84-599: Begum Shahi Mosque , officially the Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum , is a 17th-century mosque situated in the interior walled city of Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan . Constructed by Mughal empress Mariam-uz-Zamani , chief consort of Akbar . The mosque was built between 1611 and 1614 during the reign of Jahangir . It is Lahore's earliest dated Mughal-era mosque. It is known for its exquisite fresco decoration of geometric and floral motifs painted on stucco, along with inscriptions of
168-456: A grain market at the city's easternmost edge - a grain market that still exists in the present day. During his reign, Mughal nobles were encouraged to build palaces and gardens in and around Lahore, and many of Lahore's first haveli mansions date from this period. European visitors in the 16th and 17th centuries described the city as populous, with bazaars stocking valuable goods. Akbar's court chronicler, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak , described
252-590: A Mughal-era mosque, and influenced construction of the larger Wazir Khan Mosque a few decades later. The Sunheri Mosque ( Urdu : سنہری مسجد , or Golden Mosque ), also known as the Talai Mosque , is a late Mughal architecture -era mosque in Lahore's walled city that is named in honour of its gilded domes. Unlike the Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque which were built at the zenith of
336-527: A Persian inscription fixed on the facade of the northern gate. Maryam Zamani, a Hindu princess by birth, married into a Muslim community and traded on Christian dominated waterways without being constrained by religious impediments. Her status as a sequestered financier provided her with both the adventure of overseas trade and protection from religious restriction. This mosque is known in common memory as 'Begum Shahi Mosque' after one of her titles, ' Shahi Begum ' ( lit. Empress Consort). The mosque
420-599: A decorative element. He built for himself a haveli in the old city near the Shah Alami Bazaar called the Peri Mahal , or "Fairy Palace." He also laid a pleasure garden south of the Walled City known as Nakhla Bagh , where he also built for himself a baradari . Shah Jahan's son, Emperor Aurangzeb , built the largest Mughal monument in Lahore, the iconic Badshahi Mosque . Emperor Aurangzeb also ordered
504-469: A few months after his wife's death. Nur Jehan built this tomb for her parents between 1622 and 1628. Her own tomb and that of Jehangir are at Lahore. The Tomb of I'timad-Ud-Daulah is a masterpiece of the domeless class of Mughal tombs. It is the first building finished in white marble and marks the transitional phase from red stone to white marble, from Akbar's tomb Sikandra to the Taj Mahal. It reflects
588-512: A formation replicated in the Taj Mahal. This is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and his wife Asmat Beghum. He hailed from Iran and served Akbar. He was the father of the famous Nur-Jehan and grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal of the Taj Mahal fame. He was made Vazir (Prime Minister) after Nur Jehan's marriage with Jehangir in 1611. He held the mansab of 7000/7000 and the title : "I'timad-Ud-Daulah" (The Lord treasurer). He died at Agra in 1622,
672-465: A girls' school since the British colonial-era. The Shahi Hammam ( Urdu : شاہی حمام ; "Royal Baths" ), is a Persian-style bath which was built in 1635 C.E. during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan . The Shahi Hammam is noted for its extensive embellishment with Mughal-era frescoes that have recently been restored. The baths were built to serve as a waqf , or endowment, for the maintenance of
756-458: A larger masterplan. During the Jahangir period, the city grew rapidly. Lahore's suburban areas extended up to 5 kilometres from the Walled City. Empress Nur Jahan and her family built a number of residences and gardens within the Walled City, and outside of the city walls in the suburbs during this period. Her practice of building garden-residences successfully wove a culture of gardens into
840-524: A pedestrianised area located on the Fort Road within the walled city that is dedicated to culinary stalls and restaurants specialising Lahori cuisine . The street has colourful lights and views of Badshahi Mosque and is near the Roshnai Gate Tomb of I%27tim%C4%81d-ud-Daulah Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah ( I'timād-ud-Daulah Maqbara ) is a Mughal mausoleum in the city of Agra in
924-492: A regular and even division of space, which reflects the harmonious patterns and cosmic unity in the universe. Masjid Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosques are true examples of such mosques. The mosque was built by Empress Maryam Zamani , an empress of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and the mother of Emperor Jahangir . It was constructed during the early period of Jahangir , in 1023 A.H./1614 A.D., as recorded in
