CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Sarai Amanat Khan is a Mughal-period caravansarai or rest house in a village of the same name on the Tarn Taran–Attari Road in Punjab. An inscription on the eastern gateway dates it to 1050 AH (1640–41 CE) and credits Abd al-Haqq Shirazi, known as Amanat Khan, the Persian calligrapher of Shah Jahan’s court who also worked on the Taj Mahal. The Sarai includes a mosque with Arabic calligraphy in thuluth script recording his role in its design. Built around a large square courtyard, it features glazed tiles reflecting Persian influence and gateways with floral arabesque spandrels. Only two octagonal bastions survive today, though each corner once had bastions topped with chhatris. Residents recall a once-busy bazaar run by Khatri traders that lasted until the late 20th century. The complex also contains later structures, including houses, a haveli, and two wells, showing layered settlement. Families living here since before Partition still occupy and have adapted the Sarai for modern use.

Sarai Banjara is a late Mughal–period rest house located within the village settlement of Sarai Banjara in Patiala district of Punjab. The sarai likely dates between ca. 1650-1750 CE and appears to have replaced an earlier kaccha sarai that existed during Jahangir’s reign. Of the original complex, only a single gateway survives, with its plinth now buried approximately twelve feet below the present ground level. Flanking rooms remain visible on either side of the gateway, indicating the former scale and organization of the sarai

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 is a well-preserved Mughal-period caravansarai or rest house located amid fields west of the Nakodar–Kapurthala Road near Mahlian Kalan in Jalandhar district of Punjab. Built during the reign of Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658) by Muqarrab Khan Deccani, also known as Rustam Khan Bahadur Firuz Jung, the sarai follows a square plan with imposing east and west gateways, corner octagonal bastions topped by domed pavilions, and a courtyard surrounded by rows of cells. Constructed of lakhori bricks with red sandstone, glazed tiles, and lime mortar, the complex includes a mosque in the southern enclosure, noted for its floral wall paintings, and evidence of a former hammam nearby. Declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (Chandigarh Circle) in 1919, the sarai survives in good condition, though it shows surface weathering and loss of some glazed decoration.

Sarai Doraha complex, Doraha (GT Road)

Sarai Doraha is a large 17th century caravan-sarai (rest-house) located to the south of the National Highway 1/Grand Trunk Road ((GT Road) at Doraha in Punjab. After the partition, some refugee families appropriated the sarai for their permanent residence. However, the State government got the sarai vacated in early 1970s and it was declared a protected monument.