Sarai Kharbooza

Sarai Kharbuza is a caravanserai situated in Islamabad, Pakistan.^[1][2] The caravanserai is situated in a village of the same name, along the old Grand Trunk Road.^[1]

The caravanserai functioned as a resting place for a variety of travelers, including merchants, pilgrims, and officials.^[1]

The Gakhars, Persian immigrants who ruled the Potohar region from the 10th to the 16th century, are credited with building Sarai Kharbuza.^[1] The exact construction date is unknown, but such inns were typically spaced about every 20 kilometers along the Grand Trunk Road, established by Emperor Sher Shah Suri.^[1][3]

Mughal Emperor Jahangir documented his stay there in 1605 in his autobiography, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.^[1][4]

The structure, originally a square with each side measuring 400 feet, was built from bricks and sandstone.^[1] It included separate living quarters and courtyards for men and women, a mosque, a market, and a hamam (bathhouse).^[1] The primary courtyard featured a spring well for water supply.^[1]

The most significant remains of the hamam are a water heater and a round water tank constructed from small bricks, with an interior copper lining.^[1] The mosque within the complex has expanded over time, reflecting the area's population growth.^[1] The sarai's architecture, consisting of cells (khanahas), stalls, and storage spaces, catered to the diverse needs of its travelers.^[1]

The layout of the sarai includes separate living quarters and courtyards for men and women, a mosque, a market, and a hamam (bathhouse), with a spring well in the main courtyard for water.^[1] The hamam's remains include a water heater with a copper-lined tank.^[1] The mosque, initially a small part of the complex, has expanded due to the area's growing population.^[1]

Architecturally, Sarai Kharbuza is square, each side measuring about 400 feet, and constructed with bricks and sandstone.^[1] It comprises a series of cells (khanahas), stalls, and storage spaces to accommodate travelers.^[1]