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#17327733262401008-714: A single-aisled, rectangular space divided into five bays. The mosque's exterior form belongs to a type long popular in Indo-Islamic architecture. The mosque features Lahore's first five-bay prayer chamber that would later be typical of all later Mughal mosques such as the Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque . The mosque's central bay is in the style of the Persian Char Taq , and is flanked by one smaller dome on either side. The mosque originally had 3 gateways, of which 2 survive. The mosque covers an area of land measuring 135 feet 6 inches by 127 feet 6 inches. It
1092-463: A transitional phase of architecture and features both Mughal influences and influences from the earlier Pashtun Lodi Dynasty which had previously ruled the region. Short domes and wide arches represent the earlier Lodi style, while the mosque's balconies, side rooms, and embellishments are in the Mughal style. The mosque establishes a style that has been seen in subsequent Mughal mosques and buildings:
1176-650: Is a Mughal era mosque built in 1671-73 that is located west of Lahore Fort , and fronts the fort across the Hazuri Bagh quadrangle. The architecture and design of the Badshahi Masjid is closely related to the Jama Masjid in Delhi , India , which was built in 1648 by Aurangzeb's father and predecessor, Shah Jahan . Badshahi Mosque was commissioned by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671, with construction of
1260-585: Is a baradari of white marble located in the Hazuri Bagh quadrangle, which forms the space between the Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort , and the Badshahi Mosque . It was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh , Sikh ruler of Punjab in 1818. The pavilion consisted of two storeys until it was damaged by lightning in 1932. The Fort Road Food Street ( Urdu : سڑک خوراک - روشنائی دروازہ ) is
1344-473: Is a citadel at the northern end of Lahore's Walled City that spreads over an area greater than 20 hectares . It contains 21 notable monuments, some of which date to the era of Emperor Akbar . Some of its monuments are famous sites themselves, including the white marble Naulakha Pavilion , the Sheesh Mahal ( "Palace of Mirrors" ), Pearl Mosque , and the fort's massive Picture Wall . The Lahore Fort
1428-642: Is a 15th-century mosque built during the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate . Neevin Mosque is notable for its foundation 25 feet below street level. The mosque is further noted for being one of Lahore's few remaining pre- Mughal monuments. The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh ( Urdu : رنجیت سنگھ کی سمادھی ) is a 19th-century shrine that houses the funerary urns of the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh (1780 - 1839). It
1512-779: Is a 17th-century mosque near the Delhi Gate and Chitta Gate that was commissioned during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as part of an ensemble of buildings that also included the nearby Shahi Hammam baths. Construction of Wazir Khan Mosque began in 1634 C.E. , and was completed in 1641. Considered to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque is renowned for its intricate faience tile work known as kashi-kari , as well as its interior surfaces that are almost entirely embellished with elaborate Mughal-era frescoes . The mosque has been under extensive restoration since 2009 under
1596-542: Is constructed of brick masonry and rendered with plaster and is a massive structure representing a transitional phase of the architecture between the Lodi and the Mughal periods. It has two entrances through deeply recessed arched gateways on its north and east sides. A flight of four steps in each gateway leads down to the main courtyard, measuring 123 feet by 83 feet. The courtyard was originally enclosed by rows of cells on its north and south, some portion of which still exists. On
1680-488: Is located adjacent the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque , as well the Gurdwara Dera Sahib which marks the spot where the 5th guru of Sikhism , Guru Arjan Dev , died. Gurdwara Dera Sahib ( Urdu : گوردوارہ ڈیہرا صاحب ) commemorates the spot where the 5th guru of Sikhism , Guru Arjan Dev , died in 1606. Construction of the building was started by Kharak Singh on the spot where he was cremated , and
1764-475: Is located close to the old Masti Gate of the Walled City of Lahore , opposite the eastern walls of the Lahore Fort . This mosque was built as a Jami mosque for those attending the court. Construction began in 1611 and lasted until 1614. The mosque remained frequented for prayer by the Mughal nobility and the common man alike for more than two hundred years until it turned into a gunpowder factory. During
