, observe its detailing, like arches, doors, look at thickness of walls, look at the doom, I think most of its architectural elements are unique. Every monument here is some what different from the others, but this particular tomb is important because it has most of the elements that we don’t find as such in other monuments around.

Another important element in the tomb, which is not of course associated with this particular tomb, but is also present in other tombs, too is use of glazed tiles. It’s the glazed tile that represents this area and is marvelous piece of art. In the tomb of Bahaul Haleem, this glazed tile is used both inside and outside the tomb and the design and patters used are definitely unique in it.

Unlike any other tomb of fellow design, tomb of Uch Shareef is decorated from inside as well as outside. Moreover, decorating glaze tiles used in the tomb are mostly unique in pattern and are not used either nearby tombs nor any other tomb of Uch.   

 Destructive Factors

Uch’s old city was built on a small reef. It is believed that there used to be an old castle and this small mountain is actually the remaining of that old castle. Tombs of Bahaul Haleem along with tomb of Bibi Jivindi and Ustaad Nooria lie close to each other and at the bank of that old city. Floods further made this area delicate and now these monuments stand at the edge of the high area. Soon after floods, land underneath and near the monument slipped towards the sides and played its role in the destruction. This process is not stopped as strong concrete walls are built around the monuments in order to avoid further land sliding.

Tomb is Constructed with Coal Burnet Bricks that were in common use at the time of its construction. Those bricks were fixed together with mud mixed with crop threads. to make give strength. To provide strength to structure, wooden supports were placed in various parts of the tomb like in roof doors.

To protect the structure from water, it was covered throughout with specially built glazed tiles that are made in blue and white colors. These tiles covered the tomb from top to bottom and when the shine reflected from those tiles, it felt like a shining mountin from a distance.

Ustad Nuria was a great architect of his time. Ustad Nuria came to Uch from Iran in the middle of 14th century. Ustad Nuria was called Ustad because of his great architectural work. Ustad Nuria’s 1st task was to built the Tomb of Baha-Ul-Halim. Baha-Ul-Halim was the great scholar of his time & he was the teacher of a Madrisa in Uch as well as the teacher of Jahanian Jahangasht.

Ustad Nuria builts the Tomb of Baha-Ul-Halim in the middle of 14th century. Ustad Nuria made the Tomb with very Delegate Tiles, he uses the color combination of Light Blue & Dark Blue Tiles, which gives a fascinating look of Tomb.

The Second Tomb Ustad Nuria Built was the Tomb of Bibi Jiwindi. Bibi Jiwindi was the great daughter of the Jahanian Jahangasht. The Tomb of Bibi Jiwindi was built in 1494 A.D. It is the most remarkable monument of its kind at Uch. The Tomb was built on a octagonal base and crowned with a single dome raised on externally octagonal drum. The Tomb was provided with the arched windows. The walls and turrets trapper upwards. The monument is profusely and brilliantly decorated with mosaic white, blue and green colors. 

The most elegant building and the prime attraction in Uch is the tomb of Bibi Jind Waddi. Her name has been described by Bibi Jalwandi and Bibi Jind Waddi as well.

Since Jind Waddi is a popular name in this region so we believe, this name would be the most appropriate.

It is described by the historians that her mausoleum was built in 1494. The basic structure of her tomb is built by bricks, embellished with stunning glazed tile mosaic. The building is erected in three octagonal stories with lower storey supported by rounded and sloping corner turrets. The second storey was supported with a narrow gallery for walking round and the third is a hemispherical dome, which crowns the building.

There is an aesthetically carved wooden mehrab in the West wall. Basically it follows the typical pattern of Multani architecture on which the tombs of Hazrat Rukn-e-Alam and the Baha-ud-Deen Zakria are built.

The outside walls of the tomb are completely covered by glazed blue colored tiles while the turrets are surmounted with a bunch of broad flowering leaves. This unique design makes it different from Multani tombs.

In the same graveyard, there is another important tomb, which is known as the grave of Ustad Ladla, the architect-mason who constructed the tomb of Bibi Jind Waddi.

Outside these splendid building, there is a common graveyard where children used to play. The bricks of the tombs are in decay. Although this place is included in the list of World Heritage but there is nothing being done so far.

