Sarai Kharbooza
Sarai Kharbuza is a caravanserai situated in Islamabad, Pakistan.[1][2] The caravanserai is situated in a village of the same name, along the old Grand Trunk Road.[1]
The caravanserai functioned as a resting place for a variety of travelers, including merchants, pilgrims, and officials.[1]
History
[edit]The Gakhars, Persian immigrants who ruled the Potohar region from the 10th to the 16th century, are credited with building Sarai Kharbuza.[1] The exact construction date is unknown, but such inns were typically spaced about every 20 kilometers along the Grand Trunk Road, established by Emperor Sher Shah Suri.[1][3]
Mughal Emperor Jahangir documented his stay there in 1605 in his autobiography, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.[1][4]
The structure, originally a square with each side measuring 400 feet, was built from bricks and sandstone.[1] It included separate living quarters and courtyards for men and women, a mosque, a market, and a hamam (bathhouse).[1] The primary courtyard featured a spring well for water supply.[1]
The most significant remains of the hamam are a water heater and a round water tank constructed from small bricks, with an interior copper lining.[1] The mosque within the complex has expanded over time, reflecting the area's population growth.[1] The sarai's architecture, consisting of cells (khanahas), stalls, and storage spaces, catered to the diverse needs of its travelers.[1]
Architecture
[edit]The layout of the sarai includes separate living quarters and courtyards for men and women, a mosque, a market, and a hamam (bathhouse), with a spring well in the main courtyard for water.[1] The hamam's remains include a water heater with a copper-lined tank.[1] The mosque, initially a small part of the complex, has expanded due to the area's growing population.[1]
Architecturally, Sarai Kharbuza is square, each side measuring about 400 feet, and constructed with bricks and sandstone.[1] It comprises a series of cells (khanahas), stalls, and storage spaces to accommodate travelers.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Yasin, Aamir (March 18, 2018). "Sarai Kharbuza served both commoners and kings". DAWN.COM.
- ^ "سرائے خربوزہ - ایکسپریس اردو".
- ^ "اسلام آباد کی واحد سرائے کس حال میں ہے؟". Independent Urdu. August 27, 2022.
- ^ "Sarai Kharbooza fading into oblivion". The Express Tribune. October 24, 2021.