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#17327733262401848-489: Is notable for having been almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century, when the Mughal Empire was at the height of its splendour and opulence. In 1981, the fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its "outstanding repertoire " of Mughal monuments dating from the era when the empire was at its artistic and aesthetic zenith . The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu : بادشاہی مسجد , or "Imperial Mosque" )
1932-565: The Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh , and Hazuri Bagh Baradari . They also refurbished the nearby Shalimar Gardens, while numerous gardens were laid outside the city walls by Sikh nobles. By the end of Sikh rule, most of Lahore's massive Mughal haveli compounds had been occupied by settlers. New neighbourhoods occasionally grew up entirely within the confines of an old Mughal haveli, such as the Mohallah Pathran Wali, which grew within
2016-815: The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . Often described as a "jewel box", sometimes called the " Bachcha Taj " or the " Baby Taj ", the tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal . Along with the main building, the structure consists of numerous outbuildings and gardens. The tomb, built between 1622 and 1628, represents a transition between the first phase of monumental Mughal architecture – primarily built from red sandstone with marble decorations, as in Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and Akbar's tomb in Sikandra – to its second phase, based on white marble and pietra dura inlay, most elegantly realized in
2100-551: The Lahore Junction railway station outside the city's former walls, in a unique fortified style complete with turrets and crenellations , and loopholes for directing rifle fire. The Circular Garden which once encompassed the Walled City on three sides was established by 1892. The Walled City's Rang Mahal was used first as a school for the American Presbyterian Mission , before being used as
2184-679: The Mughal Empire in the 17th century, the Sunehri Mosque was built in 1753 when the empire was in decline. During Sikh rule, the mosque was seized by Sikh authorities and converted into a gurdwara , after a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib was installed in the mosque following Sikhs complaints that the Muslim call to prayer from the mosque was disturbing their religious ceremonies at a newly constructed baoli (stepped well) nearby. The Neevin Mosque ( Urdu : نیویں مسجد ),
2268-466: The Wazir Khan Mosque . No longer used as a hammam, the baths were restored between 2013 and 2015 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Walled City of Lahore Authority . The restoration project was given an Award of Merit by UNESCO in 2016 for the hammam's successful conservation which returned it to its "former prominence." The Hazuri Bagh Baradari ( Urdu : حضوری باغ بارہ دری )
2352-470: The names of God . Islam has taught about the oneness and infinity of God (Ahad), that He is one and He has divine power, and His oneness is self-evident based on His eternity and omnipresence. Masjids project the principle of tawhid by capturing the concepts of God's infinity and oneness, His divine unity (ahadiyya), and the unity of all creation (wahdat al-wujud) in their architectural designs and decorations. This has been achieved using arches and domes and
2436-459: The original Lahore. Though the modern city's founding may have been as early as 1000 CE, Lahore gained prominence only with the invasion of Muslim rulers from Central Asia. The city served as a capital during the Ghaznavid, Ghorid, and Delhi Sultanate periods, but was not widely mentioned until around 1400. Ibn Battuta knew of the city, but chose not to visit it, while Tamerlane spared
2520-531: The 1947 riots that accompanied the Partition of British India , much of the area was burnt down, with rebuilding of the area beginning in 1949. Rebuilding was done in a contemporary style, rather than the historic style of the rest of the city, in order to widen streets and to create more commercial space. The convoluted and picturesque streets of the inner city remain almost intact, but the rapid demolition and frequently illegal rebuilding taking place throughout
2604-602: The Emperor Akbar ordered a palace to be built at what is now the Lahore Fort after shifting his capital to Lahore from Fatehpur Sikri . He also ordered rebuilt and fortified the city's walls, and ordered their extension east of the modern Shah Alami Bazaar to encompass an open plain known as the Rarra Maidan. Lahore's old gates were also built around this time. Akbar also established the Akbari Mandi as
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2688-494: The Empress’s Mosque. The mosque features primarily four inscriptions of Quranic, and non-Quranic origin. An inscription over the northern gateway features a Persian inscription which reads: God be thanked through whose grace, under the auspices of Her Majesty, this building was completed. The founder of the edifice, the place of salvation, is Queen Mariyam Zamani. For the completion of this edifice, which resembles paradise, I
