Sarai Amanat Khan, Punjab
  • Sarai Amanat Khan, Punjab
  • Sarai Amanat Khan, Punjab
  • Sarai Amanat Khan, Punjab
Sarai Amanat Khan, Punjab

Sarai Amanat Khan is a monumental Mughal period caravan sarai located to the south-east of Amritsar, in a village by the same name, on the Tarantaran-Attari 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 which testifies the date of its construction. This square shaped sarai built around a large courtyard is known for its glazed tiles decorations. Use of glazed tiles was characteristic feature of Persian architecture and shows the Persian influence on medieval Indo-Islamic monuments. The sarai also features splendid gateways on eastern and western sides with floral arabesque designs rendered on the spandrels. The sarai had octagonal bastions at every corner covered with chatris only two of which on 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 colored tiles on its gateway. Though this monument has a protected status, at present the sarai is occupied by rural occupants who migrated here during Indo-Pak partition in 1947. Step wells or baolis provided a huge relief for the travelers and the mobile soldiers from the extreme summers of northern Indian region. Constructing baolis was also seen as an act of charity or religious devotion. The multistoried step well near the Western gateway of Sarai Amanat Khan has neither received the attention of scholars nor the care of archeological restorers. Medieval chroniclers have not mentioned about this baoli but the architectural splendor of this monument indicates the possibility of its patron being a prominent Muhgal noble. The façade of the two storied entrance gateway of this step well 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 Attari 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 molding.