Skip to main content

OMAR HAYAT PALACE - MASTER PIECE OF ART



OMAR HAYAT PALACE - MASTER PIECE OF ART
Omar Hayat Mahal is a 19th century wooden architectural wonder of Chiniot District, a in Pakistan. It is also known as Gulzar Manzil.
Omar Hayat Palace is a five story building which stands in the heart of the city. Two upper stories were removed in 1993 due to heavy rainfall and storms which may have affected the adjoining buildings. It is a great tourist attraction for both local and foreign visitors.
History
Members of the Shaikh family migrated from Calcutta to Chiniot around the 18th or 19th century. Sheikh Omar Hayat who was a successful trader born in a middle-class family. He decided to construct a magnificent palace for his newborn son in 1923.
Syed Hassan Shah was assigned the task of palace's construction. He gathered many famous artisans from different places who continued working day and night for 10 ten years. Rahim Bakhsh Pirjha and Elahi Bakhsh Pirjha who were masters in manabat kari did wood carving. Gazeteer Vol XXXII, Jhang district 1929 states, "The house built by Sheikh Omar Hayat is a sort of local wonder, as it's cost was Rs 400,000(according to Govt. of Pakistan's History Records) to make and rises high above all other buildings of area". The construction of the palace completed in 1935 and Mr Hayat expired in same year just a couple of months before its completion.
 
History claims that Mr Hayat's only son Gulzar Muhammad's marriage in 1938 brought an ironic twist of fate in the shape of death . He (Gulzar) was found dead in the palace the very next day of his marriage. The news of son’s death lofted loads of grief on mother who died remembering him. Both the mother and the son were buried in the courtyard of the ground floor of the palace.
Mr Hayat's relatives left the palace thinking it as a subject to bad luck for sheikh family, while servants continued living for a couple of years and then parted from it. An orphanage was established by some religious leaders and then it was evacuated when its top story collapsed. Next came the Qabza groups who got shops and houses constructed on the piece of land lying next to it.
Architecture of the palace
The palace's building is perhaps the last of Mughal’s architectural style, or a Mughal Revival building ("revival" buildings are interpretations of an old architectural style by people of a later era). Unique carving cuts on the doors, windows and jhirokas reflect a colour of their own. The roofs, balconies, stairways, terrace and the stucco designs make a perfect interior. The facade of the building is decorated with a fine inlay of bricks, the dazzling shine of marble and picturesque shades help it rank among the great palaces of Mughal era landlords.

Recent status
Later on this placed was occupied by Qabza mafia who destroyed most of the building However seeing death of its glory in 1989, Athar Tahir, the then deputy commissioner of Jhang, took the palace into his custody. He removed the encroachments and started its renovation with an expenditure of Rs1,700,000.
Cultural centre
It was handed over to local municipal committee and a library, cultural centre and a museum were new additions which regained some vigour. A rare collection of thousands of books and subscription for seven dailies was introduced to learners and It was publicly opened the then Punjab Governor, Mian Muhammad Azhar.
  
Recent condition
In Year 1997 the municipal committee refused to bear the expenses of the latest achievements and terminated the subscription of newspapers and other reading material.
It was later handed over to auqaf department in year 1998 which also failed to improve its condition . The situation is getting worse by day. The library has been closed while the reading room is standing without its assets. It was only in 1989 when the building was last looked worth renovation.
At present the palace is very much out of sorts. Its walls have developed cracks rainy water pours in. The woodwork has lost colour.
   

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lotus Temple TEMPLE, NEW DELHI, INDIA

The Lotus Temple of Delhi is called Bahai Temples, situated near kalka Ji.Lotus Temple is a house of Worship for every religion and best place for meditation and peace. Bahai Faith is spiritual unity of all humankind, there are eight continental Houses of Worship have been built around the world. Lotus Temple is one of them and the prominent attraction in Delhi.Lotus Temple, Bahāʾī Faith house of worship, or mashriq al-adhkār (Arabic; a place where the uttering of the name of God arises at dawn), in New Delhi. In the early 21st century it was one of only seven mashriqs in the world. BRITANNICA Lotus Temple TEMPLE, NEW DELHI, INDIA Lotus Temple, Bahāʾī Faith house of worship, or mashriq al-adhkār (Arabic; a place where the uttering of the name of God arises at dawn), in New Delhi. In the early 21st century it was one of only seven mashriqs in the world. Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India.© jedi-master/Fotolia The Lotus Temple was consecrated and opened to the public in December 1986. It wa...

Sanssouci Palace, Germany

Sanssouci Palace, Germany Sans souci, which means “without concerns” in French, was the summer palace and private refuge of the King of Prussia, Freidrich the Great. A place where he could retreat without care to relax in the company of his greyhounds, the Schloss Sanssouci or Sanssouci Palace is located in the city of Potsdam, bordering Berlin. Built on raised ground with cascading vineyard terraces, the architecture of Sanssouci is more ‘Frederician Rococo’ because of a strong influence of the King’s personal tastes. The Palace was designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, with construction starting in 1745 and completed by Jan Bouman in 1747. King Frederick William IV expanded and improved it in the 19th century and, after it somehow emerged from World War II without a scratch, Sanssouci became a tourist attraction in East Germany. Sights in Sanssouci not to be missed are the Pantheonesque gold and white Marble Hall reception area, the Voltaire Room (the French philosopher was...

Yangtze River in china.

The longest river in Asia holds great historical, economical and cultural importance to the country. It accommodates the controversial Three Gorges Dam which is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world. It also thought by many to divide Northern and Southern China; both areas are immensely different in terms of climate, culture, economics, folk customs and landscape. Along the river there are many areas of historical interest, as well as much natural beauty. Because of its vast size, one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the river is by taking a cruise or a tour of the area. Independent Asia specialists Exotissimo offers a cruise which includes stops at the mysterious Fengdu Ghost City and the precious stone fortress, Shibaozhai. Yangtze River, world’s 3rd longest river, is not only a winner of its length. However, floating across from the western region to east edge of China, this mother river for Chinese people presents one of the superb natural splendors for tourists ...