4 places to visit in Karachi from the pre partition era

Karachi has always been known for being the industrial hub of Pakistan but there is more than this gray side of the metropolitan city. There are many landmarks in Karachi which were built during the times when Pakistan was colonized by the British. Some of these places are a great example of architecture which depict the British era very vividly. With time some of these monuments were not maintained as aptly as they should have been but some of these are still kept in conditions which are relatively in a sound state as compared to most of the buildings from those times. Here is a list of monuments which we have curated for you and are open to the public.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Located in Saddar Karachi, this cathedral is an example of its own when it comes to architecture. You can clearly distinguish the British style of architecture and the vast open area around the church gives a feeling of serenity. This is known to be the first church that was built in 1845 on the grounds of the cathedral and still remains to its state. It is one of the biggest cathedrals in Pakistan which can seat more than 5000 people.

Sind Club

Open to only members, the Sind club was established in 1876 in Karachi. Initially it was only for men and women were only allowed to visit the club once after every two months at the annual dinner but later this was opened to both men and women. The club is designed according to European style and its best features are the women’s dining hall and bar.

Mohatta Palace

The only monument in Karachi that has been kept in the best possible state in Karachi. Mohatta palace is located in one of the poshest areas in Karachi known as Clifton. It was built by a Hindu businessman as a gesture of gift for his wife in 1927 but had to be abandoned after the partition in 1947. The building’s design is inspired by Indian architecture and can be distinguished by the style of its domes. The last person to reside in Mohatta palace was Fatimah Jinnah.

Frere Hall

This was built in 1865 and was intended to serve as the townhall but later became a public park, library and an exhibition space. This is located at one of the central most localities in Karachi neighboring to civil lines. Its architectural style is one of its kind and is a mixture of both local and European blend. The best part about frere hall is that it never closes and can be visited at any time of the day.