Name of Monument: Baradari of Raja Todar Mal
Location: Suburbs of Chunian
Date of Construction: 17th century
This beautiful baradari is situated between Changa Manga (65 km south of Lahore) and Chunian. It is said to have been built by Raja Todar Mal, but this particular information is not confirmed from authentic sources which can prove Todar Mal association with its construction. However, the site is easily approachable from Chunian. The 3rd Mughal emperor Akbar, recognizing the Todar Mal’s great talent, appointed him to his own court where Todar Mal rose to become one of the valued “Nau ratans, “Nine Jewels.
From the first look it appears that the Baradari has two wings and lie on a raised plinth, now dilapidated (82 ft x 86 ft). Nonetheless, there are three distinct structures built in different stages. The bigger structure located in the middle was built sometimes in the mid seventeenth century, while the smaller one on the side was from the Sikh time period. These baradari’s are badly damaged by floods of river Sutlej which flows nearby. The erosion due to water logging is evident in all these baradaris.
Among these three structures the oldest one is roughly 34 ft long by 18ft in width and supposed to be built during the tenure of Raja Todar Mal. This building has five arches along longitudinal side among which three in the middle are blind arches while among the three openings along the horizontal side two openings are blind. Along longitudinal side, two arches on extreme sides and one in middle are of multifoil type, remaining other two are four centered arches. On the horizontal side two corner arches are four centered while the middle one is in multifold. On each of the four sides a high parapet wall is projected from the roof level to cover the wall. The projection is roughly 1.5 ft from all side. Further the projection is supported on brackets. This structure is in a bad state of despair, the floor was evacuated sometime in the past by treasure hunters. The fresco and mortar work are now blurred with time. From the exterior the baradari is relatively in a good state of repair than the rest of other two structures. Before Sikh’s era Raja Todar Mal’s family possessed huge properties around Chunian. Therefore, it is supposed that the original structure was built by Todar Mal.
The second baradari structure have square plan with each side measures 34 ft. Three arches’ openings present along each side, the either side openings are multifold whereas the center one is four centered. The projected rooftop is supported on each of the four sides by brackets. The space between the two brackets is decorated with floral painting. The external divider is in excess of 3 ft in width.
The third structure has different plan in comparison to others. The third structure and appeared to have been built during Sikh Era in late seventeenth century. Building’s dimensions are 13ft X 18ft (width by length). On length sides there are complete five arches’ openings, among these three of them are close. On width side two arches at the extreme end out of three arches are blind. All arches in this baradari have four cantered arches.
Naqoosh-e-Javidan 