A Stepwell (Baoli) at Thokar Niaz Baig (2017)

 

 (All pictures taken by the author shall not be used anywhere without permission)

Date of visit:- 14 October 2017

Before the partition of 1947, the town of Thokar Niaz Baig was located 7 miles outside of the city of Lahore. 

 

The history of this town is not much known; however, some references can be found in Tahrikh-e-Lahore, written by Kanhaiya Lal about a Bhadrakali Mandir, which was the main attraction of the town. 

On every Baisakhi, a major festival was celebrated at this temple. Baisakhi also has religious significance for the Sikhs community as the foundation of the Panth Khalsa on this day by the Guru Gobind. There was a place dedicated in town especially for this festival. It used to have a large pond and an old Banyan tree on the temple premises. Luckily, this Banyan tree still standing at this place. However, the pond disappeared from the scenes due to the construction of newly built houses. 

Before Pakistan came into being, the land of Niaz Baig belongs to Bhadrakali Mandir. The area has somehow an equal population of Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu communities. After 1947 most of the houses of this area allotted to migrated Mewati families. An old man of this cast told us that this place has many fruit gardens in which many seasonal fruits were available used to be available some sixty years back. 

 

Around the Bhadrakali temple, many ancillaries’ buildings used to exist; also, there were four small temples (remains of one which still can be found), a step-well (Baoli),

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A Historical Haveli in Kanjrur, Narowal (2020)

 

 Saturday, 09 August 2020 (Date of Visit)

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Last year, a friend of mine shared a picture of a pre-partition Haveli located in the small town of Kanjrur. Upon seeing the picture, I was immediately struck by its castle-like appearance.

As someone who has been deeply interested in historical architecture in Pakistan for years, I found it surprising that I had never come across this building before. Intrigued, I decided to visit the site of this magnificent Haveli the very next day.

Kanjrur is a union council in Tehsil Shakargarh, Narowal district. The town derives its name from a prominent Sufi figure known as Kanju Peer, whose tomb is located in the village.

Situated approximately 15 kilometers from Narowal city, Kanjrur is positioned on the banks of the Basantar River. The Basantar River is a tributary of the Ravi River that flows through Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. It holds historical significance as it was the site of the Battle of Basantar, a crucial battle fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India (December 4–16, 1971).

The construction of this grand Haveli in Kanjrur is attributed to a wealthy Hindu landlord named Dewan Chand. It is believed that the Haveli was built in the early 19th century, making it over a hundred years old. Prior to the partition of India, a substantial number of Hindu families resided in Kanjrur, and the village was home to four Hindu temples.

According to local accounts, Dewan Chand erected this magnificent mansion for his family. The outer walls of the Haveli are heavily fortified, featuring bastions at each corner and reaching a width of 7 feet at certain points. The approximate dimensions of the Haveli are 100 x 102 feet. The Haveli consists of three stories and underground compartments, with the height of the outer facade and boundary walls measuring over 35 feet. In the middle of the outer facade, a Jharoka (balcony) was once situated, providing a view of the outside. Unfortunately, the garden and gateway in front of the Haveli have been destroyed over time.

Additionally, the Haveli contains an escape tunnel beneath the front wall, which was constructed for emergency purposes. Markings of bullets can also be observed on the front elevation, hinting at a mysterious history that begs further investigation.

It is worth noting that most parts of Kanjrur, including this Haveli, are situated atop an ancient mound, adding to the historical allure of the site.

Dewan Chand, known for his philanthropy, also established a school in the town, which still exists to this day. Dewan Chand's family migrated to India before the partition of 1947. Currently, the Haveli is inhabited by several families who have settled there after their own migrations. Unfortunately, the building suffered significant damage during the 2005 earthquake.

The Haveli of Kanjrur stands as a testament to the architectural and historical heritage of the region, drawing visitors with its imposing structure and fascinating past.

Crossing Basanter River