Who commissioned the Wazir Khan Mosque and when was it built?
Hakim Ilam-ud-din Ansari, known as Wazir Khan, commissioned the Wazir Khan Mosque in the year 1634. Construction took approximately seven years to complete, finishing around 1641.
Questions about Wazir Khan Mosque
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is the Wazir Khan Mosque located and what is its historical context?
The Wazir Khan Mosque is located in Lahore, Pakistan, on the site of an older shrine dedicated to the Sufi saint Miran Badshah. It was built under Emperor Shah Jahan to supersede the Maryam Zamani Mosque as the primary place for congregational Friday prayers in Lahore.
How was the Wazir Khan Mosque decorated and who created the artwork?
The Wazir Khan Mosque features elaborate frescoes and intricate faience tile work known as kashi-kari created by artisans from Chiniot. Calligraphy on the facade includes verses from the Quran written by Haji Yousaf Kashmiri and Persian quatrains by Muhammad Ali.
What architectural features define the prayer hall of the Wazir Khan Mosque?
The main prayer hall contains a 31-foot tall dome with a diameter of 23 feet resting on four arches that form a square pavilion known as a Char Taq. The interior frescoes depict trees, pitchers of wine, and platters of fruit to represent the gardens of Paradise.
When did the Wazir Khan Mosque fall into disrepair and who documented its condition?
The Wazir Khan Mosque began to fall into disrepair by the late 1880s, a state noted by British scholar John Lockwood Kipling. British scholar Fred Henry Andrews further documented the decline in 1903.
When was the Wazir Khan Mosque restored and which organizations were involved?
Restoration efforts for the Wazir Khan Mosque began in 2009 under the direction of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Government of Punjab. The project involved contributions from the governments of Germany, Norway, and the United States.