When was the Tomb of Anarkali built in Lahore?
Construction dates to either 1599 or 1615 during the early Mughal period. Scholars debate the exact year of completion due to conflicting historical records.
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Construction dates to either 1599 or 1615 during the early Mughal period. Scholars debate the exact year of completion due to conflicting historical records.
Contemporary travel accounts mention a beloved named Anarkali for whom Emperor Jehangir built this tomb. No historic proof confirms Anarkali's actual existence beyond these western traveler accounts from the era.
The British Raj converted the site into clerical offices in 1847. In 1851 authorities turned it into the Anglican St. James Church known as Lahore's Protestant Cathedral.
The structure foundations form an octagon with alternating measurements of 44 feet and 30 feet per side. Semi-octagonal towers occupy each corner of the base design.
The cenotaph was removed when the tomb became a church then placed at the former altar site instead of its original location. A Persian couplet inscribed on the monument comes from Saadi ghazal 31 line 1.