2772-571: The Lahori Bazaar merges with Chowk Lahori Mandi, and Chowk Mati merges with Papar Mandi , which may outline the old fort. The Mughal period beginning in the Akbari period until the early 18th century most decisively determined the city's character. Mughal Emperors embellished the city with monuments, and the city accumulated monuments from several different periods - in contrast to Fatehpur Sikri or Old Delhi which were largely built during
2856-533: The Mughals was minimal, and most streets aside from major thoroughfares were privately maintained. The kotwal was imbued with the responsibility to manage day-to-day affairs in the city, and was subordinate to a Qazi judge. The local Mohalladar would surveil individual mohalla neighbourhoods, and register births and deaths within his mohallah. The positions were also maintained later during Sikh and British rule. Lahore's eminence largely began after 1584, when
2940-741: The Punjabis from West Pakistan, immigrants from East Punjab ( Haryana , Himachal Pradesh and Punjab , of India ) and Pashtuns. As of now, the population is 99% Muslims, comprising Punjabis , mostly. In the past two decades, there has been an ever-increasing Pashtun population, with traders arriving and settling from the KPK , and parts of Afghanistan. This part of Lahore is a bustling community, with history etched in every corner of its streets, and attracts people from all across Pakistan, both for tourism and business purposes. The Lahore Fort ( Punjabi and Urdu : شاہی قلعہ : Shahi Qila , or "Royal Fort" )
3024-672: The Sikh rule in Lahore, this mosque was turned into a gunpowder factory by Ranjit Singh, for which it was then known as Barudkhana Wali Masjid ("Gunpowder Mosque"). The gunpowder factory established in the mosque had a full-fledged staff working under the supervision of Jawahar Mal Mistri. In 1850 A.D., Major McGregor, then Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, restored the mosque to the Muslims, along with shops and houses attached to it, and it acquired its now official name, "Masjid Mariyam Zamani." The Mosque of Wali Nimat Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum represents
3108-411: The Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was commissioned by Nur Jahan , the wife of Jahangir , for her father Mirzā Ghiyās Beg , originally a Persian Amir in exile, who had been given the title of I'timād-ud-Daulah (pillar of the state). Mirzā Ghiyās Beg was also the grandfather of Mumtāz Mahāl (originally named Arjumand Banu Begum, daughter of Asaf Khan), the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan , responsible for
3192-466: The Walled City, and was later buried in Shahdara Bagh. The Emperor Shah Jahan was born in Lahore in 1592, and bestowed the city with its famous Shalimar Gardens . By the time of his reign, six times as many Lahoris lived outside of the city walls than within. As a nobleman under Shah Jahan, Wazir Khan embarked on a program of architectural patronage. His first monumental project in the city
3276-624: The Walled City, such as the lavishly decorated Wazir Khan Mosque , the massive Badshahi Mosque , and the Shahi Hammam . Under Sikh rule, the city was again selected as the capital, and the Walled City again rose in prominence with numerous religious buildings built in the Walled City at the time, including the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh , and the Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das . The Walled City today remains
3360-530: The Walled City, with numerous citadels and suburbs depopulated. Instability hindered Lahore's progress until the arrival of Maharaja Ranjit Singh , who in 1799 made Lahore the Sikhs' administrative capital for the next 50 years, ruling from the Old City's Lahore Fort. Though the city's urban fabric lay in ruins by 1799, Sikh reconstruction from this era were based upon Mughal precedent. In 1812, they refurbished
3444-486: The art of Jehangir, have been emphatically used. Some compositions have been inspired by the plant studies of Ustad Mansur Naqqash, the famous "fauna and flora" painter of Jehangir. Some stylized designs have also been done in exquisite carving, both incised and relief. They look like embroidery work done in ivory. Delicacy is their quality. Stucco and painting have been done in the interior where minute animal and human figures have also been shown. The inspiration has come from
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3528-736: The birthplace and childhood home of Guru Ram Das , the 4th Sikh gurus . The gurdwara is located in the Chuna Mandi Bazaar in the Walled City of Lahore, near the Lahore Fort , and Begum Shahi Mosque . The shrine is located along the Shahi Guzargah , or "Royal Passage" that began at Delhi Gate , and terminated at the Lahore Fort. There are many havelis inside the Walled City of Lahore, some in good condition while others need urgent attention. Many of these havlis are fine examples of Mughal and Sikh Architecture . Some of
