Masoom Shah Minar is a brick tower on a low hill in the middle of old Sukkur, begun in 1595 by Mir Muhammad Masum Bakhri, the historian and Mughal governor, and finished by his son. It stands 30 metres or more, with an internal staircase of 84 steps to a small platform at the top, and it is the best place in the city for a view over the rooftops to the Indus. Around its base are the stone canopies over the family's graves and an older domed pavilion, the baradari.
This guide covers the man who built it, what you see at the site, what the climb is like, the state of the monument, and how to fit it into a day in Sukkur.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | A hilltop in old Sukkur, Sindh |
| Begun | 1595, by Mir Muhammad Masum |
| Completed | 1618 by his son Mir Buzurg, in the official account |
| Height | About 30 to 34 m, depending on the source |
| Steps | 84, on an internal staircase |
| Entry | A small fee at the gate; we found no current figure |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to an hour |
Who was Mir Masum?
Mir Muhammad Masum, also known as Syed Nizamuddin, was born at Sukkur-Bhakkar in 944 AH (1537). He was a scholar, poet (writing as "Nami"), calligrapher and soldier, and he is best remembered as the author of the Tarikh-e-Masumi, a history of Sindh he finished in about 1600.
He was also one of Akbar's trusted officers. Around 1595 he led the Mughal army against the Panni Afghan stronghold at Sibi, which brought that part of Balochistan into the empire. Akbar granted him large jagirs around Sukkur. In 1606 the new emperor, Jahangir, gave him the title Amin-ul-Mulk. His descendants still live in old Sukkur, and the family keeps a say over the site, although management passed to the government long ago.
When was the minaret built?
The Sindh government's Antiquities Department and the federal Department of Archaeology both date the start of work to 1595 and say it was completed by his son, Mir Buzurg, in 1618. A Persian inscription on a stone slab at the entrance records the construction date.
You will find other dates. An Express Tribune report gives 1605 for completion and names a different son, and a local history piece in The Friday Times dates the foundation to 1003 AH and completion to 1027 AH. Most published accounts agree on the 1590s start and an early 17th-century finish.
What the tower was for is also traditional rather than recorded. It is usually described as a watchtower over the plain and the river crossing, and it was opened to the public as a viewpoint later.
What is at the site
The minaret. It is built of burnt brick, more or less conical, and capped by a small dome reached by the internal staircase. Published measurements vary: the federal Department of Archaeology gives about 30 metres high, the Sindh Antiquities Department about 34 metres, and the old Sukkur saying is that it is 84 feet high, 84 feet round at the base, and has 84 steps. The tower leans slightly towards the baradari, which historians put down either to a building fault or to the earthquake that shook Sindh in 1828.
The tombs. Close to the minaret are open stone canopies on square, flat and octagonal pillars, carved with Persian inscriptions and Quranic verses, with stalactite patterns on the ceilings. Under them are the graves of Mir Masum, his father Mir Safai and other family members. Some visitors come to pay respects here, so keep voices down and ask before photographing anyone.
The baradari. This domed pavilion with twelve doorways, about 50 feet high, is older than the tower. The Express Tribune reports that Mir Masum built it in 1582 as a retreat from the crowded old town.
What the climb is like
The stairs run inside the tower, so the climb is enclosed. Eighty-four steps is not far, and most people reach the top in a few minutes, but the steps are centuries old, and coming down needs more care than going up.
- Wear shoes with grip, not loose chappals.
- Hold small children's hands all the way, and skip the climb with anyone who dislikes tight spaces or has bad knees.
- Go early or late. Sukkur is one of the hottest cities in Pakistan from May to August, and the brick holds the heat.
At the top an iron fence surrounds the small platform; it was put up after people jumped from the tower in the past. The view takes in the old city and the river beyond it. Sukkur is flat and low-rise, which is why a tower of this height still stands out from so far away.
The state of the monument
The minaret has had a mixed record of care. Major repairs to the stairs and the upper plaster were made in 1986, with more work in 1997 and 1998. In 2017 The Express Tribune reported that the Sindh Auqaf department was awarding a yearly contract to run the site, with the contractor collecting a small fee from visitors, but that no real repair work had been done for 20 years.
We could not find a current fee, opening hours or a recent account of repairs from a reliable source. Bring small notes, go in daylight, and accept that the stairs may be closed on the day if work is under way.
Fitting it into a day in Sukkur
The minaret takes under an hour. Most visitors pair it with the river sights: Lansdowne Bridge and the Ayub arch, the island temple at Sadhu Bela, and Bukkur Island, which our Bukkur Island fort guide covers. Do the minaret first, in the cooler morning, and the riverbank later. Our list of places to visit in Sukkur has the full route, and Sukkur's famous food covers where to eat afterwards.
Is it worth climbing?
Yes, if you are reasonably fit and fine with enclosed stairs. It is the one place in Sukkur that shows you the whole city at once, and the tombs at the base are worth time on their own. Families with toddlers, and anyone with knee or balance problems, can see the carving on the canopies and the lean of the tower from the courtyard and skip the climb.
Is it safe to visit Sukkur?
Sukkur lies in Sindh north of Nawabshah, where the UK government's Pakistan travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) advises against all but essential travel. Pakistani visitors travel through and stop in Sukkur throughout the year. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, since it can affect travel insurance, and everyone should check local news before setting out. Our guide to whether Sukkur is safe has more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Who built Masoom Shah Minar?
Mir Muhammad Masum Bakhri, the historian and Mughal governor, began it in 1595. Official sources say his son Mir Buzurg completed it in 1618.
How tall is Masoom Shah Minar?
Published figures range from about 30 to 34 metres. The local saying puts it at 84 feet high and 84 feet round at the base.
How many steps are there?
Eighty-four, on a staircase inside the tower that leads to a small fenced platform under the dome.
Is there an entry fee?
A small fee has been collected at the gate by the contractor who runs the site. We could not find a current figure, so carry small notes.
Why does the minaret lean?
It tilts slightly towards the baradari. Historians suggest either a fault in the original building or damage from the 1828 earthquake in Sindh.
Who is buried at Masoom Shah Minar?
Mir Masum, his father Mir Safai and other members of the family, under carved stone canopies beside the tower.
