Who built the Shahi Hammam?
The Shahi Hammam was built by Ilam-ud-din Ansari, known as Wazir Khan, who served as chief physician to the Mughal Court and as Governor of Lahore. He built it in 1635, during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan.
Questions about Shahi Hammam
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is the Shahi Hammam located?
The Shahi Hammam sits inside the Walled City of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, just steps from the Delhi Gate. It is the last remaining Mughal-era hammam in Lahore.
Why was the Shahi Hammam built?
The Shahi Hammam was built as a waqf, or endowment, to help fund the maintenance of the Wazir Khan Mosque.
When was the Shahi Hammam restored?
The Shahi Hammam was restored between 2013 and 2015 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Walled City of Lahore Authority, with much of the funding provided by the government of Norway.
What award did the Shahi Hammam restoration win?
In 2016, UNESCO gave the Shahi Hammam restoration project an Award of Merit, citing a "high degree of technical proficiency" and its success in returning the hammam to its "former prominence."
What did excavations uncover at the Shahi Hammam?
Excavations at the Shahi Hammam uncovered a water heating structure, drainage systems, and under-floor remains of its hypocausts. They also revealed that substantial parts of the building had been demolished, likely to make way for the reconstruction of the Delhi Gate in the 1860s.