LAHORE: The Punjab archeology department, in collaboration with University of Engineering and Technology students and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan, carried out restoration and conservation of a Mughal era monument known as Buddu’s tomb, officials told Dawn.

The structure situated on the right side of the GT Road in front of the UET’s Gate No-3 is said to be tomb of Buddu, a brick manufacturer during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58).

It is considered an important Mughal era monument because of its architecture which has beautiful enameled tiles in dazzling colours.

According to historians, Buddu was a potter who lived during Shahjahan's reign. Buddu's father, Suddu had a flourishing kiln trade during the reign of Jahangir. He supplies bricks for important structures and palaces built in Lahore and other cities by the royal family.

Archeology department officials told Dawn that under the joint venture with UET students the masonry deterioration had been treated at many places in the tomb. Plaster work had also been put in place where it was required. They said urgent and necessary restoration and conservation of the tomb had been carried out, while its overall structure is in good condition.

The UET architecture department students, the officials said, had contributed a lot to the project from documentation of the monument to keeping record of the historical asset before and after the conservation.

The students made drawings of the monument, besides documenting it through photographs.

The tomb having one arched opening on each side, is surmounted by a low-pitched dome, carried by a high cylindrical drum over an octagonal base.

The exterior of the building is paneled and finished with plaster. The dome carried quenches decorated with enameled tiles in blue, yellow, white, green and light chocolate colours laid in zigzag pattern.

Some historians also attribute the tomb to the wife of Khan-i-Duran Nusrat Jang who was an important noble in the court of Shah Jahan. He died in 1643 and was also said to be buried in the tomb alongside his wife.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2014