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NOWSHERA, Aug 4: Residents here have appealed to the coalition government of Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to chalk out a comprehensive strategy for preservation of old buildings, especially Taj Building in Nowshera and other historical sites in the province.
“Built in 1920s, Taj Building is an architectural jewel on the Grand Trunk Road in Nowshera, which is facing an imminent threat from the construction of new shops,” said Mian Hamim Gul, a known architect, while talking to this correspondent here on Thursday.
He said that this building with an imposing structure had endured the ravages of time and lack of efforts by the authorities to preserve it. He said that the facade of the three-storey building was decorated with floral and vine patterns in intricate stucco.
About the internal beautification of the building, Mr Gul said that the sweeping round arched and numerous embellished columns of the building represented a blend of Roman, Gothic and Oriental architecture. The arched gateway on the side of the building with beautiful jharoka-styled (elevated window balcony) features leads into the main compound.
Mian Muzaffar Shah while talking to Dawn said that the building was constructed by Khan Bahadur Taj Mohammad Khan of Badrashi village, Nowshera. He was a famous colonial-era contractor and landlord whose father KB Abdul Hamid Khan had been in the service of the British Empire as well.
“Taj Mohammad was a wealthy man and particularly fond of racehorses. He used to travel extensively in India and had built several grand mansions for his own comfort. The present defence college building in New Delhi, India, was also his personal mansion,” he said.—Dawn Photo