3612-491: The central arch, a lotus tank with fountain. The tomb is square in plan with octagonal towers, surmounted by chhatris , attached to its corners. Each facade has three arches: the central one providing the entrance, and the other two on the sides being closed by jalis. Each side is protected by a chhajja and a jali balustrade above it. There is no dome; instead, the building is roofed by a square baradari having three arched openings on each side which are closed by jalis except in
3696-476: The central pishtaq's recessed arch and stellate vaulting, are richly polychromed using a technique similar to that on Maryam Zamani mosque. This mosque is known for its intricate work and is regarded as the most beautiful of the three great mosques of old Lahore. There is no doubt that the Wazir Khan Mosque is beautiful, as is the huge Badshahi Mosque, but in terms of intricate beauty, none can match
3780-499: The city as a "grand resort of all countries" with manufacturers that produced an astonishing variety of items. The Venetian traveler, Niccolao Manucci , described the city's bazaars as being packed with foreigners. During the reign of Emperor Jahangir , Lahore was still considered less important than the old Mughal capital of Agra , as evidenced by the construction of the Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah there rather than in Lahore. However,
3864-683: The city destruction in his 1398 invasion, and delegated its sacking to a subordinate. The entire city of Lahore during the medieval Ghaznavid era was probably located west of the modern Shah Alami, and north of the Bhatti Gate . Many of the city's pre-Mughal tombs were built along the perimeter of this outline, including the Data Darbar shrine, the Tomb of Malik Ayaz, and the Aybak tomb. The modern Gumti Bazaar forms an arc along what may have been
3948-419: The city is causing the historic fabric to be eroded and replaced by inferior constructions. The Walled City of Lahore covers an area of 256 ha with a population of 200,000. Before partition, in 1947, the Walled City had a concentration of 48% Hindus , 38% Muslims and 12% Sikhs . Once Pakistan and India were formed - the area saw a mass exodus of Hindus and Sikhs, with the area now being populated primarily by
4032-479: The city's defenses and added a second circuit of walls around the city that largely followed the outline of walls from the Akbari period. Numerous Mughal monuments were damaged, desecrated, or destroyed during this period. Ranjit Singh and his descendant bestowed the Walled City with religious monuments such as the Gurdwara Dera Sahib , Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das , and Samadhi of Ranjit Singh , and numerous Hindu temples, as well as secular buildings such as
4116-405: The city's original "Delhi Gate", and previously opened directed onto Wazir Khan Chowk . During the British era, a new gate was built next to the Shahi Hammam , and new streets built in that area. The Shah Alami Bazaar area was once a largely Hindu quarter of the Walled City, and was the busiest and most densely populated part of the city where sunlight would rarely reach the street below. During
4200-760: The construction of the Taj Mahal. Located on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River , the mausoleum is set in a large cruciform garden criss-crossed by water courses and walkways. The mausoleum itself covers about twenty-three meters square, and is built on a base about fifty meters square and about one meter high. On each corner are octagonal towers, about thirteen meters tall. The walls are made up from white marble from Rajasthan encrusted with semi-precious stone decorations: cornelian , jasper , lapis lazuli , onyx , and topaz formed into images of cypress trees and wine bottles, or more elaborate decorations like cut fruit or vases containing bouquets. Light penetrates to
4284-539: The construction of the massive Alimgiri Gate at the Lahore Fort . He also improved civil infrastructure, and ordered the construction of the Alamgiri Bund - a channel built to divert the flow of the River Ravi . Following the collapse of Mughal rule, Lahore ceased to function as an imperial city. Trade abruptly stopped, and large areas of the city's suburbs were abandoned. By 1780, the city had fallen under
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#17327733262404368-488: The contemporary art of painting. There is no glazed tiling and the decoration is largely by coloured stones which is an indigenous development. By far, it is the most gorgeously ornamented Mughal building. It testifies that "the Mughals began like Titans and finished like jewellers" . Chapters 48 and 73 of the Quran have been carved on the 64 panels on the external sides of the ground floor. The date of writing A.H. 1037/1627 A.D.
