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Khudabad, near Hala was once the capital of the Talpurs before they moved to Hyderabad, and here rest the remains of the earlier chiefs of that family. The place is thus described by Captain Wood, as he found it at his visit many years ago: "The ruins of Khudabad are situated a little to the north-west of Hala, and cover two square miles of ground. It was a favourite residence of the Talpurs, and here many of their chiefs have been interred. Under one dome, and side by side, lie the founder of the dynasty, Mir Fateh Ali Khan, his brother Mir Ghulam Ali, Mir Sobdar Khan and two unknown stone carved graves, inscribing Quranic verses. The fourth unknown grave only contains the year as 1 264 Hijri and is believed to be of a female member of the family, while the fifth one is of Mir Muhammad Ali Khan Talpur (son of Mir Sobdar Khan and grand son of Mir Fathe Ali Khan, died in 1278 Hijri. While in an adjoining mausoleum are deposited the remains of Mir Bertram, Mir Bijar, and Mir Sobdar, chiefs of the same house, who suffered severely from the tyranny and vindictive spirit of the latter Kalhoras. To the north of this tow n lies the Tajar, which contains two graves viz: Mai Khairi who was the mother of Mir Fateh Khan and was the architect of famous mosque at Faqir Jo Pirr, and an unknown. The mausoleum of Mir Fateh Ali is small vet neat, built entirely of red freestone, the only marble used being for the prayer slab that fronts his grave. The other tombs are of a still simpler construction. The three chiefs lie on the same platform, and their graves are protected from the elements by a light canopy supported upon pillars. The tombs just mentioned are the only buildings in Khudabad which are in even tolerable preservation; ot the dwelling houses not one is entire. Little more than thirty years [now one hundred and twenty-five] have elapsed since this city rivalled Hyderabad in size and population. How perishable then must be the architecture of Sindh! and in a region such as this, how apt will the antiquary be to invest, in the ardour of his search, mounds of yesterday's formation with the sanctity of ages!" Thornton states that in 1844, not one nabitable dwelling remained. The mausoleum of Mir Fateh Ali Khan is by no means a small building. It is nearly as large as that of Mir Karam Ali at Hyderabad, and just as elaborately decorated with coloured tiles. A large portion of this ancient site has been encroached by the nearby land holders. Moreover, the local villagers have unauthorizedly established private graveyard with in the premises of this historic graveyard in complete violation of antiquities laws.

Mr. Bheroomal Advani in his book "Sindh Jo Sailani", writes that in 1814 the town of Khudabad was as beautiful as Hyderabad but until 1844 the town was deserted due to unknown reasons.

[Source: Matiari The Cultural Capital of Sindh by Momin Bullo | Coordinates: EFT]

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