Depalpur the Fort City

In the past, Dipalpur was surrounded by a fortified wall, rising to the height of 25 feet and strengthened by a deep trench. When and by whom this wall was constructed is not known, but it was renovated, repaired and improved during the rule of Firoz Shah Tughluq and later by Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khanan, who was the governor during the time of Akbar. Firoz Shah Tughluq constructed a grand mosque and palaces. He also excavated a canal from the river Sutlej to irrigate gardens around the town.

Wide and airy tunnels linked the royal residential quarters inside the fort to the adjoining gardens outside. There were 24 burgs (musketry holes) on the fortification wall, 24 mosques, 24 bavlis (ponds) and 24 wells at the town's peak. The trench, ponds and tunnels have been filled in, but in some places the location of the trench can still be defined. Most of the wall has been razed. Two of the four massive gateways with pointed arches also exist though they are badly damaged and their wooden doors have vanished. Later coats of cement have marred the original architecture of the gateways

A Pre-Partition Hindu Sarai in Old Depalpur city

Sunday, 4 December 2016

In the past, Dipalpur had a strong wall around it that was 25 feet tall and had a deep trench. We don't know who built it or when exactly, but it was repaired and improved by Firoz Shah Tughluq and Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khanan during Akbar's time. Firoz Shah Tughluq also built a big mosque and palaces in Dipalpur. He even made a canal from the nearby Sutlej River to water the gardens around the town.

As time went on and more people came to live there, Dipalpur grew outside the walls. When I visited, I saw an old building called 'Serai,' which had many similar living quarters. Each room had a plaque with the name of the person who donated it. There are two theories about these quarters. Some people think they were built for poor Hindu families, while others believe they provided housing for devotees and the poor who came to visit the nearby Lal Jas Raj Montessori and Hindu temple. Nowadays, migrant and local families live in these quarters, and the Lal Jas Raj Montessori is in bad condition.

Before the partition in 1947, Dipalpur was known for its diverse community, where people of different religions lived together peacefully. Although the city has changed a lot, you can still find remains of beautiful old Hindu buildings from before the partition. But now, most of these buildings are occupied by families who moved to Dipalpur after the partition. These remnants are a reminder of Dipalpur's rich cultural heritage and its vibrant past.

Haveli Mian Sultan Lahore Walled City

The Haveli Mian Sultan, situated across from the Dina Nath Haveli, stands proudly on the main royal trail within the Delhi Gate of Lahore's Walled City. Its entrance can be found on Gali Mian Sultan, a street named after the remarkable individual himself.

This magnificent Haveli is a three-storey structure, with a distinct smaller structure that appears as a fourth floor. Upon entering, one is greeted by numerous rooms that fill the haveli. However, the true gem lies atop the building—a stunning Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) reminiscent of the one found within the Lahore Fort.

Originally hailing from Kashmir and engaged in the soap manufacturing trade, Mian Sultan's life took an unexpected turn during the Sikh era. Endowed with exceptional wrestling skills, he ascended from humble beginnings to become a wealthy contractor for Public Works during British rule. His services involved supplying bricks for the construction of cantonments and other city structures. It was during this prosperous period that he acquired the name Muhammad Sultan, the contractor.

Regrettably, Muhammad Sultan's path to success involved the destruction of numerous old mosques and mausoleums, utilizing the bricks from these historical treasures to erect new edifices. Noteworthy among his demolitions were the palaces of Pari Mahal and Rang Mahal, as well as the magnificent Sitara Begum Mosque.

In the later years of his life, Muhammad Sultan's health declined, and his wealth dissipated. He found himself burdened with a debt of approximately 700,000 rupees, ultimately mortgaging all his properties to the Maharaja of Jammu in order to repay his creditors. Sadly, a few years later, he passed away, and many Muslims of the time believed his misfortune was a consequence of his destructive actions.

Muhammad Sultan's life represents a tale of resilience and transformation. Born as an orphan in Kashmir, he arrived in Lahore with his mother and faced numerous challenges while working various menial jobs. Nevertheless, he persevered and became Lahore's first soap manufacturer. Through his wrestling prowess and connections, he transitioned into contracting work, ultimately attaining a level of wealth and status befitting a true Sultan of Lahore. A testament to his prosperity was the extravagant four lakh rupees spent on his step-brother's wedding, a celebration reminiscent of the grandeur of Prince Nau Nehal Singh's past nuptials.

Notably, Muhammad Sultan organized a remarkable reception for the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, on January 18, 1876 AD. He adorned all the shops in his Landa Bazaar with intricately carved wooden 'chajas,' earning him great admiration. Additionally, he constructed a beautiful water well within his serai, known as 'Thanda koh,' which provided drinking water to the common people and further solidified his reputation as a benefactor of the community.