Devil Soul
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2010
- Messages
- 22,931
- Reaction score
- 45
- Country
- Location
Walking through Rawalpindi's Bhabra Bazaar was a journey into a majestic past
SAIF TAHIRUPDATED 15 MINUTES AGO
The streets of Rawalpindi's Banni Chowk sights a chaos at one o'clock in the afternoon.
The area once identified for enticing edifices and captivating designs is now tarnished with unfettered traffic and illegal encroachment. Dingy streets and scruffy construction makes it tricky for outsiders to locate a place.
Setting course from Kartarpura market in downtown Rawalpindi, and passing through the flower and spice market, it took us half an hour to map out Saidpuri gate and get directions for Haveli Sujan Singh.
The neighbourhood was dotted with similar colonial galleries of colourful old houses.
A narrow, winding stair case leading up to a preserved haveli, which still has traces of its magnificent architecture from 1893.
Rawalpindi once had gates but they have perished with time. However, Saidpuri gate remains a memento. A bustling, small bazaar at start, the historic sheshon wali masjid bordering the striking-red haveli with colonial-styled balconies gives a riveting glimpse of the monumental past.
Once inside the gate, arrangement of narrow streets leads to early 19th century houses. Skillfully crafted wooden doors and corridors leading to enclosed yards, most of these British-era houses are two and three-storied with delicate interior, painted tiles and ceilings.
The narrow lanes of Sujan Singh haveli, which was one of the most well-renowned neighbourhoods of its time.
Narrow passageways with façades of old houses.
While one is awestruck by this architectural splendour, a narrow turn leads to a fairly spacious courtyard. There, one witnesses the enchanting façade of the Haveli Sujan Singh, a mesmerising structure of its time.
Once an astounding haveli, interior intricately adorned with gold, ivory and fine wood work, the wreck still accounts the alluring past, power, and prestige. Built in 1893 by a wealthy businessman, Rai Bahadur Sujan Singh, it is a key pull for history and architecture enthusiasts.
The striking colours of the ancient architecture are very picturesque.
The view of the old city from Sujan Singh haveliis spectacular in the evening.
With every step in the alley, ravished old houses unearth their beauty like a marvel in the sunshine.
We are finally in Bhabra Bazaar, the architecturally charismatic, and the wealthiest neighbourhoods of its time.
The locality now comprises of more than 18,000 people living in numerous havelis and houses.
Other attractions include the centuries-old imambargah Shah Chan Charagh and the Sarafa Bazaar, where one still observes the traditional practices of engraving and casting.
Walking through streets near Shah Chan Charagh, which is attached to the Sarafa bazaar.
Attending the celebrations on Thursday at Shah chan charagh.
The word ‘Bhabra’ derives from Sanskrit, indicating a merchant community belonging to Jain religion.
Bhabras were traders and goldsmiths working in today’s Sarafa Bazaar and Moti Bazaar. The affluence is replicated in their havelis and temples. The jharokhas (an overhanging enclosed balcony), carved balconies and decorated façades are its remnants.
Partition wreaked havoc to millions. Like Sikhs and Hindus of Rawalpindi, Bhabras had to leave their settlements in no time. However, like various neighbourhoods, the name endured after the migration of the community.
An intricately carved jharoka, where traders and goldsmiths used to live.
A decorated wooden door in Mohallah Bhabra.
Detailed carvings of an old, wooden door.
They were replaced by refugees from Ludhiana, Delhi, and Ferozepur who brought along their own culture. Today, Bhabra Bazaar can be termed as Little Ludhiana because of the large community of settlers from Ludhiana.
While roaming the streets of the old mohallah, one easily notices the Om symbols and the Jain greeting Jai Jinendra on many of the buildings.
Local resident Abdul Sattar, whose parents are from Ambala, recently furnished his old house.
To his surprise, he found out that Jai Jinendra was embossed right on the top of the gate. “I think that it’s our heritage and we should protect it,” he tells me.
