Tomb of Jahangir
Emperor Jahangir died in the foothills of Kashmir near Rajauri on the 28th of October 1627. A funeral procession carried his body from that region to Lahore, arriving on Friday, the 12th of November 1627. His son Shah Jahan ordered a mausoleum befitting an Emperor to house the remains. Construction began immediately in 1627 and required ten years for completion. The project cost Rs 10 Lakh, a substantial sum for the era. The tomb sits within Dilkusha Garden, a favorite spot of Jahangir when he lived in Lahore. This garden had been laid out in 1557, long before the emperor's death.
The square-shaped mausoleum stands 22 feet tall as a single-story plinth with arcades lining all four sides. Vaulted bays along the perimeter reflect Timurid architectural styles from Central Asia. Four octagonal ornamental minarets rise from each corner of the building, decorated with geometric inlaid stone. These minarets reach a height of 100 feet or 30 meters. The use of minarets was absent from early Mughal commissions but reflects renewed interest during Jahangir's reign. The structure lacks a central dome because the Emperor expressly forbade its construction. A simple roof covers the interior without the elaborate embellishments later seen at the Taj Mahal. Red sandstone forms the façade, inlaid with motifs forged of white marble.
Vaulted compartments inside the mausoleum are richly embellished with Mughal buon fresco techniques. Carved jali screens admit light in various patterns facing toward Mecca. At the center lies an octagonal chamber lined with carved marble where the Emperor's remains rest in a crypt below. A white-marble cenotaph sits within this chamber, inlaid with pietra dura in vegetal patterns. The design also features the 99 Names of Allah, a common theme in Islamic mysticism. The exterior walls display ghalib kari, which involves ribs inlaid into arched surfaces on curved areas. This combination of frescoes and marble creates an extensively embellished interior distinct from other tombs of the period.
Repair works were undertaken at the tomb in 1814 according to Sikh court records. However, the complex was desecrated under Sikh rule when Ranjit Singh's army pillaged building materials. These materials were taken for use in decorating the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The pillaged grounds were then converted for use as a private residence for an officer named Musa Sahib. Ranjit Singh further desecrated the site by ordering Musa Sahib buried there after he died from cholera in 1828. By 1880, rumors circulated alleging a dome or second storey had been stolen, though no evidence supports that claim. The Shahdara ensemble suffered further damage during British rule when a railway line was built between the tombs of Asif Khan and Nur Jahan. The site received repairs from the British between 1889 and 1890.
Flooding from the nearby River Ravi threatened or damaged the site repeatedly over centuries. Records show water threats occurred in 1867, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1988, and 2010. The site sustained severe water damage during flooding in 1988 that covered much of the area in 10 feet of water for 5 days. This recurring threat highlights the vulnerability of the structure located on the western bank of the river. The proximity to the Ravi River remains a critical factor in the preservation challenges facing the monument today.
The gardens surrounding the tomb are vast and laid out in the Persian Chahar Bagh style. Paved walkways called khiyabans separate the garden into four squares. Two bisecting central water channels reflect the four rivers that flow in jannat, the Islamic concept of paradise. Each of the four squares is further divided into smaller squares with pathways, creating 16 squares in all. The garden forms a quadrangle measuring approximately 500 metres on each side. Entry to the quadrangle occurs via the western edge through the Akbari Sarai gate featuring a small mosque. The mausoleum sits within this large quadrangle with gates facing each of the cardinal directions.
The site is protected by the Federal Antiquities Act 1975, though stipulations are frequently neglected. Private homes have been built just a few metres from the boundary walls despite the law forbidding construction within 200 feet. The site was inscribed on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1993. Pakistan issued a postage stamp in 1954 to commemorate the mausoleum. The tomb also appeared on the 1000 Rupee note until 2005. Current preservation challenges persist as damage continues to affect the site and surrounding area due to lax enforcement of protective laws.
Common questions
When did Emperor Jahangir die and when was his tomb completed?
Emperor Jahangir died on the 28th of October 1627 near Rajauri in Kashmir. Construction of the mausoleum began immediately after his death in 1627 and required ten years to complete.
Why does the Tomb of Jahangir lack a central dome?
The structure lacks a central dome because the Emperor expressly forbade its construction during the planning phase. A simple roof covers the interior without the elaborate embellishments later seen at the Taj Mahal.
What happened to the Tomb of Jahangir under Sikh rule?
Ranjit Singh's army pillaged building materials from the complex for use in decorating the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The site was further desecrated when Musa Sahib was buried there after dying from cholera in 1828.
How many times has flooding damaged the Tomb of Jahangir since 1867?
Records show water threats occurred in 1867, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1966, 1973, 1976, 1988, and 2010. Severe damage occurred during flooding in 1988 that covered much of the area in 10 feet of water for 5 days.
Where is the Tomb of Jahangir located and what style are its gardens?
The mausoleum sits within Dilkusha Garden on the western bank of the River Ravi in Lahore, Pakistan. The surrounding gardens are vast and laid out in the Persian Chahar Bagh style with four squares separated by paved walkways called khiyabans.