There are several places in Lahore which hold a significant value in the heritage of the city. Most of them are mysterious to us; one of those places is ‘Akbari Sarai’, the name can be translated as ‘Palace of Akbar’. It is located in the Shadar aBagh. It was constructed during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan.

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It is situated between the tombs of  Jehangir and Asif Khan. Abdul Hamid Lahori, who was the court historian of  emperor Shah Jehan mentions the name of the building under the name JiluKhana-e-Rauza, which means “attached court of the tomb”, in his book the Padshahnama     .Maharajah Ranjit Singh converted the complex into a cantonment of one of his foreign generals, Musa Farangi. The Akbari Sarai, along with the Tombs of Jahangir and Asif Khan, are on the tentative list to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The open courtyard is surrounded by raised terraces where rows of 180 cells are located with a verandah and a common open passage. The corners of the palace are embellished by towers. The palace has two large gateways, located in the north and the south; these gates are decorated with frescoes and Ghalib Kari (Stalactite work). On the west of the palace in the middle of the cell rows is a mosque with three domes. It is clad in red sandstone with decorations.

“It is not the honor that you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind”.

Branch Rickey

Become a part of FORMUN ’15 this January and discover all the historical secrets Lahore holds within itself. Give yourself away to a heritage and architecture which will take you back centuries to the Royal Mughal Era.

Author

Zakhar Habib

Currently doing his Bachelors Honors in Computer Sciences from Forman Christian College, with a minor in English literature. Is zealous about new experiences of life.