Tomb of Jahangir

Name of monument: Maqbara/ Rauza Jahangir

Location: Shahdara, Lahore

Date of construction: 1637

Materials of construction and finishes: Bricks, red sandstone, white marble, glazed tiles, fresco paintings, pietra dura and stone fretwork.

Brief Description:

The tomb of Jahangir is situated is an eight fold walled chaharbagh, measuring six hundred gaz square (almost 550 yards square), is divided into four chahārbāghs. Walkways and water channels 20 gaz wide follow these subdivisions in symmetrical pattern. Water for the garden was supplied by eight large wells outside the enclosure wall. At the intersection of each fourfold garden there are raised fountain basins with small cascades on all four sides. The main entrance to the tomb is located in the Akbari sarai. The gateway has high pishtaq decorated with muqarnas (stalactite design) and is projected from the rest of the building. The gateway was built in brickwork and clad with red sandstone. The façade has recessed arched niches. The spandrel of arches and recessed niches are clad with marble which are decorated with aftaba, qab and ghulab pash incised with red sandstone. The interior foyer of the gateway is decorated with fresco paintings. The eastern façade of the gateway is also decorated with fresco paintings.

 The single storied tomb is square in plan and rest on a podium. The design is inspired from the tomb of Itimad ud Daula at Agra. The tomb structure is modest in height with tall octagonal minarets at corners. A verandah containing the chambers of hufaz surrounds the tomb chamber. Four narrow passageways, one from each side lead to the tomb chamber. The tomb chamber has a raised roof which is visible in the form of raised platform over the vast tessellated roof.  The tomb chamber is 257 feet square built in red sandstone inlaid with white marble with decorative motif comprising aftaba, qab and ghulab pash. The interior is decorated with variety of decorative techniques. The dadoes in the verandahs are finished with glazed tiles showing plants in green and blue colors over a yellow background. The rooms of huffaz were finished with fresco painting. The rare artists beautifully decorated the walls of western corridor leading to the tomb chamber with fresco painting. The real touch of luster over the vases and miniature designs over them were finely executed. A variety of designs of vases were depicted. The paintings were done by the rare artists as they used variety of innovative techniques to make their projects unique. Finally, the cenotaph made in white marble was beautifully decorated with flowers and vines in pietra dura work and it was probably the best among all Mughal period tombs. The sarcophagus is engraved with the ninety-nine attributes of Allah. The minaret rose five stories up to the height of 100 feet. The minaret is decorated with zigzig pattern