Ruins of Sarae Kharbooza I Encroachers Devoured the Entire Fort I Vlog I Gilani Logs

#sarae_kharbooza #rawalpindi #islamabad
Ruins of Sarae Kharbooza I Encroachers Devoured the Entire Fort I Vlog I Gilani Logs

The “SARAE KHARBUZA” is now the name of a broken, dilapidated and a few feet long wall whereas in the past it used to be a grand inn.

Pakistan has been blessed with the possession of many ancient structures but unfortunately many of these notable buildings also tell the story of negligence, carelessness and ruin. One of such historic buildings was the Sarae Kharbooza, an ancient caravan sarae that is currently on the brink of collapse.

Qala-e-Sarai Kharboza is connected to Tarnol Phatak on GT Road, 10 km southwest of the federal capital Islamabad and the city of Rawalpindi. This historic building is now breathing its last. The Iranian building is known for its architecture. It is basically a traveler's inn, but the architecture resembles a fort.

Tradition has it that "Qila Sarae Kharboza" was built during the reign of the Delhi Sultans. There is no plaque or inscription on its door or walls to reveal its actual date of construction, but its historical significance can be gauged from the fact that the Mughal emperor Jahangir settled here in 1605 AD. He also mentioned this historical sarae in his book "Tazak Jahangiri". King Jahangir stayed here even after his father’s death on his way to Kabul.

“On Monday, Muharram 10, 1605, the village of Kharbuza was our stage. The Ghakkars in earlier times had built a dome here and taken tolls from travellers. As the dome was shaped like a melon it became known by that name,” he wrote.

The sarae, which is also mentioned in many other history books, suggests that it was built during the 12th to 16th centuries before the Mughal period. It is actually located on the old Silk Route and Jarneli Sadak of Sher Shah Suri.

Melon-shaped (Khrboozay jesay) dooms were built around the building, which is why it is called the "Sarae Kharbooza". Remains of these melon-shaped domes can still be seen. Three domes have been demolished, but one still stands in its original state and tells the story of its greatness. The staircase inside the dome indicates that they were used as guard posts.

One side of the outer wall of the fort is 400 feet in length, indicating that the sarae was built on a large site. The main courtyard was enough large, with adjoining rooms and bathrooms. Outside each room there was a porch and mirror hanging space and a small square shaped wall in the wall to light the lamp.

The stone and brick work in Qila Sarae Kharbooza has been done very beautifully. There was also a step well for bathing. Until the 17th century there was no fee for accommodation and food in this sarae.

The sarae was run on the income of traders and government expenditure. Not only travelers used to stay in this sarae during the United India era but also mail delivery was done from here. Fresh horses were kept in the inn for this official work. Accommodation for the travelers, provision of food and drink, arrangement of horses and fodder were also provided in this inn.

This sarae provided an excellent accommodation and food for travelers and trade caravans during this period. Unfortunately, traces of this ancient and important monument are now almost gone and the archeology department has failed to preserve it.

The sarae also had a water geyser in the form of a tank. Beneath it was a copper plate under which the water was heated by lighting a fire so that those who bowed before Allah and offered prayers in cold weather would perform ablution and ghusl without any difficulty.

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