Khuni Burj is located at a turn in Faseel i Multan (Fortified City Wall of Multan) between Delhi gate and Pak gate. Access is very easy. Also written as Khooni Burj or Khooni Boorj. Whatever spelling means Bloody Tower is a bastion in city wall of Multan.
Khuni Burj which the British termed as Bloody Bastion is as old as the Fortification wall of the city. But Sikhs appears to have given it special prominence because it was here at this site on Jan,2,1849 that they could defend both wings namely the Delhi Gate on one side and Pak Gate on the other side in the war against the British. It was here the bloodiest encounter between the Sikh and British forces. Breach of the Khuni Burj was the key to the final conquest of the city of Multan.
Local traditions claim that it was here that Alexander the Great scaled the walls of city of Malloi and was wounded severely and it was here that the Greek army took full revenge from local population..
Location Map
It is situated in between the Delhi Gate and Pak Gate
BBC Documetary Made on Khooni Buraj Multan
MONUMENT
KHUNI BURJ (BLOODY TOWER)
LOCATION
BETWEEN DELHI GATE AND PAK GATE CIRCULAR ROAD, KHUNI BURJ AREA
STATUS
NON – LISTED / NON – PROTECTED
OWNER
District Government
USE
FORMER: BASTION OF THE OLD CITY WALL
PRESENT: PARTLY USED AS IMAMBARGAH AND PARTLY AS TERRACE
PERIOD / DATE
18TH CENTURY REBUILT AFTER 1849.
HISTORICAL NOTES
Khuni Burj which the British termed as Bloody Bastion is as old as the Fortification wall of the city. But Sikhs appears to have given it special prominence because it was here at this site on Jan,2,1849 that they could defend both wings namely the Delhi Gate on one side and Pak Gate on the other side in the war against the British. Local traditions claim that it was here that Alexander the Great scaled the walls of city of Malloi and was wounded severely and it was here that the Greek army took full revenge from local population.. But, certainly in 1848 it was the Sikh army which defended the city of Multan from the heights of this Burj and with held its possession from going into the hands of British for long time. It was here again that the bloodiest encounter between the Sikh and British forces took place on the first January 1849 followed by a ruthless massacre of the Sikh soldiers. Breach of the Khuni Burj was the key to the final conquest of the city of Multan. It was completely destroyed during the Siege of 1848 and the present structure was raised after the rule of the British Government was established. But when exactly it was reconstructed, is not known. The date of the construction of the present day Imam Bargah is also unknown.
DESCRIPTION / MAIN FEATURES.
It is circular mass of rubble bound by bricks. A curving flight of steps, from the western side of the Burj leads up to the upper level.
ACCESS / ENVIRONS
Khuni Burj is approached by Circular Road. It is set in the city wall corner along the Circular road.
PRESENT CONDITION
Despite the fact that the structure has been recently reconstructed and restored the lower part of the Burj is in a state of dilapidation. Encroachments have taken place at the top of the Burj with an Imam Bargah.
INTERVENTIONS
It was completely destroyed during the Siege of 1848 and the present structure was raised after the rule of the British Government was established. But when exactly it was reconstructed, is not known. The date of the construction of the present day Imam Bargah is also not known. But certainly it has been there prior to 1972 as can be confirmed from a photograph published by Huq (between p. 184-185. The same photo shows that the Burj was in pretty good shape and without any encroachment till 1972. However, when M/s GHK and INNOVATIVE carried out their survey of important buildings of this city, they found the lower part of the Burj in a state of dilapidation with some encroachments on the top of the Burj. The structure has been reconstructed in the 1990’s as part of the conservation plan by the city government. The necessary work for rebuilding and repair of the Burj was initiated in July 2006 and has since then been completed. At present the structure need no immediate intervention except removal of encroachments both at its base and on the top terrace and disallow pasting of posters and banners.
PROPOSALS
After recent rebuilding and repair work completed in 2006, the Burj does not need any immediate intervention. However, it certainly needs immediate attention by the authorities for preventing fresh encroachments that have started taking place at its base and for removal of encroachments on the top-terrace particularly the construction of the Imam Bargah.
REFERENCES
Huq, 184; Gazetteer, 67; Dunlop, 29 & p. 73 for a lithograph of Khuni Burj after it was breached.
 |
| Multan: Khuni Burj The Bloody Tower of Multan |
Khuni Burj which the British termed as Bloody Bastion is as old as the Fortification wall of the city. But Sikhs appears to have given it special prominence because it was here at this site on Jan,2,1849 that they could defend both wings namely the Delhi Gate on one side and Pak Gate on the other side in the war against the British. It was here the bloodiest encounter between the Sikh and British forces. Breach of the Khuni Burj was the key to the final conquest of the city of Multan.
