Minar-e-Masoomi was built by Masoom Shah of Bukkur an island on River Indus between Sukkur and Rohri. Tower of Masoom will complete 400 years of it existence next year as it was built  in 1605-1610 AD. There is also said that this tower was built in 1607 AD.

Masoom Shah was the Governer of the area in times of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The tower was built with the purpose of keeping a watch on the area.

The monument, built of red brick, is more or less conical in shape, slightly off the perpendicular and surmounted by a dome to which an internal stone staircase gives an access. The height of the minar as 31 meter. The tower is 84 ft (26 meters) high and the number of steps to reach the top of the tower is also 84. amazingly circumference of the base of tower is also 84 feet thus number 84 is quite important with architecture of minar-e-masoomi .

On top of the tower is an observation balcony which is now covered with iron railing. At one time it became nototrious for suicidal people flinging themselves to death below.

Following two photos show the stairwork and brickwork inside the tower.

following is the photo from British library acrhive and it shows the tower of Masoom in 1896. Photographer was Henry Cousens.

Cousens wrote in The Antiquities of Sind,

“The most conspicuous feature in the landscape is the tall minar of Mir Ma’sum…Its dropsical proportions, and uncertain undulating outline suggest putty or dough as the material of its construction rather than brick and mortar. Its lantern top, surrounded with an iron cage, make it look more like an antiquated lighthouse perambulating through the country…It rises to a height of about a hundred feet, is eighty-four feet in circumference at the base, and is somewhat out of the perpendicular…Under the shadow of the minar rest the remains of Mir Muhammad Ma’sum Shah, his father, and other members of his family, the Ma’sumi Sayyids…Over the graves are open canopies supported on square, flat and octagonal stone pillars whose shafts are covered with Persian writing in relief and other ornamental tracery…Between Mir Ma’sum’s grave and the base of the minaret is a domed octagonal building, apparently intended as a rest-house, which was built in A.H. 1004 (Plate LXXVIII) [this image]. It has four arched entrances, those on the east and west having a cut-stone ornamental balconied window above each of them. It is built of brick and is decorated with coloured tiles.”

 

 

 

Pillard pavillion besides Minaret of Masoom Shah, contains graves of Mir Masoom Shah and his family members.

 

 

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