Type: Monument - Sarai
Province: Azad Jammu and Kashmir
District: Bhimber
Period: Historic
Relative Chronology: 1526 - 1857 CE
Description: The Sarai is located 3.5 km to the southeast of Samahni tehsil headquarter on Sarai Saadabad Road. To the south of the Sarai passes the main road which connects Bhimber to Samahni. This Sarai is constructed with orientation from north-west to the south-east. It is rectangular in plan and single storeyed. It is enclosed with battlemented walls, can be classified into three portions. The main building of the fort is having octagonal bastions, at each corner, measuring 0.6 m at each side. The north-eastern wall further extends, in addition to the main Sarai complex. The Sarai has two impressive gateways, standing in the eastern and western walls. At the entrances, guardrooms have been provided. The main building in the Sarai measures 50 by 50 m, with a large recessed arched gateway, constructed with bricks laid in lime mortar. The courtyard is surrounded by cells, 13 rooms on northern and southern sides, and 12 on the eastern and western sides. Each room measures 3.04 x 3.04 m, having recessed arch without veranda. Whereas the corner cell of the fort is larger in size. These cells have no ventilators and staircases were provided to approach to the roof. The parapet of the Sarai is provided with false merlons, with loopholes in the center. The western gate has raised platform, and minarets are erected at the top of the entrance, decorated with lotus flowers.
Latitude: 33.073915889
Longitude: 74.164520194
Ownership: Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Legal Status: Protected by Azad Jammu & Kashmir Preservation and Protection of Antiquities Act, 1986
Title of Publication: Threat to the Cultural Heritage of Pakistan Survey and Documentation of Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
Published In: Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 2020
Year of Publication: 2020
Bibliography/Reference: Khan, Ashraf, Ghani-ur-Rahman
