Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
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ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਸਮਾਧੀ رنجیت سنگھ دی سمادھی | |
 The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh. | |
| Location | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Completion date | 1848 |
The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh (Punjabi: ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਸਮਾਧੀ/رنجیت سنگھ دی سمادھی) is a building housing the funerary urns of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 - 1839). It is located near the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque in Iqbal Park in Lahore, Pakistan which is one of the largest urban parks in Pakistan. Construction was started by his son, Kharak Singh on the spot where he was cremated, and was completed by his youngest son, Duleep Singh in 1848.
Overview
The building exemplifies Sikh architecture, it is gilded fluted domes and cupolas and an ornate balustrade round the top. The front of the doorway has images of Ganesh, Devi and Brahma, cut in red sand stone. The dome is decorated with Naga (serpent) hood designs, a rich and fitting tribute to Hindu craftsmanship.[1] The wood panels on the ceiling are covered with stained glass work and the walls have rich floral designs. The ceilings are decorated with glass mosaic work. Ranjit Singh's ashes are contained in a marble urn in the shape of a lotus, sheltered under a marble pavilion inlaid with pietra dura, in the centre of the tomb. Surrounding him, in smaller urns, are the ashes of four sati queens and seven concubines.[2]
Other monuments
Two small monuments to the west of the main building commemorate Ranjit Singh's son Maharaja Kharak Singh and grandson Nau Nihal Singh, and their wives.
Recent news
The funerary urns were removed from the marble pavilion and were replaced by a simple slab around 1999. This was done as part of the preparations for the Khalsa Tricentenary and the visit of Sikh dignitaries from India. The Samadhi was damaged by the earthquake in October 2005.
In May 2006, following concerns about the state of the samadhi, the Indian Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni, wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and expressed her concerns.[3]
See also
References
External links
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Coordinates: 31°35′21″N 74°18′41″E / 31.5893°N 74.3113°E