The present town of Sheikhupura is situated some 34 kilometers north-west of Lahore. The famous Hiran Minar and the grand water tank in the middle of which stands Daulat Khana are situated about 5km west of Sheikhupura. According to the pen-picture drawn by the Emperor Jahangir in his Tuzk, this place was probably set amidst thick forest where game was plentiful. The term Hiran Minar does not refer to a single monument. It is a complex and the minar is part of it. To the east of minar, is a huge water tank of unusual design, having an octagonal structure, daulat khana, in the middle. The daulat-khana is approached from the west through an impressive gateway, facing the Hiran Minar. A causeway links the gateway with the daulat-khana. The daulat-khana is also called baradari which is a misnomer. A baradari is essentially a structure with 12 openings, (bara means 12, dar means door), while the daulat-khana has only eight, being an octagon with only one opening on each side. All the monuments of this complex were built under the orders of Jahangir. As regard the construction of minar, Emperor Jahangir himself records in his memoirs:
“On Tuesday the royal standards alighted at Jahangirabad, which is one of my fixed hunting-places. In this neighbourhood had been erected by my order a minar at the head of the grave of an antelope called Mansraj”.
The minar served Jahangir as an observation post, providing a vista of surrounding woods and thus being suitable for locating game while enjoying cool air. The romantic daulat-khana in the middle of the water tank, on the other hand, furnished a delightful spot for repose and diversion.
The minaret is circular in plan and tapers towards the top. Its diameter at the base is a little over 9m and at top 6.9m. Total height of the minaret is 30.6m. Unlike other Mughal minarets, this has no canopy or pavilion at the top. In the circular walls of the minaret there are 14 rows of holes, each row containing 15 holes. The holes are square of 15cm each side. It is believed these holes were used for hanging the skulls of hunted animals but this theory does not appeal. There is a similar tower also called Hiran Minar at Fatehpur Sikri opposite the Elephant Gate. It has elephant tusks inserted in these holes. Only imitation tusks are there today. Around the base of the minaret are the remains of certain structures but it is difficult to establish their nature and exact design. Within these structures is the grave of the antelope Mansraj. It is related by historians that here existed an epitaph bearing an inscription. Rodgers and Beveridge have given the English translation of this inscription.
“In this enchanting place, an antelope came into the world-holding (Jahangiri) net of the God-knowing ruler Nural-Din Jahangir Padshah. In the space of one month, having overcome his desert fierceness, he became head of the special antelopes.” The gravestone was also made in the shape of an antelope. On the east of the minaret, at a distance of 82.5m, is situated the gateway of the tank, at the back of which is the causeway to the octagonal structure (daulat-khana) in the middle of the tank. This causeway is supported on 21 pairs of pointed arches supported on pillars. The causeway is 102.6m long, 3.15m wide with a parapet wall 50cm high. A square platform is built exactly in the middle of causeway. At each corner of the tank there are square pavilions having flights of steps going down into the tank. The tank is rectangular in plan 260.5m x 225.6m. Each side of tank has a ramp to facilitate the animals to reach the water level.
The daulat-khana is built upon an octagonal platform measuring 12m per side. This has a boundary wall which is a continuation of the wall of causeway. The daulat-khana itself has an octagonal plan and each side of its octagon is 7.8m long. This structure is two- storeyed with an open pavilion on top which are arched pillars and a beautiful cupola. The first story which we can call ground story is approached from the four cardinal sides through a flight of three steps on each side. These steps lead to the smaller square rooms which, in turn, give access to the king’s chamber. This is the central and the largest room. Eight subordinate rooms surround it. The four smaller rooms in front of the entrances are square while four other are octagonal All the eight rooms are linked in circular arrangement with the main room as well as with each other.
A flight of steps consisting of fourteen steps leads up from the north-western oblong room to the first storey. This storey has only one chamber, built exactly above the main chamber below. The lone room has a veranda on all the eight sides resting on elegant double columns. Above the second storey is an octagonal pavilion. This is approached by a flight of 12 steps from the octagonal room below. This pavilion has a domed roof and corbelled eaves. The pavilion has irregular hexagonal columns at each angle and a multi-foil arch above. Multi foil arches were a typical feature of Shahjahan’s architecture and it is very probable that these cusped arches were added during his reign. The daulat-khana was built by Jahangir in 1620 AD and alterations and renovation work were carried out by Shahjahan in 1634 AD.
