Government Muhammadan
Anglo Oriental College (abbreviated to Govt. M.A.O College Lahore; is a
Public College located adjacent to Civil Secretariat Lahore. It is
among the oldest educational institutions in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was established in 1933 as MAO College by Anjuman-e-Islamia at Amritsar and Professor S. Mercado was appointed as the
first Principal. It had played significant role in the creation of Pakistan.
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the College was shifted to Lahore.
An old, Hindu temple standing tall inside the premises
of this college. Nothing much knows about the year of construction of this edifice.
The temple is constructed of clay burnt bricks
that are commonly known as ” lakhori ” popular in the mughal architecture and
abundantly in Nawabi architecture of Faizabad and Lucknow .The form which is
flat , thin , of red colour . Initial Awadh architectural structures were made
of these slim elements. The best part is , it could be used and aligned in
multiple formats of arches , sculptural facades because of their small size and
thinness , they could be placed to make intricate shapes and fine details on
walls and column surfaces
The structure
consists of single story square “Sanctum” which was designed for placing the
housing deity. In sanctum room corner squinches portion filled with extended
flower bouquet element made of lime. From square sanctum structure main temple
curvilinear spire (tower, sikhara) is raised, which is common type of northern
Indian Shrines (Latinas). For construction of curvilinear spire small
dimensions bricks used which are different from ground floor of temple.
On external
walls of temples you will see double facet a vertical offset projection. In
Hindu temple architecture it is called “ratha”.
