Lahore, a city steeped in history, has witnessed the ebb and flow of empires, religions, and cultures. Before the partition of 1947, it was a vibrant mosaic of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, living side by side. Among the many forgotten relics of this era are the Shamshanghats—Hindu cremation grounds—once scattered across the city. With the exodus of Hindus during partition, these sacred sites were gradually abandoned, and over time, they faded from both memory and the landscape.
One of these forgotten Shamshanghats was situated outside the Taxali Gate, west of Lahore. Historian Kanhaiya Lal, in his *Tareekh-e-Lahore*, described this site as a prominent cremation ground for the Hindu community. Originally, the Shamshanghat lacked an enclosure, but during British rule, a large boundary wall was constructed, with the eastern gate serving as the main entry point. A Peepal tree stood by the entrance, where the deceased were placed before being moved to the cremation area.
The space was simple but functional, featuring an arched corridor built by Rai Mehla Ram for the guards. There was also a small pond constructed for ritual baths after cremations. This Shamshanghat, like many others, disappeared with time as urbanization encroached upon its grounds. By the time the old Ravi River, which once flowed near the Taxali Gate, changed course, the Shamshanghat was lost entirely. During an excavation near Lady Wellington Hospital, remnants of its walls were uncovered, revealing traces of the British-era Lahori bricks and the tall wall of the pond. I was fortunate to capture photographs of this long-forgotten site.
