Recent from talks
Hiran Minar
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Hiran Minar
Hiran Minar (Urdu: ہرن مینار; lit. 'The Deer Tower') is an early 17th-century Mughal-era complex in Sheikhupura, in the Pakistani province of Punjab. It was built at the site of a game reserve in memory of Mughal Emperor Jahangir's beloved pet antelope, Mansraj (lit. 'Light of Mind'). The emperor is remembered for his fondness of nature, and the complex embodies the Mughal relationship between humans, pets and hunting.
The landmark was proclaimed protected under the Ancient Monuments Reservation Act, 1904 (Antiquities Act, 1975) in 1916. The Hiran Minar and Tank Sheikhupura are also on the Provisional List of UNESCO World Heritage.
The Hiran Minar is located in the city of Sheikhupura, about 40 kilometers northwest of Lahore, near the Sheikhupura Fort, which also dates from the early 17th century. Both sites are accessible from Lahore via the M2 Motorway, which connects Lahore to Islamabad.
Hiran Minar was built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in a hunting reserve used by the Mughal royals. The reserve was built in a scrub forest, and allowed Mughal emperors to experience a sense of semi-wilderness near the imperial city of Lahore. The wild-reserve was used as a park where the royals could hunt for sport.
The minaret itself was built in 1606 C.E. as a monument to Emperor Jahangir's beloved pet antelope, Mansiraj ("lord of all animal beings"). The practice of building such tomb-markers over the skulls of game animals is an ancient Persian custom.
Emperor Jahangir like all Mughal rulers loved to hunt animals like antelope. Oddly enough Jahangir also had a special bond with an antelope he called Hansraj. Tragedy struck during one of his hunting exhibitions with some friends when he mistakenly killed his beloved antelope. Heartbroken by the loss, Jahangir constructed this 100 ft tall Hiran Minar to honor his pet antelope.
The complex consists of a Jahangir-era minaret next to a larger Shah Jahan-era complex.
The Jahangir-era minaret stands 30 meters tall, and was built in 1606 C.E. as a tomb marker for the emperor's pet antelope, Mansraj. The sides of the minar are inscribed with a eulogy to the antelope. The tower itself is circular and tapers at the top, which is flat, with a parapet wall. There are a total of 210 square holes on the outer surface of the minar, arranged at regular intervals (a total of 14 rows). A spiral staircase with 108 steps lines the inside of the minar (tower). Besides the staircase, there are 11 ascending rectangular arched openings provided for air and light. The minar is divided into six tiers of different heights. The base of each tier has projected molding and the lowest tire has an arched entrance opening . The exterior and interior of the tower have lime plaster, with some floral or lineal fresco paintings. The thick lime plaster applied over the surface of the lowest tier has been divided into decorative panels or arched niches and horizontal bands in high relief.
Hub AI
Hiran Minar AI simulator
(@Hiran Minar_simulator)
Hiran Minar
Hiran Minar (Urdu: ہرن مینار; lit. 'The Deer Tower') is an early 17th-century Mughal-era complex in Sheikhupura, in the Pakistani province of Punjab. It was built at the site of a game reserve in memory of Mughal Emperor Jahangir's beloved pet antelope, Mansraj (lit. 'Light of Mind'). The emperor is remembered for his fondness of nature, and the complex embodies the Mughal relationship between humans, pets and hunting.
The landmark was proclaimed protected under the Ancient Monuments Reservation Act, 1904 (Antiquities Act, 1975) in 1916. The Hiran Minar and Tank Sheikhupura are also on the Provisional List of UNESCO World Heritage.
The Hiran Minar is located in the city of Sheikhupura, about 40 kilometers northwest of Lahore, near the Sheikhupura Fort, which also dates from the early 17th century. Both sites are accessible from Lahore via the M2 Motorway, which connects Lahore to Islamabad.
Hiran Minar was built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in a hunting reserve used by the Mughal royals. The reserve was built in a scrub forest, and allowed Mughal emperors to experience a sense of semi-wilderness near the imperial city of Lahore. The wild-reserve was used as a park where the royals could hunt for sport.
The minaret itself was built in 1606 C.E. as a monument to Emperor Jahangir's beloved pet antelope, Mansiraj ("lord of all animal beings"). The practice of building such tomb-markers over the skulls of game animals is an ancient Persian custom.
Emperor Jahangir like all Mughal rulers loved to hunt animals like antelope. Oddly enough Jahangir also had a special bond with an antelope he called Hansraj. Tragedy struck during one of his hunting exhibitions with some friends when he mistakenly killed his beloved antelope. Heartbroken by the loss, Jahangir constructed this 100 ft tall Hiran Minar to honor his pet antelope.
The complex consists of a Jahangir-era minaret next to a larger Shah Jahan-era complex.
The Jahangir-era minaret stands 30 meters tall, and was built in 1606 C.E. as a tomb marker for the emperor's pet antelope, Mansraj. The sides of the minar are inscribed with a eulogy to the antelope. The tower itself is circular and tapers at the top, which is flat, with a parapet wall. There are a total of 210 square holes on the outer surface of the minar, arranged at regular intervals (a total of 14 rows). A spiral staircase with 108 steps lines the inside of the minar (tower). Besides the staircase, there are 11 ascending rectangular arched openings provided for air and light. The minar is divided into six tiers of different heights. The base of each tier has projected molding and the lowest tire has an arched entrance opening . The exterior and interior of the tower have lime plaster, with some floral or lineal fresco paintings. The thick lime plaster applied over the surface of the lowest tier has been divided into decorative panels or arched niches and horizontal bands in high relief.
Recent media