Masjid Khudakka

The Khuddaka mosque is located in a densely populated area about 750 m WSW of the Shah Rukn-e Alam tomb. It is a small structure aligned north-south with a single room capped by three fluted domes. Although built near the dawn of the modern era, the building is profusely covered in traditional kashi-kari tiles and Multan`s signature blue-glazed tiles, along with fresco paintings on the interior. One unusual feature is the incorporation of `maps` as decorative elements on the interior, as found on the rear wall of the north and south bays. One map features a bird`s eye view of the Kaaba in Mecca, whereas another depicts a densely populated city. Overall, the mosque`s decorative treatment is typical of Mughal architecture: the three-part facade, the use of geometric decoration, corner towers and chhatris, and the use of domes. However, the overall gestalt is an exuberant and lively reinterpretation of traditional forms in the manner of the Sunehri Masjid, built in 1749, which it somewhat resembles. At present the mosque remains in active use and was thoroughly and tastefully restored in the mid-2000s.