CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

The name ‘Lalgudy’ means the ‘Red Village.’ This is the name given by the Muslims on account of the red colour of the tower of the Siva temple. Its ancient name was ‘Tiruttavatturai’ – the holy place of penance. The seven rishis – Atri, Bhrugu, Pulastya, Vasistha, Gautama, Angirasa and Marichi who were cursed by Skanda got their salvation by doing penance here and by worshipping the Lord of the place. Hence the name of the deity is Saptarishisvara. The Saptarisisvarar temple at Lalgudy has five re-engraved inscriptions, one of the fifth year of Pallava Nandivarma III (840 CE), another of his son Pallava Nrpatungavarma (857 CE), two from the Pandya king Varagunavarma II (867 CE and 875 CE) and lastly of Aditya I (885 CE). Only one inscription from 898 CE – twenty-seventh year of Aditya I is original so the temple must have been rebuilt in 898 CE. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 163, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1976, pp. 97 - 99, D. Barrett, 1973, p. 53.

Sarai Amanat Khan is a monumental Mughal period Caravan Sarai located to the southeast of Amritsar, in a village by the same name, on the Tarn Taren - Atari Road. It is the last Sarai located in India along the Agra-Lahore route. This Sarai was built by Abd al Haqq alias Amanat Khan who was a calligrapher in Shahjahan’s court. Shahjahan bestowed the title Amanat Khan on him after his appointment as the calligrapher of the magnificent Taj Mahal. The eastern gateway of the Sarai bears an inscription that testifies to the date of its construction. This square-shaped Sarai built around a large courtyard is known for its glazed tile decorations. The use of glazed tiles was a characteristic feature of Persian architecture and shows the Persian influence on medieval Indo-Islamic monuments. The Sarai also features splendid gateways on the eastern and western sides with floral arabesque designs rendered on the spandrels. The Sarai had octagonal bastions at every corner covered with chhatris only two of which on the western side survive. The western gatehouse which was in ruins is currently restored by the ASI. Sarai Amanat Khan also houses a three-low domed mosque with blue-coloured tiles on its gateway. Though this monument has a protected status, at present the Sarai is occupied by rural occupants who migrated here during the Indo-Pak partition in 1947. Step wells or baolis provided a huge relief for the travellers and the mobile soldiers from the extreme summers of the northern Indian region. Constructing baolis was also seen as an act of charity or religious devotion. The multi-storeyed step well near the Western gateway of Sarai Amanat Khan has neither received the attention of scholars nor the care of archaeological restorers. Medieval chroniclers have not mentioned this baoli but the architectural splendour of this monument indicates the possibility of its patron being a prominent Mughal noble. The façade of the two-storied entrance gateway of this step-well is still erect high though falling from many places. Right now the step well is surrounded by debris and the overgrowth of vegetation. The kos minar near Sarai Amanat Khan, on the road-side between Atari and Amanat Khan, is found without much damage. It gives the appearance of a tapering circular pillar rounded at the top. The octagonal base is separated from the circular portion by moulding.

Sarai Amanat Khan, Punjab (AFCP)

Sarai Banjara, Punjab

Sarai Dakhni is one of the best preserved examples of Mughal sarais built along the old highway from Agra to Lahore. It is situated to the south of village Mahlian Kalan on Nakodar-Kapurthala road, 12 km from Nakodar. Currently there is no approaching road to this sarai and the monument is completely cut off from the main road. The sarai has a square plan with two lofty gateways at the east and west sides, and walled enclosures which are strengthened at the corners by an octagonal bastion topped by a domed pavilion. The façade of both the gateways were embellished with glazed tiles exhibiting arabesque designs most of which has come off. The mosque of the sarai is built in the southern part of the courtyard. The interior of the mosque is profusely painted with floral wall paintings. According to some sources, the sarai also had a hummam (public-bath) which presently doesn't survive. During early nineteenth century this monument was being used as a leper asylum.In 1919 it was given the status of a protected monument by the ASI of India.

Sarai Dakhni, Jahangir, Punjab