Tomb of Khan-e-Jahan Bahadur Kokaltash (Urdu: مقبرہ خانِ جہاں بہادر کوکلتاش) is a 17th-century tomb of a Mughal governor that is located in Mohalla Ganj, in the Pakistani city of Lahore.
| Tomb of Khan-e-Jahan Bahadur Kokaltash | |
|---|---|
مقبرہ خانِ جہاں بہادر کوکلتاش | |
 Tomb of Khan-e-Jahan Bahadur Kokaltash | |
| Location | |
| Location | Mohalla Ganj, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Geographic coordinates | 31°33′34.74″N 74°21′59.57″E / 31.5596500°N 74.3665472°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Tomb |
| Style | Indo-Islamic, Mughal |
| Completed | c. December 1697–1698 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Dome dia. (inner) | 30.1752 meters (99 foot) |
| Materials | Bricks, marble |
History
editKhan-e-Jahan Bahadur Zafar Jung Kokaltash served as Mughal Sūbehdar (governor) of Lahore from 11 April 1691 – 1693. In mid of 1693, the foster-brother to the Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, Aurangzeb dismissed him from this office. Four years later, Khan-e-Jahan died on 23 November 1697 in Lahore and he was buried here, in this tomb.
Historic evidences are obscure about Khan-e-Jahan. Historians have different views about who is buried here. Historian Kanhaiya Lal remarks that he was a Vizier and Umrā-ul-Umrā during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and that he died in 1602.[1] He was a noble-man, named Khan-e-Jahan Bahadur Zafar Jung Kokaltash, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Most historians disagree on Kanhaiya Lal's remark. Another historian, Noor Ahmed Chishti in his "Tehqeeqt-e-Chishti" did not have any written views about Khan-e-Jahan Bahadur, but only wrote about the tomb's structure.[2]
It has been rumored that some English chiefs had converted this tomb into a dancing house.[2][1]
The grave of Khan-e-Jahan was demolished in Ranjit Singh's Era when the Sikh Empire collapsed in 1849, and construction of Lahore Cantonment was underway. It is one of the last tombs built in the late era of Aurangzeb.
Structure
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The tomb was built in 1697–1698, after the death of Khan-e-Jahan. But certain years of construction are unknown. It is built on an octagonal platform with bricks and marble. The tomb is mainly in octagonal shape of architecture.
The grave was adorned with marble. In the early British India period, it was demolished, when the construction of the Mian-Mir Cantonment was underway.[1][2] The tomb is a two-storey building and the upper floor may be accessed via a stairway.
Conservation
editThe mausoleum is protected under the Punjab Special Premises Act of 1975. The present appearance is much denuded. In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, most of southern and eastern facade collapsed. The dome is now supported by a brick-pillar of modern design. The Kalib-Kari (Muqarnas) of upper storey is also damaged.
Gallery
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Southwest-Entrance of the tomb -
Eastern Facade of the tomb -
Dome of the Tomb, seen from southern facade, and modern brick-pillar is behind the dome. -
Western Facade of the tomb -
Interior Dome of the tomb -
Southern-West Facade of the tomb -
Stairs of the tomb for Upper storey -
Brick-Pillar in the Eastern Side of the tomb -
Niche in Western Side of the tomb -
Exterior view of the dome -
Stairs of Ground floor of the tomb
See also
editReferences
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