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Sarai Amanat Khan

Coordinates: 31°30′34″N 74°41′18″E / 31.5095349°N 74.6883201°E / 31.5095349; 74.6883201
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Sarai Amanat Khan
Map
General information
Architectural styleMughal
CountryIndia
Coordinates31°30′34″N 74°41′18″E / 31.5095349°N 74.6883201°E / 31.5095349; 74.6883201

Sarai Amanat Khan is a caravanserai located in the Indian state of Punjab.[1] It is listed as a monument of national importance.[2]

History

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The sarai was commissioned by Amanat Khan Shirazi, a calligrapher known for his work on the Taj Mahal.[3] He intended it to be a memorial to his brother Afzal Khan. Amanat Khan died in 1644–1645, and was buried within the sarai.[4]

Description

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The sarai enclosure is almost square, measuring 168 m long and 165 m wide, with an octagonal bastion on each corner.[2][3]

One of the monumental gateways

Gateways

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The eastern and western sides have monumental gateways. The gateways have an entrance arch, with the spandrels decorated with colorful tiles.[3] The gates are known as Lahore gate and Delhi gate.[5]

Mosque

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The mosque is located in the southern half of the sarai. It has a facade of three arched openings, and was originally decorated with glazed tiles.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Sarai Amanat Khan: Mughal era caravan sarai". The Economic Times. 2008-05-29. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  2. ^ a b Inventory of Monuments and Sites of National Importance (Vol. I, Part 2) - Chandigarh Circle (PDF). New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. 1999. p. 134.
  3. ^ a b c d Parihar, Subhash. Mughal Monuments in the Punjab and Haryana (PDF). pp. 21–22.
  4. ^ Begley, Wayne (1985). Monumental Islamic Calligraphy from India.
  5. ^ "Hope revived for Sarai Amanat Khan as ASI finds four buried cells". The Times of India. 2017-04-22. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-11-09.