Sarai Amanat Khan Explained

Location Country:India
Coordinates:31.5095°N 74.6883°W
Architectural Style:Mughal

Sarai Amanat Khan is a caravanserai located in the Indian state of Punjab.[1] It is listed as a monument of national importance.[2]

History

The sarai was commissioned by Amanat Khan Shirazi, a calligrapher known for his work on the Taj Mahal.[3] He intended it to be a memorial to his brother Afzal Khan. Amanat Khan died in 1644–1645, and was buried within the sarai.[4]

Description

The sarai enclosure is almost square, measuring 168 m long and 165 m wide, with an octagonal bastion on each corner.

Gateways

The eastern and western sides have monumental gateways. The gateways have an entrance arch, with the spandrels decorated with colorful tiles. The gates are known as Lahore gate and Delhi gate.[5]

Mosque

The mosque is located in the southern half of the sarai. It has a facade of three arched openings, and was originally decorated with glazed tiles.

Notes and References

  1. News: 2008-05-29 . Sarai Amanat Khan: Mughal era caravan sarai . The Economic Times . 2023-11-09 . 0013-0389.
  2. Book: Inventory of Monuments and Sites of National Importance (Vol. I, Part 2) - Chandigarh Circle . . 1999 . New Delhi . 134.
  3. Book: Parihar, Subhash . Mughal Monuments in the Punjab and Haryana . 21–22.
  4. Book: Begley, Wayne . Monumental Islamic Calligraphy from India . 1985.
  5. News: 2017-04-22 . Hope revived for Sarai Amanat Khan as ASI finds four buried cells . The Times of India . 2023-11-09 . 0971-8257.