Variant

Original

A primary focus of Archnet is the development of the urban environment in Muslim societies. Archnet’s new place authorities are records for cities, towns, and other settled areas that link the sites located in that area.&nbsp;Depending on when the record was created or last updated, it may include variant and alternate place names, including ones no longer in use, in languages other than English, including those in non-Western alphabets, and variant spellings. Eventually, this will be the case with all city records. The most developed records in this collection also provide a brief description of the city and its significance, as well as a history of its development. From these records, you can navigate to sites in the city, publications, maps, and video relating to the city or specific neighborhoods thereof, aerial, general, and distant views, urban planning graphics relating to infrastructure, topography, and characteristics of the residents, and even street views or portraits known to be of the city or is residents, but for which we do not have an exact location. We hope you find these records useful. Users interested in the topic of urban history may wish to consult the collection of the <a href="http://archnet.org/collections/historic_cities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme</a>, or to explore the results of keywords such as <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJjaXRpZXMiXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzEwMH0.JJHPyQckiM0KURTJqZWXF5-GSpS6sUE6Xa8bLIzJVU8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cities,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJjaXR5IGFuZCByZWdpb25hbCBkZXZlbG9wbWVudCJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzMTM2fQ.Q1z03tZmTEFvihTpojsCebGu7wjYrcOgorreQfRjKDQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">city and regional development</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiBkZXNpZ24iXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzIyMn0.ozXSEhZe74cE3sJ6z8wSO8ZY9j04ttRK_oSoDzpG558" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban design</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiBkZXZlbG9wbWVudCJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzMjczfQ.aoqIJCVEIUz7aKd63IDX6VCNd6yXPDRPb-uHZ22VLXc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban development</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbmlzbSIsInJlZmluZW1lbnRMaXN0Ijp7ImtleXdvcmRzIjoiIn0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzMzM30.cA5r5rUd6eCx2V_HLoimgAvuLdJTS6rncVZ4hfKE3EI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urbanism</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiIiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiBwbGFubmluZyJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzNDE0fQ.l7zBf7mVWNWIKytF3Vs3WrLR-rcoi4QfWov7DINmd4I" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban planning</a>, or <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzQ4M30.Bg6VrH3hbuHHnVbr5nIxFyoInER16qtlKvgHQFvX9Yo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban regeneration</a>. In addition, there are site records for <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6IiIsImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJjb21tdW5pdHkgZGV2ZWxvcG1lbnQiXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzYzOH0.LuQAv0nhyzzBVAcz-diTJL0tqxpiLcAxWOJV665S_UE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">community development,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6IiIsImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiB1cGdyYWRpbmciXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzg1OX0.SyW_uYoCDTpPCIV8GDWnFvTysAQ3GJg7hk3ZckfxofY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban upgrading,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6IiIsImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJhcmVhIGNvbnNlcnZhdGlvbiJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzOTE3fQ.lA8j1vDRE1HIaI5DblbO5MTtV65EtUC9iAgcexANEXQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">area conservation,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJtYXN0ZXIgcGxhbiIsInJlZmluZW1lbnRMaXN0Ijp7ImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJuZXcgdG93biBwbGFubmluZyJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTE0MDM3fQ.0hUrzEW8Ub3EagAbJQDTFDKCWDutw3xFCDt8uF9qe0o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">infrastructure upgrading,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJtYXN0ZXIgcGxhbiIsInJlZmluZW1lbnRMaXN0Ijp7ImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJuZXcgdG93biBwbGFubmluZyJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTE0MDM3fQ.0hUrzEW8Ub3EagAbJQDTFDKCWDutw3xFCDt8uF9qe0o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new town planning</a> and other types of projects. This collection will continue to develop over time, so check back regularly.&nbsp;We also welcome contributions, including corrections and additions. Please use the 'Feedback' button at the lower right or <a href="https://www.archnet.org/pages/contribute" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contact us.</a>

Cities and Towns

https://archnet-fairimage.staging.performant.studio//public/resources/ca84079c-14b2-4921-afb1-abf293e1fc8f/download

https://archnet-fairimage.staging.performant.studio//public/resources/ca84079c-14b2-4921-afb1-abf293e1fc8f/iiif

https://archnet-fairimage.staging.performant.studio//public/resources/ca84079c-14b2-4921-afb1-abf293e1fc8f/info

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https://archnet-fairimage.staging.performant.studio//public/resources/ca84079c-14b2-4921-afb1-abf293e1fc8f/preview

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https://archnet-fairimage.staging.performant.studio//public/resources/ca84079c-14b2-4921-afb1-abf293e1fc8f/content

collage (digital photographs)

Collage maker project - July 31, 2026 at 11.40.21.png

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Archnet is an Open Access resource, provided to the public to facilitate cultural understanding and excellence in both scholarship and practice. Content from Archnet.org may not be published, displayed, or appropriated for commercial use without the expressed written permission of the copyright holder. Unless otherwise noted, Archnet material is available for instructional, nonprofit use, and personal use on the terms of a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International</a> (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. Please contact Archnet to request permission to use the Archnet.org website and its contents beyond the scope outlined above. High-resolution images may be available by contacting us using <a href="mailto:archnet@mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet@mit.edu</a>. The content available on Archnet, including but not limited to information, text, graphics, logos, and multimedia related to the the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/1903" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Trust for Culture’</a>s programmes, such as the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/54" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Historic Cities Programme</a>, the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/848" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Award for Architecture</a> and the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/132" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Music Programme</a>, may be protected by copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights and laws, whether owned by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, its affiliates, or third parties. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or display of this content is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the respective copyright or trademark holder. Violation of this prohibition may result in legal penalties.

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Welcome to ARCHNET, an open access, interdisciplinary, intellectual resource focused on the built environment of Muslim societies.Focused on the built environment of Islamic civilizations past and present, we seek to:<ul><li>Facilitate excellence in scholarship and professional work by&nbsp;providing reliable information and ready access&nbsp;to vetted, high-quality textual and multimedia resources&nbsp;focused on architecture, urbanism, environmental and landscape design,&nbsp;heritage&nbsp;conservation, economic and environmental sustainability, community development and resilience in the face of rapid change, and related topics.</li><li>Enable teaching and learning in these domains by providing educators with reliable, effective pedagogical material and teaching aids.&nbsp;</li><li>Serve as a platform through which scholars, practitioners, and institutions can bring their work to new global audiences.&nbsp;</li><li>Promote intercultural understanding and dialogue through reliable, high-quality, peer-reviewed material on the diversity of and pluralism within Muslim societies and the interaction between Islamic and other religious, cultural, and philosophical traditions as it relates to architecture and urbanism.</li><li>Enable easy access to a wide variety of resources via a custom-built, web-based, mobile-friendly platform optimized to minimize financial, infrastructural, linguistic, and other barriers to access.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Launched in 2002 after several years of development, ARCHNET is a pioneering digital resource that has proven a reliable authority on the built environment of Muslim societies, past and present.&nbsp;ARCHNET is a partnership between the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/1342" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Documentation Center, MIT Libraries</a> (AKDC@MIT) and the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/1903" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Trust for Culture</a> (AKTC), with support from the <a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/50" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture</a> at Harvard and MIT.&nbsp;ARCHNET is developed and maintained by <a href="https://www.performantsoftware.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Performant Software Solutions</a>.

Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi

Documents

Collections

Additional Names

Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi

Documents

Collections

Additional Names