There has been no renovation of the mosque for the last four decades. The red stone of the floor is deteriorating because it has completed its age that is said to be around 50 years.
The mosque was last renovated between 1939 and 1960 at a cost of Rs4.8 million. It had been used by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to store military supplies. However, it was restored to Muslims by the British government in 1856. It was under the control of Anjuman-i-Islamia after 1869.
The Auqaf department has sent a Rs36 million draft proposal to the finance department for renovation of the mosque. It proposes to replace the floor with red-sand slabs that have been lying in the mosque complex for over two decades. The slabs were imported from India for repairing other monuments in the province.
A senior Auqaf official said that the money would also be spent on improving the mosque’s sewerage system. He said lime mortar would be used beneath the red stone to prepare a proper slope for efficient drainage of rain water. The money is expected to be released in the next budget.
The federal archaeology department architects, however, claimed that red-sand stone became too hot in the summer season, making it difficult for the people to walk on it. They suggested that the government should replace the red-sand stone with white marble or brick edge.
When contacted, Punjab archaeology director Shahbaz Khan said that some 30 per cent of the red stone needed to be replaced. He said the department would not have to purchase the stone as it was already available. However, he said, red stone was being used to maintain the mosque’s original form.
The material used in the mosque was originally collected by Dara Shikoh for the construction of a spacious mausoleum over the grave of Mian Mir, his spiritual mentor, but before he could do so, he met his death at the hands of his crafty brother, Aurangzeb, who confiscated the material and used it to build the mosque bearing his name.
Badshahi Mosque was built by Fidai Khan, a foster-brother of Aurangzeb, in 1673. The mosque, an imitation of the mosque of Al Walid in Mecca, was built at a cost of Rs600,000.
The facade of the archway measures 66 feet and 10 inches. The courtyard measures 530 feet from north to south and 527 feet from east to west.
To the west of the courtyard, is the mosque itself, the roof of which is surmounted by three domes of white marble crowned with pinnacles of richly-guilt brass. Under the domes is the principal hall, which has several arched entrances, facing the east. Beyond it, there is another hall with arched entrances.
Towards the western extremity in the compartment beneath the central dome, is a handsome niche pointing towards Mecca.
Each corner of the quadrangle has a minaret of red stone, each of which stands 143 feet six inches tall. Access to the top is through a flight of narrow steps, built of red-sand stone. On these towers, Sher Singh had posted his matchlock men during a siege of the citadel in 1841. The besieged Dogars were supporting Maharani Chand Kaur, widow of Kharak Singh.
