Tomb of Sheikh Ali Beg

Name of Monument: Maqbara Sheikh Ali Beg

Location: Halan near Phalia

Date of Construction: 1585 AD

Material and Method of Construction: Brickwork in Lime Mortar, Lime plaster, Uker Kari wok

This impressive tomb of Sheikh Ali Beg bin Hasan Ali is located in open fields east of Helan, a small town in Mandi Baha ud Din District. The interior of the tomb is square in plan measuring 22 feet on each side. The exterior of the tomb is octagonal which leaves four rectangular openings and half octagonal niches on alternate sites. The exterior faces of the octagon are 19 feet wide. Each opening and the niche in the exterior support a half-domed arch profusely decorated with Qalib Kari. In the interior at the zone of transition the square is converted into an octagon with the help of pendentives which carry a drum supporting a hemispherical dome which completes the design of the building. The drum is seven feet high and separated from the from the dome by a band of decorative pattern in lime plaster. On top of the inner face of the entrances are four openings for light and ventilation.

The interior was decorated with uker kari work, a local technique, which is still discernable at certain places. The front arched wall of the entrance portal is again decorated with ukerr kari. The spandrels of the arches have medallions on both sides incorporating Kalima Tayyaba in it. The words are incised in red background. Above these openings the panels are further decorated with murals of flowering plants with stylized birds appears to have been nightingales. The paintings symbolize the ultimate life of a believer in a garden where one can enjoy freedom and beauty like the free birds.

The tombstone is beautifully carved with Qur’anic verses and ahadith. The internal walls are decorated with beautiful poetry of Jami, Hafiz and Sadi. These are written in green color on red ocre. The tomb preserves beautiful work of art of its own kind not found in other tombs in the region.