Aam Khas Bagh is the remains of a highway-inn constructed for the use of royalty as well as common people. It was divided into two parts - the Aam for public use and the Khas for private use by the Royalty. This Royal inn was initially built by Akbar and planned by Mughal architect Hafiz Rakhna. It was rebuilt by Mughal Emperor

Shah Jahan Shah Jahan I, (Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram; 5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), also called Shah Jahan the Magnificent, was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 until his deposition in 1658. As the fifth Mughal emperor, his reign marked the ...

along the Mughal military road between

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

and Lahore. The Royal couple used to stay here in the old building complex while going to and coming back from

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

. Later on, some additions were made to this monument by Mughal Emperor

Jahangir Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was List of emperors of the Mughal Empire, Emperor of Hindustan from 1605 until his death in 1627, and the fourth Mughal emperors, Mughal ...

Aam Khas Bagh complex

The complex was famous for a perfect air-conditioning system called ''Sarad Khana''. The ''Sheesh Mahal'' of the ''Daulat-Khana-e-Khas'', ''the hamam'' and the tank had unique methods of heating water. The palace compound also had a set of fountains. Water for the fountains was drawn from a huge well nearby and circulated through underground conduits. A beautiful garden and the nursery are being maintained. It is a Mughal type garden. The old complex, which has archaeological value, is being maintained by the

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander ...

. The area was maintained until a few years ago. The buildings which are in worst condition include Daulat Khana Khas, Sard Khana and Shahi Hamaam. Lack of upkeep has ruined these buildings. The complex also has an orchard spread over 11 acres of land. The orchard has mango, pear and guava plantations and some trees are more than 70 years old.

Monuments

The following monuments are situated in the vicinity of Aam Khas Bagh: *Sard Khana - This monument was built by Emperor

. This is an air conditioned chamber of that time. The water was pulled through large pulleys from the adjoining well and was passed through water channels running through the walls of this building and was used for fountains and waterfalls. *Sheesh Mahal - This beautiful building was known as Daulat-Khana-E-Khas and Sheesh Mahal. It was built by the orders of Emperor Jahangir. There have been some subsequent alterations to the original building. The domes of this monument were decorated with glazed tiles, some of which are still visible today. *Hamam - This monument was constructed by the orders of Emperor Jahangir. In this, water was taken through underground terracotta channels and a unique method of heating the water was adopted. *Tank - This tank was constructed by the orders of Emperor Jahangir. There was a Mehtabi-Chabutra in the centre which has fallen down. On the east and west sides of this tank, quarters for Mughal employees were built. *Daulat Khana-E-Khas- This double storeyed monument was built by

Mughal Emperor The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...

as his private residence. All the rooms and main walls of this building were decorated with designs. The central hall measured 18 x 14 and eastern walls were having two tall minarets. On the northern side there were many tanks and fountains which added to the grandeur of the building.

Light and sound show

During the famous Shaheedi Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib, the light and sound programme regarding the history of Sirhind and the martyrdom of younger sons of

Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (; born Gobind Das; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the tenth and last human Sikh gurus, Sikh Guru. He was a warrior, poet, and philosopher. In 1675, at the age of nine he was formally installed as the leader of the ...

in the form of Play - ''Sirhind Di Deewar'' is shown to the visitors at night in the Aam Khas Bagh. Other Places

Gallery

Image:Aam Khas Bagh Entrance.JPG, ''Main Entry Gate of Aam Khas Bagh'' File:Entrance of Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India.JPG, Entrance of Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India File:Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India , North West side.JPG, Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India, North West side File:Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India , Entrence.JPG, Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India, Entrance File:Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India , Sarad Khana.JPG, Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India, Sarad Khana File:Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India , view from hight.JPG, Aam khas Bag, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India, view from height Image:Aam khas bagh.jpg, ruins of ''Daulat Khana-E-Khas'' Image:Aam Khas Bagh.JPG, Visitor's board in dilapidated condition File:Sarai Wing ruins.jpg, Sarai Wing ruins File:Main Water Tank Aam Khas Bhag Fatehgarh Sahib.jpg, Main Water Tank Aam Khas Bhag Fatehgarh Sahib File:Hamam External Water Channel.jpg, Hamam External Water Channel File:Hamam internal view.jpg, Hamam internal view File:Hamam internal underground water tank.jpg, Hamam internal underground water tank File:View of well from saradkhana.jpg, View of well from saradkhana File:Sardkhana adjoining water channel.jpg, Sardkhana adjoining water channel File:Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana ways adjoining well.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana ways adjoining well File:Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana 1.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana 1 File:Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana File:Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana with Pullies to lift water.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind Wells Near Saradkhana with Pulleys to lift water File:Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind Daulat Khana-Ekhas internal ruins.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind Daulat Khana-Ekhas internal ruins File:Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind Daulat Khana-Ekhas Inside.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind Daulat Khana-Ekhas Inside File:Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind Daulat Khana-Ekhas.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh Sirhind Daulat Khana-Ekhas File:Aam Khas Bagh, Fatehgarh Sahib.jpg, Aam Khas Bagh, Fatehgarh Sahib File:Water Channels in Aam Bagh Naugharana.jpg, Water Channels in Aam Bagh Naugharana File:Water Channels in Aam Bagh in front of Sardkhana 2.jpg, Water Channels in Aam Bagh in front of Sardkhana 2

References

External links