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Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Saruwala Maqbra

Sarvwala Maqbara, also known as Cypress Tomb is an early 18th-century tomb located in Begumpura Lahore Pakistan in Sharif Park. It is located near the north of Dai Anga鈥檚 tomb in the Begumpura neighborhood of Lahore. It is a hidden treasure of Lahore. Lahore is a city in Pakistan and it is famous for its tourist destinations.

The structure was built during 1735鈥�1740. The tower-like form, sporting slightly battered walls, is unique in itself. It was built for Sharf-un-Nisa Begum who was a sister of Nawab Zakariya Khan, governor of Lahore during the reign of Emperor Mohammad Shah Rangila.

She had a garden in Lahore and amid this garden, she built a tower where she studied the Quran every day. The tower-like form, sporting slightly battered walls, is unique in itself. Respecting her wishes, after her death, she was buried in the chamber of the same tower.

1. Sharf-un-Nisa Begam used it as a meditation chamber

Sharf-un-Nisa Begam had the structure constructed as a place for her to read the Quran in the mornings. She climbed up and descended from the structure using a wooden ladder.

After reading the Holy Quran she would deposit the holy book as well as her jeweled sword then descend using a removable wooden ladder. After her death, she was buried in the same chamber, along with a copy of the holy book and her jeweled sword.

It was common in that era for women to hide while reading the Quran. Respecting her wishes to keep her mortal remains out of sight and inaccessible.

2. Saruwala Maqbara was desecrated after the conviction that it held treasure

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Like many other Mughal-era monuments, the tomb became a victim of vandalism carried out during the 18th-century Sikh rule. After Sharf-un-Nisa Begam died, she was buried in the chamber of the same tower along with a copy of a Holy Book and her jeweled sword.

During Sikh rule in the 18th century, it was believed that the tomb contained treasure thus breaking into the tomb. The Holy book and jeweled sword were removed.

3. The exterior of the tomb is embellished with colorful cypress trees

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These cypresses, four on each side, are intercepted by little blooming flower plants, all in enameled square tile mosaic work on the plaster base.

The tomb was originally surrounded by a garden and pool. It was one of the last notable structures of the late Mughal era. Now it is hemmed in by houses, leaving a small garden.

4. Saruwala Maqbara is one unique structure

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The unusual tower-like tomb is 16 feet above the ground and was made inaccessible by blocking up all openings in 1745

It has been decorated only in the upper part of this two-story structure. It is a square-shaped, solid, and tower-like tapering brick structure with a chajja near the top of the dome.

The chamber is covered by a single dome of a four-sided pyramidal shape. The drum has a low neck. A band of color-glazed tiles runs around the neck of the dome. It is embellished with the attributes of Allah in superb calligraphy.

5. It is only accessible using a ladder

The tomb is elevated about 5 meters off the ground to shield the grave from direct sight and is only accessible using a ladder.

It can only be accessed by the use of a moveable ladder. The idea behind such a structure was that even the grave of the purdah observing lady should be kept out of public view.

6. Saruwala Maqbara got its name from trees

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The name Saru means Cypress. Cypress is a conifer of northern temperate regions. They are also found in dry areas and are frequently planted as ornamental trees.

This tomb of Sharf-un-Nisa Begum is popularly known as Saru wala Maqbara 鈥� because of the images of cypress (Saru) trees on its walls. This ornamentation of cypress trees is rendered in square ceramic tiles, rather than the tile mosaic seen in Gulabi Bagh Gateway, as a decorative feature.

7. The tomb is not in good shape

 The tomb is listed on the Protected Heritage Monuments of the Archaeology Department of Punjab. It is one of the last Mughal structures in Lahore and should be preserved well like other historic buildings.

A monument is a monument, no matter how small. Each piece of history is precious and should be preserved to its best.

As new buildings have been constructed around the area, it has become difficult to access the tomb. It was initially surrounded by gardens, but because of the houses built on them, a 鈥渟mall garden鈥� exists today in which the local boys play cricket.

8. Saruwala Maqbara holds the body of Sharfun Nisa Begum

The tomb for its unusual shape and facade decoration of cypress motif is considered to be the jewel of Mughal architecture in Lahore.

The building was constructed to cater to Sharf-un-Nisa Begam鈥檚 requirement of daily visits to the first-floor chamber, above the ground. After her death, she was buried in the same chamber, along with a copy of the holy book and her jeweled sword.

Respecting her wishes to keep her mortal remains out of sight and inaccessible, all openings were blocked up. It is blank on the lower sides as only the upper part is decorated.

9. Saruwala Maqbara has similar features to those in the tomb of Hazrat Mian Mir

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The projecting chajja and roof are similar to one seen in the tomb of Hazrat Mian Mir. This shows evidence that they could have both been constructed around the same time.

Just west of Sarvwala Maqbara lies the village of Begumpura. Surviving structures include a mosque with a Bangla-style roof and yellow tilework, a small serai, and a gateway. All these are with Sikh-styled plasterwork and brick details.

10. It is the best-preserved monument in Lahore

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Lahore has various monuments. Many stand in ruins. Even if it may not seem like it is not in its best shape, it remains the best preserved. It could be the architecture was so good that it still stands.

The exterior walls of the tomb are covered with Varanasi tiles, whose colors are much fainter than other buildings where similar tiles have been used. The lower part of the walls contains white and blue tiles imported from Western Europe.  The mosaic tiles are set in a plaster base.

The structure has an elevated platform which could also contribute to the good preservation of the structure all this time. The use of glazed tiles is not unique in Lahore architecture, but the “stiff, rigid quality” of the design of these separates it from other buildings in the city.