Shahi Hammam

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Shahi Hammam
شاہی حمام
300px
The central chamber of the Shahi Hammam
General information
Location Lahore, Punjab Pakistan Pakistan
Address Delhi Gate
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Opened 1635 (1635)
Renovated 2015
Management Walled City of Lahore Authority
Other information
Facilities Formerly steam bath, hot room, cold room
File:Shahi Hamam interior.jpg
Frescoes under the main dome have been preserved and restored.

The Shahi Hammam (Urdu and Punjabi: شاہی حمام; "Royal Baths"), also known as the Wazir Khan Hammam, is a Turkish bath which was built in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1635 C.E. during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. It was built by chief physician to the Mughal Court, Ilam-ud-din Ansari, who was widely known as Wazir Khan.[1][2][3] The baths were built to serve as a waqf, or endowment, for the maintenance of the Wazir Khan Mosque.[4]

No longer used as a hammam, the baths were 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. The restoration project was given an Award of Merit by UNESCO in 2016 for the hammam's successful conservation which returned it to its "former prominence."[5]

Location

The Shahi Hammam is located just within the Walled City of Lahore, steps away from the Delhi Gate. The Shahi Hammam is the last remaining Mughal-era hammam in Lahore.[6]

Background

During the Mughal era, Persian-style hammams were introduced although they never achieved the same levels of popularity in the Mughal Empire as they did in Persia.[7]

History

The Shahi Hammam was built in 1635 by Ilam-ud-din Ansari, Governor of Lahore, as part of an endowment which included the Wazir Khan Mosque. The baths fell into disuse by the 18th century during the decline and fall of the Mughal Empire. From the early British period onwards the building was used for different purposes - as a primary school, dispensary, and recreational centre as well as an office for the local municipality. Additionally, shops were built into the building’s northern, western and southern façades.[8]

Excavations as part of restoration works completed in 2015 revealed that substantial parts of the building had previously been demolished, likely to make way for the reconstruction of Delhi Gate building in the 1860s.[9]

Layout

File:It contains the world's largest Mughal fresco painting.jpg
Some walls were adorned with Mughal-era frescoes which still remain intact.

The hammam consisted of three parts: the jama khana (dressing area), nim garm (warm baths), and garm (hot baths).[10] The baths were gender segregated, and contained a reception chamber as well as a small prayer room.[11]

Architecture

In keeping with Persian tradition, the baths were illuminated by sunlight which filtered through several openings in the bath's ceiling which also aided ventilation. Most of the hammam's interior was preserved intact, and several Mughal era frescoes have been preserved. As the façade had few windows, merchant shops were permitted to operate along the hammam's outer walls.[12]

Conservation

File:Wazir Khan's hammams (10).JPG
The hammam was recently renovated.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), with funding from the government of Norway, began restoration works at the baths to conserve the space, restore the original layout of the building, and to uncover and preserve Mughal-era frescoes which decorated the building's walls.[13] Works were completed in 2015, and are the improvements are said to have changed the surroundings "dramatically."[14]

In 2016, UNESCO awarded the Shahi Hamam restoration project an Award of Merit for its "high degree of technical proficiency" and "for returning the ornate Shahi Hammam to its former prominence."[15]

Excavations have unearthed a water heating structure, drainage systems, and under-floor remains of its hypocausts.[16]

Gallery

  • Shahi Hammam 2 (WCLA).jpg

    The baths' exterior has been restored

  • Shahi Hammam 8 (WCLA).jpg

    The baths feature frescoes depicting winged angels

  • Shahi Hammam 4 (WCLA).jpg

    The baths' cold chamber is elaborately decorated with frescoes

  • Shahi Hammam 19 (WCLA).jpg

    Side chambers are used as an auditorium

  • Shahi Hammam 23 (WCLA).jpg

    Elevated walkways have been constructed to avoid damage to the restored site

  • Shahi Hammam 14 (WCLA).jpg

    The bath's lower levels have been exposed

  • Shahi Hammam (Wazir Khan's hammam) recently renovated by Aga Khan Trust for Culture.jpg

    The baths feature new informational displays

  • Some intricate details - Shahi Hammam (Wazir Khan's hammam).jpg

    Examples of the baths' frescoes

  • Some intricate details - Shahi Hammam (Wazir Khan's hammam) 3.jpg

    Examples of the baths' frescoes

  • Some intricate details - Shahi Hammam (Wazir Khan's hammam) 2.jpg

    Examples of the baths' frescoes

  • Recently launched a cafe for refreshment, Wazir Khan's hammam.jpg

    The baths feature a cafe

  • Hypocaust system in Wazir Khan Hammam.JPG

    Hypocausts

  • Steam Bath area of Wazir Khan Hammam.jpg

    The steam bath features more reserved embellishments

  • Dome and exhaust vents in the roof of the Shahi Hammam

  • Wazir Khan's hammams.JPG

    The central dome of the cold chamber features geometric frescoes

  • Wazir Khan's hammams (2).JPG

    The central dome of the cold chamber features geometric frescoes

  • The roofs and walls were embellished with stunning floral paintings - Wazir Khan's hammam.jpg
  • Wazir Khan's hammams (7).JPG

    Some excavated portions are now covered by protective glass for visitors to stand on.

  • Another dome view, Wazir Khan's hammams.jpg

    Side chambers also feature geometric ceiling designs

References

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Further reading

  • Khan, Ahmad Nabi. Islamic Architecture of Pakistan: An Analytical Exposition. Islamabad: National Hijra Council, 1990.
  • Koch, Ebba. Mughal Architecture New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2002.
  • Michell, George (editor). Architecture of the Islamic World: Its history and Social Meaning London: Thames and Hudson, 1978.
  • Muhammad Wali Ulla Khan. Lahore and its Important Monuments Karachi: Anjuman Press, 1973.
  • Mumtaz, Kamil Khan. Architecture in Pakistan. Singapore: Concept Media Pte Ltd, 1985.
  • Rajput, A. B. Architecture in Pakistan Karachi: Pakistan Publications, 1963.
  1. ↑ Asher, p.225
  2. ↑ Shelomo Dov Goitein. Studies in Islamic History and Institutions BRILL, 2010 ISBN 9004179313 p 170
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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