The main attraction of the town is a Hiran Minar Complex. Aside from common visitors, foreign dignitaries, guests of the federal or the provincial governments, who visit Lahore, are sometimes taken to Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura for a short break. It is also on the schedules of some tourist operators. But the monument is not being maintained properly and local population is not benefiting from it. Given proper care, it could be turned into a real restful facility for locals as well as foreigners.
What Sheikhupura really needs is: an identity, completion and commissioning of bypass, some grass in Jinnah Park and along the road and development of Hiran Minar.
Minar.
“On Tuesday the royal standards alighted at Jahangirabad, which is one of my fixed hunting-places. In this neighbourhood had been erected by my order a minar at the head of the grave of an antelope called Mansraj”.
The minar served Jahangir as an observation post, providing a vista of surrounding woods and thus being suitable for locating game while enjoying cool air. The romantic daulat-khana in the middle of the water tank, on the other hand, furnished a delightful spot for repose and diversion.
The minaret is circular in plan and tapers towards the top. Its diameter at the base is a little over 9m and at top 6.9m. Total height of the minaret is 30.6m. Unlike other Mughal minarets, this has no canopy or pavilion at the top. In the circular walls of the minaret there are 14 rows of holes, each row containing 15 holes. The holes are square of 15cm each side. It is believed these holes were used for hanging the skulls of hunted animals but this theory does not appeal. There is a similar tower also called Hiran Minar at Fatehpur Sikri opposite the Elephant Gate. It has elephant tusks inserted in these holes. Only imitation tusks are there today. Around the base of the minaret are the remains of certain structures but it is difficult to establish their nature and exact design. Within these structures is the grave of the antelope Mansraj. It is related by historians that here existed an epitaph bearing an inscription. Rodgers and Beveridge have given the English translation of this inscription.
“In this enchanting place, an antelope came into the world-holding (Jahangiri) net of the God-knowing ruler Nural-Din Jahangir Padshah. In the space of one month, having overcome his desert fierceness, he became head of the special antelopes.” The gravestone was also made in the shape of an antelope. On the east of the minaret, at a distance of 82.5m, is situated the gateway of the tank, at the back of which is the causeway to the octagonal structure (daulat-khana) in the middle of the tank. This causeway is supported on 21 pairs of pointed arches supported on pillars. The causeway is 102.6m long, 3.15m wide with a parapet wall 50cm high. A square platform is built exactly in the middle of causeway. At each corner of the tank there are square pavilions having flights of steps going down into the tank. The tank is rectangular in plan 260.5m x 225.6m. Each side of tank has a ramp to facilitate the animals to reach the water level.
The daulat-khana is built upon an octagonal platform measuring 12m per side. This has a boundary wall which is a continuation of the wall of causeway. The daulat-khana itself has an octagonal plan and each side of its octagon is 7.8m long. This structure is two- storeyed with an open pavilion on top which are arched pillars and a beautiful cupola. The first story which we can call ground story is approached from the four cardinal sides through a flight of three steps on each side. These steps lead to the smaller square rooms which, in turn, give access to the king’s chamber. This is the central and the largest room. Eight subordinate rooms surround it. The four smaller rooms in front of the entrances are square while four other are octagonal All the eight rooms are linked in circular arrangement with the main room as well as with each other.
A flight of steps consisting of fourteen steps leads up from the north-western oblong room to the first storey. This storey has only one chamber, built exactly above the main chamber below. The lone room has a veranda on all the eight sides resting on elegant double columns. Above the second storey is an octagonal pavilion. This is approached by a flight of 12 steps from the octagonal room below. This pavilion has a domed roof and corbelled eaves. The pavilion has irregular hexagonal columns at each angle and a multi-foil arch above. Multi foil arches were a typical feature of Shahjahan’s architecture and it is very probable that these cusped arches were added during his reign. The daulat-khana was built by Jahangir in 1620 AD and alterations and renovation work were carried out by Shahjahan in 1634 AD.
The main attraction of the town is a Hiran Minar Complex. Aside from common visitors, foreign dignitaries, guests of the federal or the provincial governments, who visit Lahore, are sometimes taken to Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura for a short break. It is also on the schedules of some tourist operators. But the monument is not being maintained properly and local population is not benefiting from it. Given proper care, it could be turned into a real restful facility for locals as well as foreigners.
What Sheikhupura really needs is: an identity, completion and commissioning of bypass, some grass in Jinnah Park and along the road and development of Hiran Minar.
Minar.