4452-550: The cultural heart of Lahore, and is home to many of its tourist attractions. In 2012, the Pilot Urban Conservation and Infrastructure Improvement Project—the Shahi Guzargah Project was launched to restore a section of Shahi Guzargah ( "Royal Passage" ) between the Wazir Khan Mosque and Delhi Gate under the management of the Walled City of Lahore Authority . The first phase of the project
4536-535: The direction of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Government of Punjab , with contributions from the governments of Germany , Norway , and the United States . The Begum Shahi Mosque ( Urdu : بیگم شاہی مسجد ) is an early 17th-century mosque that was built between 1611 and 1614 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in honour of his mother. It is Lahore's earliest surviving example of
4620-482: The early 20th century, the Walled City's mohallahs came under the administration of British municipal laws which had only previously applied in Civil Station. The city of Lahore during the Ghaznavid era was probably located in the southwest portion of today's Walled City, with several of the city's pre-Mughal tombs built along the perimeter of this area. The Gumti Bazaar forms an arc along what may have been
4704-474: The early 20th century, the Walled City's mohallahs were incorporated into a new municipal administrative system. Several of the city's older Mughal and Sikh monuments were repurposed by British authorities during their early rule, as resources for planning and building new administrative buildings were scarce. The Tomb of Anarkali , for example, was appropriated first for office space, before its conversion in 1851 into an Anglican church until 1891. It thereafter
4788-412: The east, along the gate, is a 17 feet wide platform on which stands an enclosure consisting of an octagonal domed tomb and some other modern graves. In the center of the courtyard a tank for ablution measuring 31 feet 5 inches by 26 feet 3 inches, is now much repaired. A modern roof of reinforced Badaun and elsewhere in the subcontinent gives us an idea of their gradual development and the perfection which
4872-454: The exact centre of the hall. Corner rooms have tombstones of Nur Jehan's other relations. The most important aspect of this tomb is its polychrome ornamentation. Beautiful floral, stylized, arabesque and geometrical designs have been depicted on the whole exterior in inlay and mosaic techniques, in various pleasing tints and tones. Wine vase, dish and cup, cypress, honeysuckle, guldasta (flower bouquet) and such other Iranian motifs, typical of
4956-482: The first location of Lahore's prestigious Forman Christian College in 1896. The British regarded the Walled City as a potential hotbed for disease and social instability, and instead focused development away from the Walled City, and into suburban areas to the south and east, where numerous British-era buildings now stand, along with the Lahore Cantonment - originally laid by British administrators. By
5040-410: The garden into four equal quarters. They are only slightly raised from the parterres which could be converted into flower beds. Space for large plants and trees was reserved just adjoining the enclosing walls, leaving the mausoleum fully open to view. The main tomb of white marble is marvellously set in the centre of the garden. It stands on a plinth of red stone having in the middle of each side, facing
5124-416: The havelis inside the Walled City include: The Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh ( Urdu : نو نہال سنگھ حویلی ) is considered to be one of the finest examples of Sikh architecture in Lahore, and is the only Sikh-era haveli that preserves its original ornamentation and architecture. The haveli is noted for its lavishly decorated western façade, displaying vivid Kangra -style painting. The site has been used as
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#17327733262405208-412: The history of the architecture of the early Moghul period do we find such an extensive and exclusive use of this type of decoration. The endless variety of geometric floral and inscriptional designs spread over the interior surface in a subtle colour scheme is a characteristic not seen elsewhere." The entire interior surface of the prayer chamber is covered with colourful fresco decoration. At the centre of
5292-586: The importance of the city grew drastically with the presence of the Mughal Court, and the city's suburbs spread out more than 5 kilometres beyond the Walled City. The Emperor Jahangir was later buried in an extravagant tomb in the Shahdara Bagh across the River Ravi, whose construction was overseen by his wife, Nur Jahan . The family of Nur Jahan built several garden-residences within and around
