LAHORE, March 8: The Punjab Archeology Department seeks the approval of a Rs5 million plan to rehabilitate Anarkali Tomb as its exterior fabric is crumbling fast, Dawn has learnt.

The government had made a committee, consisted of archeologists, an architect, and a National College of Arts professor, to study the Anarkali Tomb and plan its restoration. The proposal will be submitted to Chief Secretary Nasir Mahmood Khosa.

The tomb is known the resting place of Nadara Begum or Sharfun Nisa, who was brought up in Emperor Akbar’s haram. Legend has it the poor girl was executed for her alleged amorous folly in 1599 AD. Six years later, when Prince Saleem built the monument in the memory of his beloved.

The mausoleum which stands within the enclosure of the Punjab Civil Secretariat, was completed in 1615 AD, it underwent so many changes from time to time that it has lost all its original decorations. In 1891 A.D., it was converted into Punjab Records Office and still serves the same purpose.

The marble cenotaph is elaborately carved with delicate floral and tendril designs, though the lines of carvings are not sharp. The calligraphy is in Nastaliq, bodily carved, but it lacks the uniformity of pen. On the top and three sides are inscribed 99 attributes of God. Besides, there is a hemistich on each side of the cenotaph.

The other two inscriptions bear the date of death (of Anarkali) both in figures and words as 1599 AD and the date of the construction of the tomb as 1615 AD.

The building octagonal in plan with alternate sides measuring 44' and 30' 4" stands on an octagonal platform 163 long. On each corner, there is a domed octagonal tower, and in the centre, a huge dome on high cylindrical neck. The notable feature of the tomb is its huge massive structure with upper story gallery and bold outlines. It is one of the earliest existing examples of double domed structure in Pakistan. The lower shell of the dome is constructed in small bricks in five stages or rings, marking a stage in the evolution of properly a radiated lower dome, completed finally in the Taj at Agra.