These unique and majestic shrines, which are supposedly the most attractive archaeological sites in Pakistan are crumbling down to dust due to negligence and improper care of the concerned authorities.

Some 200 years ago, these buildings were destroyed by the change of course of river and floods, which washed out most of the parts of the buildings. The collapsed portions of the building should be completed on top priority basis otherwise after few years we may not find any trace of these splendid pieces of architecture.

A renovation of the collapse minaret of Chauburji in Lahore and renovation Shahi Qila is the superb examples of restoration work. Same methods should be practiced here as this is the high time to save these superb monuments.

Uch’s old city was built on a small reef. It is believed that there used to be an old castle and this small mountain is actually the remaining of that old castle. Tombs of Bahaul Haleem along with tomb of Bibi Jivindi and Ustaad Nooria lie close to each other and at the bank of that old city. Floods further made this area delicate and now these monuments stand at the edge of the high area. Soon after floods, land underneath and near the monument slipped towards the sides and played its role in the destruction. This process is not stopped as strong concrete walls are built around the monuments in order to avoid further land sliding.

Uch Sharif (اوچ شری�) is located in District Bahawal Pur which is a District of Punjab Province of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Uch Sharif is 75 Km from Bahawalpur on East Side and 12 Km from Punjnad on West side on KLP mines (Karachi Lahore Peshawar Road). It is situated in a bend created by five confluent rivers (Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Bias. It is a sub tehsil & town of Tehsil Ahmed Pur East (Dera Nawab Sahib).

Its lies between North Latitud 29° 14' 0'' and East Langitud 71° 4' 0'' (29.233333 ° and 71.066667).

Historical Background

Uch Sharif is a Historical City of Sufias & Saints. It is named as UCH or Uch Sharif. Uch is also knon as "Alexandria". The city was founded by 500 BC. It is belived by the historian that Uch was there even before the advent of Bikramijit when Jains and Buddhists ruled over the area. Its history is as od as Egypt and Siria. Muhammad Bin Qasim 'the greate muslim fighter' conquered the city and during the Muslim Period Uch was one of the centers of Islamic Studies of South Asia. It was an important city of Sub Continent Indo-Pak in the past under Hindu rule. . It is believed by the historian that in 325 BC the Great Alexander invasion this city.

Area

Now Uch Sharif spread over 7 KM

Population

Its approximate population of 7 KM is near about 21000.

Alititude

About 96 meeters (318 feet) above sea level.

Topography

Vast plain ground dissected by river (punjnad) cannals (Abbasia, Punjnad, Abu Dhabi) and narrow water channels.

Best Season

Best Season October to March (Low temprature near about 30° approx.)

Climate

Uch Sharif has an extrem climat. The exterme temprature of Uch Sharif is 52 C° where as in winter 1 C°. Affected from flooded during the mnsoon season.

Local Government

District Nazim Tariq Bashir Cheema

Tehsil Nazim Syed Sami ul Hassan Gilani

City Nazim Syed Zafar Hassan Gilani

Naib City Nazim Syed Sibtain Hyder Bukhari

Councilor Sheikh Nasir Saleem

Muhammad Hussain Muavia

Ghulam Farid Dudi

How to Reach Uch Sharif

By Air

Nearby airports:

By Railway

Dera Nawab Sahib (Ahmed Pur East) has a railway station. Dera Nawab Sahib is 21 Km from Uch Sharif. From Dera Nawab Sahib local van or taxi can be hired to reach Uch Sharif.

By Road

Uch Sharif is connected with other cities by coaches and buses. Distance from other major cities are:

City Name             KM

Karachi                     786

Lahore                     546

Islamabad                 804

Multan                     169

Queta                         841

Peshawar                 952

Fairs & Festivals

Uch Sharif is famous for traditional and religion fair & festivals. there were a lot of saints sufias whose shirine & tombs are assets of Muslims.

A 'loook Festival' mela is conducted every in Marh-April in which people came around the local region. Entertainment items like circus, Jholay, Magic Show, Theater, Zoo, Lucky show, Professor Show, Dajum Cars etc., artificial bazars market established.

What to Buy

Handmade products with 'kunder' and feather of Dates tree like 'Chabi' used to take breads & parathas  'fan' 'pots' etc , Sohan Halwa 'Khussas'.

Hotels & Resturants

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