5376-415: The interior through delicate jali screens of intricately carved white marble. The interior decoration is considered by many to have inspired that of the Taj Mahal, which was built by her stepson, Mughal ruler Shah Jahan. Many of Nūr Jahān's relatives are interred in the mausoleum. The only asymmetrical element of the entire complex is that the cenotaphs of her father and mother have been set side-by-side,
5460-450: The main dome is a medallion with radiating stellate and net forms rendered in stucco, completing the exquisite decor of the domes. Similar forms are seen in subsequent Mughal architecture. The ceilings of tomb Itimad-ud-Daula , with their richly polychromed net vaulting and stellate forms, are a more refined version of those at Maryam Zamani mosque. The spectacularly painted prayer chamber of Wazir Khan mosque and its interior, as well as
5544-441: The main gate is on the eastern side. Ornamental gateways with prominent lawns are built in the middle of north and south sides. A multi-storeyed open pleasure pavilion is there on the western side, overlooking the river impressively. These buildings are of red sandstone with bold inlaid designs in white marble. Shallow water channels, sunk in the middle of the raised stone paved pathways, with intermittent tanks and cascades, divided
5628-410: The middle of the north and south sides. It is protected by a chhajja above which is the chaukhandi (pyramidal) roof, crowned by lotus petals and kalash finials. The interior is composed of a central square hall housing the cenotaphs of Asmat Begum, Mirza Ghiyas, four oblong rooms on the sides and four square rooms on the corners, all interconnected by common doorways. The cenotaph of Asmat Begum occupies
5712-591: The mosque lasting for two years until 1673. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture , with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It is the largest and most recent of the grand imperial mosques of the Mughal-era, and is the second-largest mosque in Pakistan . The mosque is now widely considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks. The Wazir Khan Mosque ( Urdu : مسجد وزیر خان ; Masjid Wazīr Kh ān )
5796-557: The northern end of the mosque is a final inscription that reads: So said the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, "The faithful in a mosque are as fish in water!" In Pakistan , the mosque has been encroached upon by several shops, and views of the mosque from the Akbari Gate of the Lahore Fort have been obstructed by illegally constructed tire shops. In July 2016, the Walled City of Lahore Authority announced that
5880-495: The personality of the polished Iranian who lies buried here, and, more than that, the formal and ornamental character of its builder Nur Jehan who ruled the Mughal Empire from behind the curtain for 16 years (1611–27). The tomb, situated on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna , is planned in the centre of a Char-Bagh (four-quartered garden), with the usual enclosing walls and side buildings. As conditioned by its situation,
5964-474: The rapidly urbanizing city. Properties in the Walled City were often carved into smaller pieces over time. Inhabitants of the same building, and mohallah, were inhabited by members of different religions and castes. Though some neighbourhoods in the Walled City are named after individual groups, these areas did not remain homogeneous. During the British era, the city's eastern walls were shifted about 100 metres further east. Whereas Chitta Gate had served as
6048-403: The reign of a single Mughal Emperor. The Mughal city was divided into urban quarters known as guzārs . During the Akbari period, only 9 of Lahore's 26 guzārs were located within the boundaries of Lahore's city walls. Suburbs grew around the Walled City in areas to its east and south, and most was done in an ad hoc manner with concern paid to the developments immediate environment, rather than
6132-410: The ruins of a haveli of the same name that was built by Mian Khan. By 1831, all Mughal havelis in the Walled City had been encroached upon by the surrounding neighbourhood, leading to the modern-day absence of any Mughal havelis in Lahore. After the British captured Lahore from the Sikhs in 1846, annexation of the Punjab in 1849, the Walled City's administrative practices were largely maintained. By
6216-454: The rule of small Sikh states known as Misls . The city and its revenues were partitioned among 3 Sikh chiefs - Gujjar Singh , Lahna Singh , and Sobha Singh. Instability during the Misl period contributed to the rise of nearby Amritsar as a commercial centre. The city's population rapidly declined during this era, and the entire population of the city was said to live within the confines of
