Haveli of a Short Lived Prince
A Freak Accident at City Gate
___
This grand four storey structure in the neighborhood of Bhati Gate was the private mansion of Nau Nihal Singh, grandson of Sher e Lahore Maharaja Ranjit Singh

It probably was built by his father Kharak Singh

As per Historian Latif "this lofty haveli is reckoned among the most magnificent buildings of the city of Lahore and was built by Nau Nihal Singh himself."

The exterior of the building showcases traditionally styled jharokas, arched balconies supported on elegant corbels

Its ornate chambers & halls tell a vivid tale of Sikh craftsmanship
The interior rectangular courtyard is surrounded by elegantly arched verandas as the building rises to each level
Painted floral motifs, cut brickwork, wood carvings, stuccoes on ceiling make it a visual delight

The pick of the structure is the ornate Sheesh Mahal on the top floor
Mirrored ceiling with intricate glass-work and decorative niches is supported by walls that have arches in cut brick work
These arches house the miniature paintings with a touch of Mughal and Sikh styles

Painted in typical Kangra style, these miniatures showcase landscapes, scenes from royalty and those from Hindu mythology

The time spent in the haveli by the Sikh prince was short lived as was his life lost to that infamous accident at Roshnai Gate of walled city

To the north of Hazuri Bagh is Roshnai Darwaza Gate of Splendour, named for being lit to guide the boats afloat the waters of Ravi
It was here that Nau Nihal Singh with an accomplice was hit by falling pieces from gate archway that gave way suddenly as the duo was passed under it

Nau Nihal Singh was returning from funeral pyre of his father Kharak Singh hurrying to the ceremony crowning him as Maharaja of Punjab
Historian Latif tells us that it was probably the firing of gun salute in the distance that caused the fragments from the gate to fall off

Some sources claim the prince survived the incident with minor injuries, but died mysteriously in the immediate hours, presumably killed by one Raja Dhiyan Singh, a courtier of Sikh darbar
Roshnai Gate thus played key role in setting the culminating course to Sikh Rule in Punjab