Monday 29 October 2012

Fort at village Islampura near Narnaul

There are several monuments which due to their remote locations stay completely off the radar of  our historic communities. Very few people know about them and hence their historic importance remains uncovered . I believe one such unknown monument is a fort situated in village Islampura, at around 17-18 Km from Narnaul city.

Fort at Islampura village

I came to know about this fort from local historian Sh. R.L.Saini. There isn't much written about this fort in the history books till now so who built it, when and why, are still unknown.

View from front

This square shaped fort is now situated in the fields between two villages- Islampur and Serolli. There is only one entrance to it. This fort has high walls, with bastions on each corner. Stairs are there on each wall for reaching the top. Inside the fort there are remains of what could have been rooms once.

Inside the fort

Stairs and ruins

From inside

About the fort:- This fort is situated in the fields of village Islampura.

About village Islampura:- Islampura is situated at around 17-18 Km from Narnaul city. It is situated on Nizampur- Nangal Choudhary route at approx 6-7 Km from Nizampur.

About Narnaul:- Narnaul is situated at a distance of 50 Km from Rewari City and 150 Km from both Delhi and Jaipur.

Co-ordinates of the monument :- 27°55’27.00” N  76°02’02.47” E

Baoli at Mukundpura village near Narnaul


Chhatris on the roof of  Baoli

This baoli (Stepwell) is situated in village Mukundpura near Narnaul City.It is believed to be at least 3-4 centuries old. 
Three levels of the Baoli
This baoli can be easily located through its four small Chhatris (dome shaped pavilions) on its rooftop.It has three stories and two of which are below the ground level. There are long and narrow corridors on  three sides of first and second levels.Remaining side is having stairs,leading all the way down to a small tank on the third level.
Baoli from inside

This small tank is connected to a well situated on the other side of the baoli through a small opening.
Lower level is connected to the well on the other side

well is connected to the tank through a small opening

This baoli is comparatively in much better condition than majority of its counterparts situated at various corners of the city. Let's just hope that it continues to remain so. 

I am thankful of my friend Kamesh for accompanying me there.

About this Baoli:- This Baoli is located at one end of the village. You can ask anyone in the village for directions.

About the village:- This village is situated at 7-8 Km from Narnaul City.There are several routes of reaching here. One such route is a small road on right side (through village Tehla) on Narnaul-Nangal Chaudhary road. It is second or third village on this route.

About Narnaul:- Narnaul city is part of district Mohindergarh and is situated at a distance of 150 Km from Delhi and Jaipur and at around 50 Km from Rewari city.

Co-ordinates of the Monument:- 27°59’12.31” N  76°04’42.88” E

Thursday 11 October 2012

Remains of a 17th century Serai, Narnaul

I believe that the thought of preserving a very old monument and converting it into a museum or tourist attraction is still an alien concept for us. What we like most is the philosophy of ugly modernization where we would demolish some old beautiful monument to make space for the construction of some not so attractive malls or for selling residential plots.

Situation gets even more worse when the monument gets demolished but no new building or mall is erected in its place. We end up losing one of our heritage piece and also fail to modernize our city. One such monument is (or perhaps use of  'was' is more suitable) situated in Narnaul city. 

Local people know it as Purani Kechari (Old Court). Built in 17th century during the reign of  Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan  it was actually a serai. It was known as Serai of Rai Mukund Das, named after the person who was believed to be a banker of the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan.

Entry gate of the Serai (Old Court)

This Serai was one of the few surviving landmarks of the struggle of 1857 in this area. In the first half of the battle of Nasibpur (16th November 1857), it was used by the local army as their base but during the second half, it became a boarding place for the armies of East India Company. Many field reports of that day(of company officers) would tell you how much struggling this battle was. Even the control over this sarai was not easy for the company army.

After the battle this whole region of Mahendragarh district became a part of the territory of Maharaja Patiala. This Serai then started its second journey as a court complex which continued for more than 120 years.

It is believed that the older sections were demolished completely in the beginning of previous decade to make space for erecting a modern shopping complex. A decade later, there are still no signs of that complex.

Court from inside

Remains of the serai

Another look at the ruins

I am not sure whether it was intentional or by mistake that the entry gate of the serai was left standing as it is. This grand gate and a Persian inscription near it, are the only remaining proofs of the grand past of this monument.

Inscription near the gate is still in good condition.


(As written in comments' section by Tarun Pant ji- Translation of this Persian Inscription includes the complete name of Shahjahan- Abul Muzaffar Shahbuddin Muhammad Sahab-e-qiraan Shahjahan Badshah Ghaazi. This inscription describes this building as a 'Karvaan Sarai')

If there are any mistakes in it or any part left untranslated, please do the favor of uploading the improved translation in comments section.

Source of information:- Local History Books
and  http://intach-haryana.org/newsletters/intachnewsletter2007.pdf

About Narnaul :- Narnaul city is situated at a distance of 50 Km from Rewari, 150 Km from Delhi and Jaipur..

About the monument :- This monument is known as Puraani Kechari among the local people. It is situated behind the Government Rest House (PWD rest house).

Co ordinates of the monument :- 28°02’58.36” N  76°06’26.25” E

Peer Turkman Dargah, Narnaul

Peer Turkman Dargah

Dargah of Peer Turkman is perhaps the oldest Islamic era monument of the region. It is believed that it was built during the late 13th Century. According to the local history books this Dargah was built in remembrance of Peer Turkman who died here during a battle with the local king.


Dargah from inside

Present Dargah was built around two centuries after the death of the Peer.It is believed that emperor Akbar too had visited this Dargah during his journeys through this area. 

Main complex of Dargah

Tomb of Ibrahim Shah Suri ( Grandfather of first Suri Dynasty ruler Sher Shah Suri ) is situated in the vicinity of dargah.
Tomb of  Ibrahim Shah Suri is situated next to the dargah

About Narnaul :- Narnaul is district headquarter of Mohindergarh District of State Haryana. it is situated at 50 Km from Rewari and 150 Km from Delhi and Jaipur.

About the Monument :- Dargah of Peer Turkman is situated in Mohalla Peer-aga. It is very near to Old Subji   Mandi (Azad Chowk). 

Co-ordinates of the Monument :- 28°02’26.77” N  76°06’07.90” E