Skip to main content

Sheesh Mahal (Lahore Fort)



The Sheesh Mahal (Urdu: شیش محل‎; “The Palace of Mirrors”) is located within the Shah Burj block in northern-western corner of Lahore Fort. It was constructed under the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631-32. The ornate white marble pavilion is inlaid with pietra dura and complex mirror-work of the finest quality. The hall was reserved for personal use by the imperial family and close aides. It is among the 21 monuments that were built by successive Mughal emperors inside Lahore Fort, and forms the "jewel in the Fort’s crown."[1] As part of the larger Lahore Fort Complex, it has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since .

Design

The Sheesh Mahal is elaborately decorated with a myriad of reflective glass tiles.The building’s ceiling is also adorned with mirror-work.The Sheesh Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan. It was built in the middle of Jahangir's rule. The façade, consisting of five cusped marble arches supported by coupled columns, opens into the courtyard. The engrailed spandrels and bases are inlaid with precious stones. The pavilion is in the form of a semi-octagon, and consists of apartments roofed with gilded cupolas and intricately decorated with pietra dura and convex glass and mirrormosaic (ayina kari) with thousands of small mirrors.At night they light candles. [8] The decorative features also include stuccotracery (munabat kari) and carved marblescreens in geometrical and tendril designs.[9]The roof of the central hall rises up to two storeys. The hall was originally decorated with fresco paintings that were later replaced with glass mosaic in different colours.[1]
Close up view of the building's mirror-workThe solid brick foundations of Lahore Fort were laid in 1566 under the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great on the location of an earlier mud-fort. To build the new fort, the Emperor brought experienced artisans after the completion of Fatehpur Sikri.[4] Later, Shah Jahan converted the fort into a pleasure resort and added Diwan-i-Khas, Moti Masjid, Naulakha Pavilion, sleeping chambers, and Sheesh Mahal in to the complex. Sheesh Mahal is located within the Shah Burj (King's Pavilion) block that was actually built by his predecessor Jahangir

History


Close up view of the building's mirror-workThe solid brick foundations of Lahore Fort were laid in 1566 under the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great on the location of an earlier mud-fort. To build the new fort, the Emperor brought experienced artisans after the completion of Fatehpur Sikri.[4] Later, Shah Jahan converted the fort into a pleasure resort and added Diwan-i-Khas, Moti Masjid, Naulakha Pavilion, sleeping chambers, and Sheesh Mahal in to the complex. Sheesh Mahal is located within the Shah Burj (King's Pavilion) block that was actually built by his predecessor Jahangir. The chamber was exclusively used for private council meetings as part of the daily routine of the emperor, whereas the whole block was only accessible to the imperial princes, the vizier, and selected courtiers.[5] The extension work of private quarters by Shah Jahan continued between 1628 and 1634. The distinctive Shah Jahani architecture is reflected in the extensive use of white marble and hierarchical accents of the construction.[6] During the Sikh Empire, Shah Burj became Ranjit Singh's favourite place. He built a harem over the top of Sheesh Mahal.[4] This was also the place where he used to display his prized possession, the Koh-i-Noor.[7]





The chamber was exclusively used for private council meetings as part of the daily routine of the emperor, whereas the whole block was only accessible to the imperial princes, the vizier, and selected courtiers.[5] The extension work of private quarters by Shah Jahan continued between 1628 and 1634. The distinctive Shah Jahani architecture is reflected in the extensive use of white marble and hierarchical accents of the construction.[6] During the Sikh Empire, Shah Burj became Ranjit Singh's favourite place. He built a harem over the top of Sheesh Mahal.[4] This was also the place where he used to display his prized possession, the Koh-i-Noor.[7]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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
Post a Comment
Read more

Minar e Pakistan Lahore

Minar e Pakistan Lahore The actual monument appeals to site visitors from in the course of Pakistan, plus the inhabitants from the walled town associated with Lahore. The actual substantial public place throughout the monument is normally for politics meetings and the public, though Iqbal Recreation area location is usually common amongst comets fly design and style possesses designed your Podium associated with Naseer-ud-Din Murat Khan a builder associated with Pakistan (Daghestan) Ruskies source, and also structural engineer was Abdur Rahman Khan Niazi. The very first stone was laid on Walk 1, 1960. The actual development had taken eight many years of your time, and also was concluded throughout 1968 at a charge associated with PKR 500,000. Right now, your Minaret gives a wide ranging check out for you to site visitors who can climb your steps or even a elevator. The actual Recreational areas adjoining your monument include sources of marble and also a manufactured river. Mina
Post a Comment
Read more

Ayesha Mosque Makkah

Masjid e Taneem is a mosque in the Al-Hil area about 5 miles away from the Holy Kaaba, in Taneem, which is near Mecca and acts as Miqat (a station for putting on pilgrims' garments) for people living in Mecca.This mosque is also known as Masjid -e- Ayesha since Prophet Mohammed 's wife Ayesha had put her Ihram (restriction on Pilgrimage) from this place once. If someone is living in Mecca and wants to perform Umra(pilgrimage to Mecca) then he should go to this place, enter into the state of Ihram (in part by putting on pilgrim's garments) and then return to Mecca so that the condition of traveling for the pilgrims is also fulfilled. The Prophet has said: “Part of the worship of Hajj and Umra is to travel in the way of Allah and to go out of the city.”[1] This is quite a big mosque with superb facilities for baths, ablution and changing, available for pilgrims and those who come to offer regular prayers. Masjid Aisha, also known as Masjid at-Tan’eem marks the place where Um
Post a Comment
Read more