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Pir Ghaib |
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| Southwest of Chauburji Masjid in the grounds
of Hindu Rao Hospital lies a rubble built double storey structure,
with the remains of a Baoli or step well. It is located in a
neighborhood popularly known as Pir Ghaib, which means 'Vanishing
Saint'. Built around 1630 AD by Feroz Shah Tughlaq as a part
of his either Kushk-i-Shikar (hunting lodge) or Kushk-i-Jahan
Numa (world showing palace), the monument is so called after
a saint who suddenly disappeared while meditating at the cenotaph
in the northern apartment of the monument. |
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| At present, the monument is in a deplorable condition
and is survived by two chambers and two rooms on the ground
floor as well as on the first floor. Some believe it was an
astronomical observatory because a hollow masonry cylinder perforates
the floor and the roof of the southern apartment of the monument.
However, its exact use is still not known, as it could also
have been a tower for viewing animals. It is said that the rooms
on the second floor were used as a mosque because one can find
mihrabs in the western wall with inscriptions above them but
now hardly visible. |
| Just near the monument are the remains of the
baoli, which was a part of the palace and was the source of
water for the area. The baoli does not exist today and one can
only imagine the baoli by seeing the impression on the ground
and a portion of arched construction in stone. Do visit the
monument as you may find the 'vanishing saint' and get lucky! |
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