Who commissioned the Shahi Hammam in 1635?
Ilam-ud-din Ansari, also known as Wazir Khan, commissioned the Shahi Hammam in 1635. He served as the chief physician to the Mughal Court during this period.
Questions about Shahi Hammam
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is the Shahi Hammam located within Lahore?
The Shahi Hammam stands just inside the Walled City near the Delhi Gate. It remains the only surviving Mughal-era hammam structure within the city limits of Lahore today.
What are the three distinct parts of the Shahi Hammam facility?
Visitors entered the jama khana dressing area before proceeding into the nim garm warm baths and finally the garm hot baths. A reception chamber and small prayer room existed alongside these main bathing areas.
When did restoration work on the Shahi Hammam take place?
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture began restoration works at the baths between 2013 and 2015. Excavations completed in 2015 revealed substantial parts had been demolished likely to make way for Delhi Gate reconstruction in the 1860s.
Why was the Shahi Hammam awarded an Award of Merit by UNESCO in 2016?
UNESCO awarded the Shahi Hammam restoration project an Award of Merit in 2016 due to its high degree of technical proficiency. Judges cited the successful conservation of the ornate bath after decades of neglect as a key factor.