LAHORE: One of the most beautiful mosques of Lahore, Maryam Zamani Mosque, built in 1611-14 for emperor Jahangir’s mother Maryam Zamani, is undergoing conservation and restoration.

According to Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) officials, work will complete in 2022 with a cost of Rs120 million. The work on the project started in 2020.

The mosque is in a deplorable state: the front of the sanctuary has almost turned black with dirt. It is without any decoration of note. The facade is divided into various rectangular recesses of varying sizes; it is hidden under the layer of whitewash.

The whole interior of the sanctuary is covered with the ornament and so are four recessed arched niches and mehrab in the western wall. The traces of fresco are found at the inner surface of all four towers of the mosque as well. The stucco work of this mosque is reminiscent of that in the mosque of Wazir khan.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari told Dawn the project includes the restoration and reopening of Akbari Gate and forecourt to reestablish a direct connection between the fort and the eastern sectors of the Walled City via the Shahi Guzargah (Royal Trail). The project will create a new square and public concourse area between the Akbari Gate and Maryam Zamani Mosque, free the mosque from encroachments, restore its exterior walls and interior, including its decorative façade and open courtyard and landscape the open area.

The mosque represents a transitional phase of architecture, and features both Mughal influences, and from the earlier Pashtun Lodi dynasty, which previously ruled the region. Short domes and wide arches represent the earlier Lodi style, while the mosque’s balconies, side rooms, and embellishment are in the Mughal style.

The structure of Maryam Zamani establishes a style which has been seen in subsequent Mughal mosques and buildings: a single rectangular aisle with the entrance of five bays. The mosque is exquisitely decorated with symbols of Islamic art and architecture. The walls are painted with intricate geometric and floral designs, with a repetitive pattern that has no beginning or end -- a metaphor for the presence of God.

The mosque features Lahore’s first five-bay prayer chamber that would later be typical of all later Mughal mosques, such as the Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque. The mosque’s central bay is in the style of the Persian Char Taq and is flanked by one smaller dome on either side.

The materials used in construction of the mosque are coarse Kankar lime, Kankar lime powder, white limestone, red sandstone, jute, marble powder mixed with lime putty, water, small smooth rounded pebbles and special size bricks in the construction of Begum Shahi Masjid. They also used fresco painting and fresco lining and Ghalib Kari in the ceiling of the arches.

According to WCLA officials, the Maryam Zamani Mosque’s condition before conservation was a failing structure, completely encroached upon and in need of urgent attention. The industrial use of the nearby Rim Market is incompatible with the historic context. The increase of traffic created by Rim Market is a barrier to pedestrians on the Royal Trail.

So far, the works done by the WCLA include consolidation of the structure of the mosque with focus on foundations, roofs and minaret, etc. In conjunction with structural consolidation, the repair of the building fabric such as external walls, internal walls, floors, stairs, roofs and domes.

The conservation and restoration of the ornamentation and surface decoration of the mosque in the interior as well as the exterior of the building (finishes such as tazakari, kashikari, and naqqashi), redesigning of ablution area, toilets, illumination of mosque, and fresco work.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2021