Fatmal Marrhi of Kanganpur (2021)

 

Date of visit: 31 January 2021

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Elevation of Edifice and double story elegant gateway

 

Elevation of Samadhi from the second floor of two story gateway

A tall edifice by the name of Fatmal Marrhi with elegant double story entrance gateway standing 200m south of the village of the same name, 1 km north-west of village Patuke, 500 meters south of an abandoned canal khanwala branch, 3.5 km north-west of Kanganpur (Rasool pur).

District: - Kasur

Tehsil: - Chunian

Mauza/Khasra: Fatmal

 

Description of Architectural Elements of Structure: -

 

Plan, Ground, and above: -

Octagonal melon-shaped ribbed dome.

 

External Description: - 

 

Main Entrance. facade and other sides

The Fatmal Marrhi is constructed on a 1m high square platform measuring 16 x16m. A double story gateway has been constructed on the eastern side of the platform. The main entrance has been provided through a cusped arched opening within an architrave surmounted by archivolt and flanked by octagonal bastions. The upper story consists of three pavilions, one each on bastions and one above the entrance structure. The arcuate (bent in the forms of the bow) bastion pavilions are crowned with ribbed cupolas and eaves above the entablatures, while the central pavilion has three arched openings on the eastern side and one each on the remaining three sides. The top is provided by a curved eave followed by a sail (passage vault). Access to the upper pavilion has been provided through open stairways located on the southern and western sides. The entrance arch spandrels and curvature below the eaves are decorated with fresco design. 

 

The main structure of the Marrhi is octagonal in plan. From the outside, it looks like a double story building due to a continuous projected hand above the large arched panels. Each side of the octagon has a large rectangular recessed frame having a multicusped blind arch resting on pilasters and another recessed rectangular frame inside the blind arch. Four entrances have been provided from four rectangular frames within blind arches. The larger frames are flanked with small niches on each side. The portion above the projected band has a pilaster on each corner. The side of the octagon is decorated with false aches in the form of a projection niche in the middle and two holes on the side. The top of the wall has an eave following the octagon. Parapet has a series of pinnacles on it. The melon-shaped dome has been from a circular drum. Finial of the dome is missing.

 

Decoration and Inscriptions: -

 

The Fatmal Marri has been lavishly decorated with colorful fresco paintings on the spandrels of the multicusped blind arches which have been decorated in arabesque style. Space on both sides of these arches has frames decorated with the designs of flowers and the frames above the arches depict battle scenes of war and recreational activities such as dancing, musical festivities, and hunting. The pendentive is also decorated with such scenes and floral design. 

Fresco Painting image 1

Fresco Painting image 2

Fresco Paiting image 3

Image taken from inside the Samadhi

Fresco Paiting 

Fresco Paiting

The edifice has doors provided at all four corners, destroyed by vandalism 

It seems that fire is used inside the edifice

most of the fresco paintings destroyed 

Fresco painting 

Fresco Paiting

Floral Paiting 

Floral painting

floral painting

Floral Painting

View from Inside Samadhi

Floral Painting

 

Interior Descriptions:

 

Roof/Dome(s)

The ceiling of the central pavilion is decorated with fresco paintings depicting the floral design. Murals depicting human figures and other scenes are the portion above the arches. The cupolas on the gateway bastion are also decorated with sunflower motifs. The dome had floral decoration, most of which has faded away with time.

View of two story entrance gate way

Entrance gateway

View of Main Building

Roof view Mural paintings

 

Well, /Pond: A water well and the pond is found south of the gateway.

 

On the wall of the well, a commemorative plaque is present but could not be able to read it. 

 

Escape Tunnel: - Beneath the main edifice an escape tunnel is present. It ends 300 meters south of the complex. With the time it collapsed, we could not investigate it personally. 

 

Period and Current Condition: -

 

There is an inscription writing found over the main entrance arched gateway but not in a condition of decipherability. Unfortunately, locals who live in close villages belong to migratory families who settled here after the India partition of 1947. They do not know anything about the history of this place. Hence exact period and year this place is constructed are unknown. 

From building architecture, it looks it belongs to the late eighteenth century. 

Like many other historical structures, the Fatmal Marrhi is also being near to vanish because of vandalism, neglect of relevant departments, and time to time diggings by treasure hunters. 

 

 

Pond 

Well