The Jain greeting, Jai Janendra, written on the façade of a house. It is still preserved by residents out of respect for the heritage.
SAIF TAHIRUPDATED 15 MINUTES AGO
The streets of Rawalpindi's Banni Chowk sights a chaos at one o'clock in the afternoon.
The area once identified for enticing edifices and captivating designs is now tarnished with unfettered traffic and illegal encroachment. Dingy streets and scruffy construction makes it tricky for outsiders to locate a place.
Setting course from Kartarpura market in downtown Rawalpindi, and passing through the flower and spice market, it took us half an hour to map out Saidpuri gate and get directions for Haveli Sujan Singh.
The neighbourhood was dotted with similar colonial galleries of colourful old houses.
A narrow, winding stair case leading up to a preserved haveli, which still has traces of its magnificent architecture from 1893.
Rawalpindi once had gates but they have perished with time. However, Saidpuri gate remains a memento. A bustling, small bazaar at start, the historic sheshon wali masjid bordering the striking-red haveli with colonial-styled balconies gives a riveting glimpse of the monumental past.
Once inside the gate, arrangement of narrow streets leads to early 19th century houses. Skillfully crafted wooden doors and corridors leading to enclosed yards, most of these British-era houses are two and three-storied with delicate interior, painted tiles and ceilings.
The narrow lanes of Sujan Singh haveli, which was one of the most well-renowned neighbourhoods of its time.
Narrow passageways with façades of old houses.
While one is awestruck by this architectural splendour, a narrow turn leads to a fairly spacious courtyard. There, one witnesses the enchanting façade of the Haveli Sujan Singh, a mesmerising structure of its time.
Once an astounding haveli, interior intricately adorned with gold, ivory and fine wood work, the wreck still accounts the alluring past, power, and prestige. Built in 1893 by a wealthy businessman, Rai Bahadur Sujan Singh, it is a key pull for history and architecture enthusiasts.
The striking colours of the ancient architecture are very picturesque.
The view of the old city from Sujan Singh haveliis spectacular in the evening.
With every step in the alley, ravished old houses unearth their beauty like a marvel in the sunshine.
We are finally in Bhabra Bazaar, the architecturally charismatic, and the wealthiest neighbourhoods of its time.
The locality now comprises of more than 18,000 people living in numerous havelis and houses.
Other attractions include the centuries-old imambargah Shah Chan Charagh and the Sarafa Bazaar, where one still observes the traditional practices of engraving and casting.
Walking through streets near Shah Chan Charagh, which is attached to the Sarafa bazaar.
Attending the celebrations on Thursday at Shah chan charagh.
The word ‘Bhabra’ derives from Sanskrit, indicating a merchant community belonging to Jain religion.
Bhabras were traders and goldsmiths working in today’s Sarafa Bazaar and Moti Bazaar. The affluence is replicated in their havelis and temples. The jharokhas (an overhanging enclosed balcony), carved balconies and decorated façades are its remnants.
Partition wreaked havoc to millions. Like Sikhs and Hindus of Rawalpindi, Bhabras had to leave their settlements in no time. However, like various neighbourhoods, the name endured after the migration of the community.
An intricately carved jharoka, where traders and goldsmiths used to live.
A decorated wooden door in Mohallah Bhabra.
Detailed carvings of an old, wooden door.
They were replaced by refugees from Ludhiana, Delhi, and Ferozepur who brought along their own culture. Today, Bhabra Bazaar can be termed as Little Ludhiana because of the large community of settlers from Ludhiana.
While roaming the streets of the old mohallah, one easily notices the Om symbols and the Jain greeting Jai Jinendra on many of the buildings.
Local resident Abdul Sattar, whose parents are from Ambala, recently furnished his old house.
To his surprise, he found out that Jai Jinendra was embossed right on the top of the gate. “I think that it’s our heritage and we should protect it,” he tells me.
The Jain greeting, Jai Janendra, written on the façade of a house. It is still preserved by residents out of respect for the heritage.
