Sarai Pukhta also named Sarai Shaikhan

17-06-2018
From Shahdara the Grand Trunk road moves northward passing through Rana Town where, until they were both filled in 1987, there were two baolis next to the present GT road. From Rana Town, it takes a turn to cross Nullah Deg at Bahamanwali/Chak 46. The crossing is still marked by an ancient bridge and ruins of Sarai nearby.

From here it went straight to Sarai Shaikhan (also called Pukhta Sarai).Where a magnificent paneled gateway and an ancient well stand in ruinous condition. Underground in one of cells lies an escape tunnel which is filled with mud.

In, Sher Shah Suri tenure (A.D. 1539-1552),  Suri Sarais were built a distance of two Kos apart with stepped wells (Baolis, vaips, van or vao) an Kos minars at more frequent intervals between every two Sarais.  Structurally, a Sarai comprises a space, invariably a square space, enclosed by a rampart with one gateway called Darwazeh. As these ramparts were built with sun-dried bricks, they were referred to in later year as Kacha Sarais and compared to pakka or Pukhta Sarais of the Mughal period which were built of burnt bricks or stone blocks. Each Sarai had rows of cells (khanaha) on all four sides. There were special rooms, one in each corner, and invariably in the center of each well as well. These were called Khanaha-i-padshahi, i.e., King’s House or Government House reserved for state personal on the move. There were separate Khanaha or cells for Muslims and Non Muslims.  Each served by attendants of their respective faiths. Inside each sarai there was a mosque and a well. Revenue- free land (madad-i-maash) was attached to each sarai to meet the salaries of the staff and other contingent expenditure.

The Sarai acted both as wayside inn for travelers and an official dak-chowki. Each sarai was run by an official called Shahna or Shiqdar with a number of caretakers to assist him. There was an imam of the mosque and a muzzin to call to prayer. Hot and cold water, together with bed-steads (charpai), edibles (khurdani), and grain and fodder for the horses were provided by the Government free of charge. A physician was stationed at every sarai to look after the health of the people of the locality. Bakers were also settled in the sarais.