Sarai Kharbuza is a caravanserai situated in Islamabad, Pakistan.[1][2] The caravanserai is situated in a village of the same name, along the old Grand Trunk Road.[1]

The caravanserai functioned as a resting place for a variety of travelers, including merchants, pilgrims, and officials.[1]

History

The Gakhars, Persian immigrants who ruled the Potohar region from the 10th to the 16th century, are credited with building Sarai Kharbuza.[1] The exact construction date is unknown, but such inns were typically spaced about every 20 kilometers along the Grand Trunk Road, established by Emperor Sher Shah Suri.[1][3]

Mughal Emperor Jahangir documented his stay there in 1605 in his autobiography, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.[1][4]

The structure, originally a square with each side measuring 400 feet, was built from bricks and sandstone.[1] It included separate living quarters and courtyards for men and women, a mosque, a market, and a hamam (bathhouse).[1] The primary courtyard featured a spring well for water supply.[1]

The most significant remains of the hamam are a water heater and a round water tank constructed from small bricks, with an interior copper lining.[1] The mosque within the complex has expanded over time, reflecting the area's population growth.[1] The sarai's architecture, consisting of cells (khanahas), stalls, and storage spaces, catered to the diverse needs of its travelers.[1]

Architecture

The layout of the sarai includes separate living quarters and courtyards for men and women, a mosque, a market, and a hamam (bathhouse), with a spring well in the main courtyard for water.[1] The hamam's remains include a water heater with a copper-lined tank.[1] The mosque, initially a small part of the complex, has expanded due to the area's growing population.[1]

Architecturally, Sarai Kharbuza is square, each side measuring about 400 feet, and constructed with bricks and sandstone.[1] It comprises a series of cells (khanahas), stalls, and storage spaces to accommodate travelers.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Yasin, Aamir (March 18, 2018). "Sarai Kharbuza served both commoners and kings". DAWN.COM.
  2. ↑ "سرائے خربوزہ - ایکسپریس اردو".
  3. ↑ "اسلام آباد کی واحد سرائے کس حال میں ہے؟". Independent Urdu. August 27, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Sarai Kharbooza fading into oblivion". The Express Tribune. October 24, 2021.
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