Local traditions claim that it was here that Alexander the Great scaled the walls of city of Malloi and was wounded severely and it was here that the Greek army took full revenge from local population..
 |
| Multan: High resolution photo of Khooni Burj the bloody bastion of Multan |
Location Map
It is situated in between the Delhi Gate and Pak Gate
BBC Documetary Made on Khooni Buraj Multan
KHUNI BURJ (BLOODY TOWER)
MONUMENT
KHUNI BURJ (BLOODY TOWER)
LOCATION
BETWEEN DELHI GATE AND PAK GATE CIRCULAR ROAD, KHUNI BURJ AREA
STATUS
NON – LISTED / NON – PROTECTED
OWNER
District Government
USE
FORMER: BASTION OF THE OLD CITY WALL
PRESENT: PARTLY USED AS IMAMBARGAH AND PARTLY AS TERRACE
PERIOD / DATE
18TH CENTURY REBUILT AFTER 1849.
HISTORICAL NOTES
Khuni Burj which the British termed as Bloody Bastion is as old as the Fortification wall of the city. But Sikhs appears to have given it special prominence because it was here at this site on Jan,2,1849 that they could defend both wings namely the Delhi Gate on one side and Pak Gate on the other side in the war against the British. Local traditions claim that it was here that Alexander the Great scaled the walls of city of Malloi and was wounded severely and it was here that the Greek army took full revenge from local population.. But, certainly in 1848 it was the Sikh army which defended the city of Multan from the heights of this Burj and with held its possession from going into the hands of British for long time. It was here again that the bloodiest encounter between the Sikh and British forces took place on the first January 1849 followed by a ruthless massacre of the Sikh soldiers. Breach of the Khuni Burj was the key to the final conquest of the city of Multan. It was completely destroyed during the Siege of 1848 and the present structure was raised after the rule of the British Government was established. But when exactly it was reconstructed, is not known. The date of the construction of the present day Imam Bargah is also unknown.
DESCRIPTION / MAIN FEATURES.
It is circular mass of rubble bound by bricks. A curving flight of steps, from the western side of the Burj leads up to the upper level.
ACCESS / ENVIRONS
Khuni Burj is approached by Circular Road. It is set in the city wall corner along the Circular road.
PRESENT CONDITION
Despite the fact that the structure has been recently reconstructed and restored the lower part of the Burj is in a state of dilapidation. Encroachments have taken place at the top of the Burj with an Imam Bargah.
INTERVENTIONS
It was completely destroyed during the Siege of 1848 and the present structure was raised after the rule of the British Government was established. But when exactly it was reconstructed, is not known. The date of the construction of the present day Imam Bargah is also not known. But certainly it has been there prior to 1972 as can be confirmed from a photograph published by Huq (between p. 184-185. The same photo shows that the Burj was in pretty good shape and without any encroachment till 1972. However, when M/s GHK and INNOVATIVE carried out their survey of important buildings of this city, they found the lower part of the Burj in a state of dilapidation with some encroachments on the top of the Burj. The structure has been reconstructed in the 1990’s as part of the conservation plan by the city government. The necessary work for rebuilding and repair of the Burj was initiated in July 2006 and has since then been completed. At present the structure need no immediate intervention except removal of encroachments both at its base and on the top terrace and disallow pasting of posters and banners.
PROPOSALS
After recent rebuilding and repair work completed in 2006, the Burj does not need any immediate intervention. However, it certainly needs immediate attention by the authorities for preventing fresh encroachments that have started taking place at its base and for removal of encroachments on the top-terrace particularly the construction of the Imam Bargah.
REFERENCES
Huq, 184; Gazetteer, 67; Dunlop, 29 & p. 73 for a lithograph of Khuni Burj after it was breached.
Plans
Elevations
Sections
Photograph
Environmental Notes
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Khuni Burj
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Vehicular Access and Parking
Khuni Burj is a part of faseel and is accessible to vehicular traffic from circular road Alang road and other streets of walled city. Parking is possible on the street
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Use
Its use is to purely religious. One Tazia of Muharram is placed in the room over the Khuni Burj. The original historicity of the monument which gave it its name has been lost due to the construction of the Imam Bargah.
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Visitor’s facilities
There are no facilities at all for visitors except for those visiting the Imbargah.
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Sewerage
Open drains run along road, approx 22’-0” away from the Khuni Burj and the connected faseel. There are no toilets or bath rooms within the premises of the Khuni Burj itself.
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Floors and Pavements
Surface runoff of the Khuni Burj itself is towards the Alang Road as the floor slopes are towards it.
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Drainage
Surface runoff of the Khuni Burj it self is towards the Alang road as the floor slopes are towards it.
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Electricity
Electric connection was available within premises of Khuni Burj.
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Solid Waste
There are no visitors to the Khuni Burj except during Muharram days. The solid waste generated during those days is placed on the Alang Road.
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Pavement Facilities
Alang road and Circular roads are Blacktop Bituminous roads. The premises of the Khuni Burj accessible from Alang road are brick paved.
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External Threats
None noted
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Condition Survey
Outside the original wall of the Khuni Burj, a new brick masonry wall has been constructed, there by further strengthening the Khuni Burj. Hence the structure is stable, safe and sound.
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