6300-476: The shops would be removed, and the mosque would also be conserved and restored. Walled City of Lahore The Walled City of Lahore ( Punjabi : اندرونِ شہر لہور ; Urdu : اندرونِ شہر لاہور , "Inner City of Lahore" ), also known as the Old City , forms the historic core of the city of Lahore in Punjab , Pakistan . The city was established around 1000 CE in the western half of the Walled City, which
6384-695: The southern boundary of the pre-Mughal city. By the time of Mughal rule , a majority of its residents did not live within the walled city itself, but instead lived in suburbs that had spread outside of the city's walls. Only 9 of the 36 urban quarters around Lahore, known as guzars , were located within the city's walls during the Akbar period. During this period, Lahore was closely tied to smaller market towns known as qasbahs , such as Kasur , Eminabad , and Batala in modern-day India . These, in turn, linked Lahore's markets to supply chains starting in villages surrounding each qasbah . Urban administration under
6468-541: The southern boundary of the pre-Mughal city. A mud fort is believed to have surrounded the medieval city, and may have been built by Malik Ayaz , the first Muslim governor of Lahore. As late as 1864, the Lahori Mandi area had been known as kacha kot , meaning "the mud fort," a name derived from the gradient of the land, the water flow, and the formation of mohallahs , kuchas , and kattrahs . The curve of Kucha Pir Bola . for example, merges with Waachowali Bazaar,
6552-484: Was achieved during the Mughal period. The mosque stands out uniquely for its frescoes, which are significant for their perfect technique and variety of subjects. The mosque featured the earliest dated Iranian motif in Mughal architecture. "These paintings are unrivalled in Pakistan and perhaps in India "for their delicacy and lively variety" and for their harmonious golden tone, which is due only in part to age." "Never in
6636-401: Was completed by his youngest son, Duleep Singh in 1848. The gurdwara combines elements of Sikh , Hindu , and Islamic architecture . Portions of the building are believed to have been plundered from the adjacent Lahore Fort. The Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das ( Urdu : گردوارہ جنم استھان گورو رام داس ) is a gurdwara built atop the site traditionally believed to be the location of
6720-401: Was completed in 2015 with support from the governments of Norway and the United States of America . The origins of Lahore are vague. According to carbon dating evidence from archaeological finds in the Lahore Fort, settlements in the region have existed as early as 2,000 BCE. Lahore had many names throughout its history. Mohallah Maulian represents one of the two most probable sites of first
6804-515: Was fortified by a mud wall during the medieval era . It is the cultural centre of the Punjab region . The Walled City rose in prominence after being selected as the Mughal capital , which resulted in the construction of the Lahore Fort – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site , as well as the city's new reinforced walls. The Walled City was bestowed with numerous monuments during the Mughal era, with some of Lahore's most iconic structures being located in
6888-423: Was the Wazir Khan Mosque , built at the site of a simple pre-Mughal shrine. As Lahore's first monumental mosque, it is lavishly embellished with extensive fresco-work that synthesizes Mughal and Punjabi influences. It is now considered to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque. He also built two other mosques in the Walled City, as well as the Shahi Hammam - famous for its lavish use of frescoes as
6972-623: Was thinking about when at last I found it in the words "What a fine mosque!" The courtly mosque architecture of Jahangir's period thus bears the stamp of female patronage . While the inscription over the eastern gateway reads, a prayer of the Empress Mariam-uz-Zamani for her son Jahangir : May the Conqueror of the world, Emperor Nur-ud-Din Muhammad , shine in the world like the sun and moon, oh God! Over an archway on
7056-509: Was used once again for civil purposes as a document repository - a function which it serves until present day. Chauburji was used as a police station during British rule. Several other Mughal tombs were used as residences by high ranking British administrators. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 , British colonialists destroyed Lahore's city walls, as well as its gateways, though several were later rebuilt. The British built
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