Karachi is full of architectural wonders, religious churches, and historical buildings designed with aesthetics influenced by the Mughal, the Gothic, the Venetian, and the British leaders. Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan where Karachi is full of bright lights, architecture and past cultural landmarks to visit this stunning city.
What makes Karachi so recognized in the region? Karachi is the capital city in Sindh where it locates in the Southern province best known for the coastline and considers the most liberal city in the country.
Since Karachi enriches with architectural landmarks and iconic buildings, there are various spots to check for Karachi historical places to expand your knowledge about the Southern region. Once you enter the historical landmarks, you will enjoy the beauty and capture the best shots of the beautiful city!
To expand the historical background about the city,
here are the top 11 Karachi historical places where each spot mentions below:
1. KMC building
The KMC or Karachi Metropolitan (or Municipal) Corporation Building has been built on M.A. Jinnah Road that located in central Karachi. This unusual attraction tells the colonial history of Pakistan and the Mughal periods in which the British governed the country and built several Anglo-Mughal settlements. The building constructed in 1927 and completed in 1930, which leaves the touch of Anglo and Mughal architecture.
What makes this building so famous in the city? Once you enter this building, you will see the stone edifice where you will get your hands on the H.M. King George V Silver Jubilee Clock written around the stone.
When heading up a few steps in the building, you will see the Archives and Research Wing on one side and the City Institute of Image Management on the other side. The grand structure of the building gives the graceful architecture that makes it worth visiting in Karachi.
James S. C. Wynnes was the architect who designed this building in Mughal’s Anglo style as noted on one of the inscriptions within this structure. He developed cupolas and arched curves to add a touch of Muslim architecture to the design.
This has worked by adding big domes at the corner of the building that makes the spectacular site in the city. To plan to visit the stunning building, this place will give you untold stories about this place!
2. Mazar-e-Quaid or Quaid’s Mausoleum
Mazar-e-Quaid marks the iconic landmark in Sindh that makes Karachi historical places to visit. The mausoleum has designed by Yahya Merchant, which has inspired by the Samanid Mausoleum in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. This place has marked as the last resting place of the Pakistani founder Quaid-e-Azam aka M.A Jinnah, which completed in 1970.
When you visit this landmark, you will enjoy the calmness and the beauty of the place that can be seen within distance away at nighttime.
To talk about the interior of the mausoleum, a great magnificent chandelier has gifted from the Chinese Government that hangs the ceiling of the home to add the touch and glamour of the landmark. In addition, there is a huge octagonal space with the tomb in the center the represents the tomb of Quaid-e-Azam.
You will be awed by the beautiful monument that marks the recognized attraction in Karachi! This makes the historical places in Karachi that are open for people to visit and see this magnificent monument!
To plan to search for Karachi history, you will find nothing greater than the Mazar-e-Quaid! You will enjoy the illumination of the landmark at night!
3. Mohatta Palace
Mohatta Palace considers a stunning landmark in Karachi where the palace was built in 1927 to represent Indo-Saracenic architecture. Trees and statues surround this beautiful structure, which was home to Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta who was a Marwari businessperson.
The palace has based on a love story where it honored his wife Agha Ahmed Hussain who struggled with a severe disease which doctor advised her to live in a place located near the sea. This palace was built near Clifton to cure his wife’s illness. You will wonder a man built this palace with such love to cure his wife illness!
The Mohatta Palace is near the Abdullah Shah Ghazi tomb, there is a secret tunnel leading to a Hindu temple a mile distant. The palace locates in Hatim Alvi Road in Clifton that makes a beautiful place to visit that displays various galleries, artefacts, rare maps and treasures that dates back thousands of years ago.
In 1995, the palace has purchased by the Sindh government, which converted into a museum, which regards as one of the famous buildings in Karachi. To visit a historical site that displays various and rare archaeological displays, this museum will leave you in wonder!
4. The National Museum of Pakistan
The National Museum of Pakistan makes Karachi historical places where you will various galleries and artefacts from all over the states and in the southern region. The museum has established in 1951 in Frere Hall and continued until July 1969. By then the museum has built into a separate building at Burns Garden and inaugurated in 1970.
In this museum, you may see all aspects of Pakistani art from paintings to antiquities, sculptures, and models. This museum comprises eleven galleries that display objects from the Civilization of the Indus Valley to the latest developments.
There are also a vast collection of coins and several rare Quranic texts, which displays 300 copies of the Quran with 52 rare manuscripts. This will leave you in wanders about the untold stories of each collection displayed at the museum!
If you are a history lover and want to visit a place full of stunning and rare galleries, The National Museum of Pakistan will give you the historical and cultural background about the country!
5. St Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the landmark of Karachi’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese and stands distinctively high against the other historic old buildings in Karachi. The Gothic Revival architecture of the building fascinates locals and visitors alike that leaves a beautiful façade. This accompanies by a beautiful hardwood interior and glass windows to stand out from many cathedrals worldwide.
The cathedral has built in 1845 and completed in 1881, which locates near Empress Market in Saddar Town. Once you enter this cathedral, you will enjoy the spectacular architecture of the Roman Catholic Church and love the interior design of this stunning place.
The cathedral considers the oldest building in the city and is 180 years old. To visit a catholic premise, St Patrick Cathedral will give you the wondrous site to check out in Karachi! You will not take your eyes off this cathedral once you visit this historical place!
6. Hindu Gymkhana/NAPA Building
NAPA or the National Academy of Performing Arts was originally built as the Hindu Gymkhana that has constructed as leisure clubs for the Hindus elite, who resided before the split in Karachi.
