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'Aliabad Sarai’ was one of the 14 Sarai's (halting stations) on the route between Lahore to Srinagar(Mughal Road). Emperor Jahangir got it constructed in the last leg of 16th century. He had ordered an Iranian engineer Ali Mardan Khan for its construction.(1/n)
'Aliabad Sarai’ was one of the 14 Sarai's (halting stations) on the route between Lahore to Srinagar(Mughal Road). Emperor Jahangir got it constructed in the last leg of 16th century. He had ordered an Iranian engineer Ali Mardan Khan for its construction.(1/n)
& local Rajas and Mughal Governors aided him in the erection.
A perfect square, with two out-grown domes, on the front and the back side. The stones used, are the local sedimentary rocks bound together with ‘Choona-surkhi’; 1000 times stronger than the concrete used today.(2/n)
A perfect square, with two out-grown domes, on the front and the back side. The stones used, are the local sedimentary rocks bound together with ‘Choona-surkhi’; 1000 times stronger than the concrete used today.(2/n)
The cover of the front dome has been hollowed; rest of the ceiling is still intact. A royal aperture with smooth slabs, perhaps from Awantipora, lining it in a beautiful manner, but the door is missing along with a few slabs.(3/n)
There are 2 small rooms, on each side of the gate, perchance, for the gatekeepers. Opposite to the entry area, is a set of three interlinked royal rooms, may be, for the emperor and his begum. Then there are 26 other rooms, with the rhombus like corner rooms, interconnected.(4/n)
The left and right of the ‘Sarai’ are divided into 7 equal compartments; while the front and the rear in 9 compartments, including the entry area. And over the door of each compartment, was an arched lattice carved out of stone, left partially in 1 or 2.(5/n)
They have been broken or stolen too.
On the right side of the structure, is a graveyard, with about 60 graves, possibly of the people of the royal caravan, who died during the journey. On the left side is a broad open lush-green ground, almost the size of two football arenas.
On the right side of the structure, is a graveyard, with about 60 graves, possibly of the people of the royal caravan, who died during the journey. On the left side is a broad open lush-green ground, almost the size of two football arenas.
