A Pink Palace in Karachi: A Symbol of Pakistan's Fading Heritage
The Mohatta Palace in Karachi, Pakistan, is a stunning example of Indian architecture, but its survival is threatened by the city's rapid development and lack of preservation efforts.
Mohatta PalaceKarachiPakistanHeritageArchitectureReal EstateSep 15, 2024
But magnificence is no guarantee of survival in a city where land is scarce and development is rampant. Demolition, encroachment, neglect, piecemeal conservation laws, and vandalism are eroding signs of Karachi's past. The palace's trustees have fended off an attempt to turn it into a dental college, but there's still a decades-long lawsuit in which heirs of a former owner are trying to take control of the land.
The palace sits on prime real estate in the desirable neighborhood of Old Clifton, among mansions, businesses, and upmarket restaurants. The land under buildings like the Mohatta Palace is widely coveted, said palace lawyer Faisal Siddiqi. 'It shows that greed is more important than heritage.'
Karachi's population grows by around 2% every year, and with dozens of communities and cultures competing for space, there's little effort to protect the city's historic sites. For most Pakistanis, the palace is the closest they'll get to the architectural splendor of India's Rajasthan, because travel restrictions and hostile bureaucracies largely keep people in either country from crossing the border for leisure, study, or work.
The palace is a symbol of Karachi's multicultural past, which makes it harder to find champions for preservation than in a city like Lahore, with its strong connection to the Muslim-dominated Mughal Empire. 'The scale of organic local community support needed to prioritize government investment in the preservation effort is nearly impossible to garner in a city as socially fragmented as Karachi,' said Heba Hashmi, a heritage manager and maritime archaeologist.
Mohatta Palace was built in the 1920s by Hindu entrepreneur Shivratan Mohatta as a coastal residence for his ailing wife. Hundreds of donkey carts carried the distinctively colored pink stone from Jodhpur, now across the border in India. He left after partition in 1947, and for a time, the palace was occupied by the Foreign Ministry.
Next, it passed into the hands of Pakistani political royalty as the home of Fatima Jinnah, the younger sister of Pakistan's first leader and a powerful politician in her own right. After her death, the authorities gave the building to her sister Shirin, but Shirin's passing in 1980 sparked a court fight between people saying they were her relatives, and a court ordered the building sealed.
The darkened and empty palace, with its overgrown gardens and padlocked gates, caught people's imagination. Rumors spread of spirits and supernatural happenings. Someone who heard the stories as a young girl was Nasreen Askari, now the museum's director. 'As a child, I used to rush past,' she said. 'I was told it was a bhoot (ghost) bungalow and warned, don't go there.'
Visitor Ahmed Tariq had heard a lot about the palace's architecture and history. 'I'm from Bahawalpur (in Punjab, India) where we have the Noor Mahal palace, so I wanted to look at this one. It's well-maintained, there's a lot of detail and effort in the presentations. It's been a good experience.'
But the money to maintain the palace isn't coming from admission fees. General admission is 30 rupees, or 10 U.S. cents, and it's free for students, children, and seniors. On a sweltering afternoon, the palace drew just a trickle of visitors.
It's open Tuesday to Sunday but closes on public holidays; even the 11 a.m.-6 p.m. hours are not conducive for a late-night city like Karachi. The palace is rented out for corporate and charitable events. Local media report that residents grumble about traffic and noise levels.
But the palace doesn't welcome all attention, even if it could help carve out a space for the building in modern Pakistan. Rumors about ghosts still spread by TikTok, pulling in influencers looking for spooky stories. But the palace bans filming inside, and briefly banned TikTokers. 'It is not the attention the trustees wanted,' said Askari. 'That's what happens when you have anything of consequence or unusual. It catches the eye.'
A sign on the gates also prohibits fashion shoots, weddings, and filming for commercials. 'We could make so much money, but the floodgates would open,' said Askari. 'There would be non-stop weddings and no space for visitors or events, so much cleaning up as well.' Hashmi, the archaeologist, said there is often a strong sense of territorialism around the sites that have been preserved. 'It counterproductively converts a site of public heritage into an exclusive and often expensive artifact for selective consumption.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mohatta Palace?
The Mohatta Palace is a stunning example of Indian architecture located in Karachi, Pakistan.
Why is the Mohatta Palace significant?
The palace is significant because it is a symbol of Karachi's multicultural past and a rare example of Indian architecture in Pakistan.
Who built the Mohatta Palace?
The palace was built in the 1920s by Hindu entrepreneur Shivratan Mohatta as a coastal residence for his ailing wife.
What is the current status of the Mohatta Palace?
The palace is currently open to the public as a museum, but its survival is threatened by the city's rapid development and lack of preservation efforts.
Why is the Mohatta Palace not more popular among tourists?
The palace is not more popular among tourists because it is not well-promoted, and the admission fees are very low, making it difficult to maintain the palace.
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