The Shah Ali Akbar tomb in Multan is a brick and tile octagonal mausoleum in Suraj Miani, a few kilometres north-west of the old city, dated by its foundation stone to 1585. It copies the shape of the great tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam on the fort mound so closely that people call it the little Rukn-e-Alam. It is a working shrine, free to enter, and a short rickshaw or ride-hailing trip from the city centre.
This guide covers who Shah Ali Akbar was, what makes the building special, what condition it is in and how to fit it into a day in Multan.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Suraj Miani, north-west Multan, roughly 5 km from the fort mound |
| Built | 1585, according to the foundation stone |
| Architects | Ibrahim and Rajab, sons of Musa of Lahore |
| Style | Tughluq-style octagon with battered walls and corner turrets |
| Platform | About 30 m square and 1.8 m high |
| Managed by | Punjab Auqaf; protected under the Antiquities Act 1975 |
| Entry | Free; shoes off, heads covered |
| Time needed | 30 to 45 minutes |
Who was Shah Ali Akbar?
Shah Ali Akbar was a saint of the Ismaili tradition and a descendant of Shamsuddin Sabzwari, the preacher remembered in Multan as Shah Shams Tabrez, whose own shrine is covered in our Shah Shams Tabrez guide. Sources differ on the exact generation: some call him a grandson and others a great-grandson. His following was strongest in the middle of the 16th century.
The foundation stone gives the date 1585. Together with local tradition, it suggests that Shah Ali Akbar paid for the tomb himself in his lifetime, which points to real wealth and good relations with the authorities of the day. His mother is buried in a smaller tomb beside his.
Why is it called the little Rukn-e-Alam?
Because it is a deliberate, smaller echo of Multan's most famous building. The tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, built in the 14th century, set the pattern for the city: an octagon of brick with sloping, or battered, walls, tapering turrets at the corners, a second octagonal storey and a dome on top. Shah Ali Akbar's tomb follows the same three-tier plan more than two centuries later, on a smaller scale.
The architects, Ibrahim and Rajab, sons of Musa of Lahore, were working in the reign of Akbar, and they brought in some late 16th-century Mughal touches while keeping the older Tughluq outline. That mix of an old Multani form with newer details is the main reason the building interests historians.
What is there to see?
The exterior
The tomb stands on a square brick platform about 30 metres a side and 1.8 metres high. Each side of the octagon is about 5 metres long, and the walls rise about 11.4 metres, strengthened by sloping buttresses at the angles. The brick is finely baked and laid in mud mortar.
Look at the corner turrets: the western ones are wrapped in 31 horizontal bands of glazed tile. Look too at the parapet, where recessed panels in the merlons carry the word Allah. Inscription bands record the saint's family line.
The interior
Inside, the walls are plastered, and this is the tomb's claim to a first. Plaster was used here on a scale that was new for the region, as a ground for frescoes and painted naqashi work like that in Mughal buildings of the same years. Two main graves lie at the centre on a brick platform under a wooden canopy.
The paintings have suffered badly. Smoke from mustard oil lamps and candles has blackened them over the years, and pigeon droppings have done further damage. Expect to see patches of colour and pattern rather than a complete scheme.
The mother's tomb
Next to the main tomb is the smaller tomb of Shah Ali Akbar's mother, rectangular in plan with a flat roof and decoration in the same family of tile and brick.
Has the tomb been restored?
In November 2019 the Punjab Archaeology Department invited bids for conservation of the tomb at an estimated cost of about PKR 27.1 million. The work listed included repairing salt-damaged brickwork, lime plaster inside and outside the dome, upgrading the platform and graves, new sheesham wood screens, brick flooring, electrification, and restoring the stucco tracery, frescoes and glazed tiles.
We could not confirm from a recent source how much of that work has been completed. Go expecting a building that is structurally sound but worn, and treat any fresh paintwork with care; some of what you see may be recent restoration rather than original.
How do you get to Suraj Miani?
Suraj Miani is a neighbourhood in the north-west of Multan, roughly 5 km from the fort mound in a straight line. A rickshaw or a ride-hailing car from the old city or Ghanta Ghar is the easiest way; ask for the darbar of Shah Ali Akbar or Sultan Ali Akbar in Suraj Miani, as both names are used. The streets near the shrine are narrow, so drivers usually stop a short walk away.
We have not found published opening hours. Multan's shrines are generally open through the day, but if you are making a special trip, check locally first. Mornings and late afternoons are the most comfortable times, particularly between May and September.
How should you visit?
- Take off your shoes at the platform and cover your head; women should bring a dupatta or scarf.
- Keep your voice down and avoid walking in front of people praying.
- Don't touch the painted surfaces. They are fragile, and oil from hands adds to the damage the smoke has already done.
- Ask before photographing worshippers or caretakers. Photographing the building itself is generally accepted.
- If you leave something, a donation box or the caretaker is the usual way to do it.
Is it worth the trip?
Yes, if you have already seen Shah Rukn-e-Alam and want to understand how its design carried on in Multan, or if you are interested in painted interiors. It is quieter than the shrines on the fort mound and makes a good short stop on a heritage day.
If you have only a few hours in the city, the fort mound shrines and the old city come first. Our guide to places to visit in Multan puts them in order, the shrines of Multan guide covers the others, and the experiences page has more ideas for a trip.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Shah Ali Akbar tomb in Multan?
It is in Suraj Miani, in the north-west of Multan, roughly 5 km from the fort mound. A rickshaw or ride-hailing car from the old city is the easiest way to reach it.
When was the tomb of Shah Ali Akbar built?
Its foundation stone gives the date 1585, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. The architects were Ibrahim and Rajab, sons of Musa of Lahore.
Why is it called the little Rukn-e-Alam?
It copies the octagonal, three-tier design of Shah Rukn-e-Alam's 14th-century tomb on the Multan Fort mound, on a smaller scale.
Is there an entry fee?
No. It is a working shrine and entry is free. Shoes come off at the platform and heads should be covered.
Who was Shah Ali Akbar?
An Ismaili saint of the 16th century and a descendant of Shamsuddin Sabzwari, known in Multan as Shah Shams Tabrez. His mother is buried in a smaller tomb beside his.
