Begumpura,
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
, Pakistan
Background
![Cypresses, tomb of Sharf ul Nisa, Lahore](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Cypresses%2C_tomb_of_Sharf_ul_Nisa%2C_Lahore.JPG)
This structure houses the tomb of Sharf-un-Nisa Begam, sister of Nawab Zakariya Khan, the governor of Lahore province during the reign of
Mughal emperor
The Mughal emperors ( fa, , Pādishāhān) were the supreme heads of state of the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughal rulers styled t ...
Muhammad Shah Rangeela
Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah (born Roshan Akhtar; 7 August 1702 – 26 April 1748) was the 13th Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1719 to 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. After being chosen by the ...
,
built in the eighteenth century.
It is located near to the north of the
Tomb of Dai Anga
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, and east of the
Grand Trunk Road
The Grand Trunk Road (formerly known as Uttarapath, Sarak-e-Azam, Shah Rah-e-Azam, Badshahi Sarak, and Long Walk) is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For at least 2,500 years it has linked Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. ...
in the
Begampura
Begampura is a neighbourhood in the Lahore District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located near G.T road Lahore. The University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore is located in Begampura.
There are a number of mosques and graveyards adjoining Beg ...
neighbourhood of Lahore, Pakistan.
History
The structure was built during 1735—1740
C.E., and was used by Sharf-un-Nisa Begam as a meditation chamber during her lifetime. Sharf-un-Nisa Begam had the structure constructed as a place for her to read the
Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
in the mornings. She climbed up and descended from the structure by means of a wooden ladder. After the death, the meditation chamber was converted into her tomb, so that even in death, she could remain in
purdah
Pardah or purdah (from Hindi-Urdu , , meaning "curtain") is a religious and social practice of female seclusion prevalent among some Muslim and Hindu communities. It takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes and the requirement that wom ...
and out of view of unrelated men.
The building came to be known locally as the Cypress tomb, on account of the tile motifs depicting
cypress
Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs of northern temperate regions that belong to the family Cupressaceae. The word ''cypress'' is derived from Old French ''cipres'', which was imported from Latin ''cypressus'', the ...
trees, alongside other floral motifs used on the tiles on the exterior walls.
The tomb was originally surrounded by a garden and pool, which likely abutted the garden which once surrounded the nearby
Tomb of Dai Anga
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. The tomb was one of the last notable structures of the late Mughal era.
During Sikh rule in the 18th century, it was believed that the tomb contained treasure, and so Sharf-un-Nisa Begam's Quran and sword were both plundered and the tomb desecrated.
As new buildings have been constructed around the area, it has become difficult to access the tomb. It was initially surrounded by gardens, but because of the houses built on them, a "small garden" exists today in which the local boys play cricket.
Architecture
Historian Catherine Blanshard Asher, describes the tomb as "Lahore's best preserved monument from the post-Aurangzeb period". It is a "unique structure" as it is like a tapering tower with a "pyramidal vault".
The exterior walls of the tomb are covered with
Varanasi
Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.
*
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tiles, whose colours are much fainter than other buildings where similar tiles have been used.
The lower part of the walls contains white and blue tiles imported from western Europe.
The mosaic tiles are set in a plaster base. The structure has an elevated platform, so that Sharf-un-Nisa Begam could remain in
purdah
Pardah or purdah (from Hindi-Urdu , , meaning "curtain") is a religious and social practice of female seclusion prevalent among some Muslim and Hindu communities. It takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes and the requirement that wom ...
even after death.
The use of glazed tiles is not unique in Lahore architecture, but the "stiff, rigid quality" of the design of these separates it from other buildings in the city.
Conservation
The tomb is listed on the Protected Heritage Monuments of the Archaeology Department of Punjab.
Gallery
File:Bronze Art of Cypress trees on the tomb - Tomb of Sharf ul Nisa.jpg, A well-preserved portion of the tomb's exterior
File:Tomb of Sharf ul Nisa with plaque.jpg, Tomb with plaque
File:Entrance gate (situated on upper building) - Tomb of Sharf ul Nisa.jpg, Elevated entrance to the chamber
References
External links
{{Cultural heritage sites in Punjab, Pakistan
Architecture of Lahore
Buildings and structures in Lahore
Mughal tombs
Mughal gardens in Pakistan
Persian gardens in Pakistan
Tourist attractions in Lahore