The Gymkhana has established in 1925 and presents the workplace of the National Academy of Performing Arts. This considers the first public building in Karachi to mark the exclusive club for the Hindu community.
It is a notable example of the architecture of the Mughal Revival and depicts the monarchy and elegance of the arts. The architecture is influenced by Akbar’s Fatehpur Sikri, with cupolas and balustrades, whilst Chhatris highlights the inspiration of the Rajasthani Palace.
This brings the mixture of the astounding Mughal and Revival architecture and the modern design the represents in Karachi today. Once you visit the Gymkhana, you cannot help but admire the interior design of the cupolas and domed kiosks adding the hustle of Karachi’s life! This place makes a great monument to capture the best shots of this beautiful building!
7. Chaukhandi Tombs
The Chaukhandi Tombs are carved sandstones and complex graves, which stretch from the seaside town of Clifton that makes your way to the Landhi Town to view the early Islamic Cemetery. The Chaukhandi tombs locate 29km east of Karachi and consider the most haunted places in Pakistan.
You will wonder why these tombs are haunted to visit! The tombs have represented the style taken from the Makli Necropolis near Thatta and have originated between the 15th to 18th centuries to mark the old Islamic cemetery in Karachi.
The tombs have constructed in a pyramid structure with enormous slabs added with ornamental stones and figurative structures to reserve the most visited spots in the Southern region.
Most of the tombs are family graves and just a handful of them have arranged under Hindu-style pillar canopies. The sculptures of the horseman with sword, arrow, and bow on certain male graves are visible here once you visit these tombs.
Sculptures on women’s tombs depict decorations like wrists, necklaces, rings, anklets and other ornaments displays on the tomb. To add to this, the male graves hold the turban located on the northern sides. The tombs have declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which makes a must-go visit in Karachi.
To visit a haunted and mysterious cemetery, be sure not to miss the Chaukhandi Tombs! When you visit these tombs, the historical background of these tombs will astonish you.
8. Frere Hall
Frere Hall marks the iconic Karachi historical places where the hall has opened to commemorate the monument on 10 October 1865. The British Colonial established the hall and was the center of Karachi’s civilizing activities. Frere Hall locates in Saddar Town and portrayed the architecture of the Venetian-Gothic style.
When you enter this hall, you will awe by the collection of beautiful paintings by Sadequain Naqqash who was one of the Pakistani artists to present his gallery in the hall!
The hall was named after Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere that was built in his honour after his death and to promote the Sindhi language rather than the Persian of the Mughals.
Frere Hall has shaped the beauty by constructing red and grey sandstones from Jughshai to add the attractiveness of the building. It has the Liaquat Municipal Library on the main floor and hosts various activities. The Frere Hall is one of the best Karachi landmarks that has once served as Town Hall, which has now operated as an exhibition space.
From 2011, the building was available to the public, which a book fair conducts every Sunday, which offers some vintage books. The Sadeqain Gallery is open throughout the weekend for visitors. To search for Karachi places name, the Frere Hall will unravel the galleries and the old library of Liaquat Ali Khan and enjoy the beauty of this building!
9. Khaliq Deena Hall
The Khaliq Deena Hall and Library is Karachi famous buildings where the hall represents a cultural and architectural gem and the library is also known as Khalikdina Hall.
It was constructed in 1906 and served as a court for British India. The place was named after a renowned merchant and philanthropist Ghulam Hussain Khaliqdina. He was the establishment of the Sindh Madressatul Islam, which was the oldest university in South Asia.
For years, the hall and library of Khaliq Deena have destroyed, but today it is a protected property and the local government preserves this historical place. Once you visit this place, you will be amazed by the changes from the court to the library where you enjoy the stunning architecture!
You can also capture the best shots of this beautiful hall and library! If you are into old libraries, this place is a must-go visit!
10. PAF Museum
The Pakistan Air Force Museum is a must-see if you adore aero planes and anything related to aeronautical. The museum was founded in 1990 and locates near Karsaz Flyover on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi. The museum displays various things related to airplanes, deceased pilots’ outfits, spare parts, jets and radars.
These things have deployed by the Pakistan Air Force during the war against India in 1965. In addition, there are models in World War 1, World War II, modern aircraft and photographs of all the squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistan Air Force museum features the main park that offers meals, playing areas, rides and eateries to enjoy the museum and the park outdoors. To go for a place about planes and military, this museum is a must-go! This is amongst the famous buildings of Karachi.
12. The Ruins of Bhambore
The ruins of Bhanbore have built during the Scythian-Parthian era and date to the 1st Century B.C. The area lies in the N5 National Highway between Dhabeji and Gharo and locates 65km east of Karachi in Thatta Distract. The Muslims ruled from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries where it marks the most mysterious tourists’ spots in Karachi.
In 2014, the local government highlighted his place as the Bhanbore Division to mark the historical importance of the Sindh region. There are remains of one of the world’s first known mosques that date back to 727 AD.
The place leaves the archaeological spots including a museum, an old well, a Tower of North Wall, a South Gate of Bhanbore and an abandoned mosque dating back to 727 AD. Although the place has no access to eateries, it is best to bring food and drink when visiting this underrated place in Karachi. To visit this prehistoric spot, The Ruins of Bhanbore is a must-see place in Karachi!
Wrap Up
Here are eleven Karachi historical places where you will enjoy each place in the South region to leave you in awe and astonishment. Since Karachi has known for architectural landmarks and iconic buildings, you will wonder what makes Karachi so liberal and attractive to visit this city! To visit the largest city in Pakistan, be sure not to miss these historical places in Sindh!
