Nakodar residents seek approach road to 400-year-old Dakhni Sarai

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun carrying out the conservation and restoration work at Dakhni Sarai, a 400-year-old historical site and roadside inn falling in the periphery of Nakodar town, that was constructed for travellers during the Mughal era.

ASI employee Jasbir Singh said, “The restoration work of four wells will be undertaken. One well is inside the ‘sarai’ in front of mosque and three wells fall outside it. Two parking platforms are under construction in front of the Lahori Gate of the quadrangular monument for tourists to park their vehicles. A parapet wall on the left side is also being re-constructed.” However, locals say that the conservation and restoration are not the only issues as a bigger issue was the need to construct a new approach road. They say the tourists and locals face difficulties in approaching the ‘sarai’. “We have repeatedly reminded the state government about the issue, but the authorities have failed to construct an approach road,” they said. “This ‘sarai’ is the pride of our area. The ASI is doing its bit by starting the maintenance of its original structure. Now, the Punjab Government should construct an approach road at the earliest so that the ‘sarai’ could be developed as a tourist spot.”

Former president of Nakodar Nagar Council Aditiya Bhatara says the ‘sarai’, which is of national importance, is the main tourism attraction of the town.

Situated on the old GT Road connecting Agra with Lahore, Dakhni Sarai is among the 30 listed monuments and archaeological sites of national importance in Punjab. It is one of the finest and the best-preserved specimen of Mughal ‘sarais’ built along the old highway. It stands on the outskirts of Mallian Kalan village on the Nakodar-Kapurthala road, around 12 km from Nakodar town.

The sarai is learnt to have been built by well-known Mughal noble Ali Mardan during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1640 AD. It had 30 rooms on each side for the travellers to take rest. There also is a mosque inside the building crowned with three domes and having a minaret on each side.

Nakodar SDM Lal Vishwas said, “Requisite action will be taken at the earliest to dislodge illegal occupations, if any. Simultaneously, the higher authorities will be reached out to explore possibilities to provide for a better access to the ancient monument.”