GT Road Community

Distance marking pillars were built in India as early as the Mauryan period. A pillar at every 10 stadia (1.85 kilometers) to show the by-roads and distances are referred to by Megasthenes, the Greek official in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. Ibn Batuta mentions three towers or pavilions at every third of a kuroh (or farsakh-Persian unit of distance, approximately 5-6.5 kilometeres). These towers can be considered the distance-markers of the period. This image shows a Kos Minar (distance marker) from 17th century, located in Chhata, Uttar Pradesh. Documented by CA&A, AIIS in March 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant. #gtroad #kosminar #grandtrunkroad

Detailed view of tilework on the Tomb of Haji Jamal/Shagird, Nakodar, Punjab built in 1656-57 CE during the reign of Shah Jahan.

Documented by CA&A, AIIS in June 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.

Detailed view of tilework on the Tomb of Haji Jamal/Shagird, Nakodar, Punjab built in 1656-57 CE during the reign of Shah Jahan. Documented by CA&A, AIIS in June 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant. #mughalarchitecture #gtroad #punjab #tombarchitecture

Tomb of Muhammad Mumin al-Husayni, Nakodar, Punjab built in 1612-1613 CE, during the reign of Jahangir.

Documented by CA&A, AIIS in June 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.

Detailed view of tilework on the Tomb of Muhammad Mumin al-Husayni, Nakodar, Punjab built in 1612-1613 CE, during the reign of Jahangir. Documented by CA&A, AIIS in June 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant. #mughalarchitecture #gtroad #punjab #tombarchitecture

(2/4) Connecting Communities to GT Road Heritage

CA&A-AIIS hosted an oral history session on 19th February at Chhata, Uttar Pradesh as well to encourage local residents to share their memories and stories about regional heritage sites. This session aimed to preserve community knowledge and capture the lived experiences of those connected to the Grand Trunk Road. They reflected on their relationship with these spaces and how they had evolved over time. These narratives provided valuable insights into the social and cultural history of the sites, highlighting the sarai’s role not only as a historical monument but also as a place of refuge, transition, and community life.

Vandana Sinha, Director, CA&A and AFCP Project Head and Research Assistant Anumodita Patel interacting with the residents of the Sarai.

(1/3) Connecting Communities to GT Road Heritage

CA&A-AIIS hosted a photo exhibition at Chhata, Uttar Pradesh on 19th February 2025, showcasing exhibition panels that traced the evolving landscape of the GT Road. The displays included maps, contemporary photographs, and visual documentation of Mughal sarais, kos minars, gardens, bridges, and other historic infrastructure. The exhibitions highlighted not only the historicity of this route but also the impact of urbanization and neglect on these monuments. Visitors joined guided walkthroughs led by Vandana Sinha, Director, CA&A and AFCP Project Head and Stuti Gandhi, Senior Research Associate at CA&A. The exhibitions also offered a virtual reality experience, immersing participants in recreations of significant structures such as baolis and tombs, providing a deeper and more engaging experience of these heritage monuments.

Kafur's Mosque and Stone Horse, Sikandra

Located to the south of the Delhi-Mathura highway, it is a three-arched mosque topped with a dome. There is a Persian inscription carved in relief on the three panels above the arches of the mosque. It records that Itibar Khan, a noble under Jahangir, constructed the mosque for the Sufi saint Khwaja Kafur on the road from Agra to Delhi in 1015 AH or 1605 CE.
Along with the mosque, few living rooms and a well were also constructed behind it, which do not exist anymore.
The stone horse, which is a replica of his pet horse, is kept on the platform to the northeast of the mosque. The statue was originally found near a railway line just behind the present boundary and it was transferred to its present place in 1922 CE.

Image 1: View of Kafur's mosque
Image 2: Persian inscription on the mosque
Image 3: Kafur's tomb
Image 4: Stone horse

Documented by CA&A, AIIS in March 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.

Details of Sarai Nurmahal, Punjab-
Constructed between 1618 and 1621 CE on Nur Jahan Begum’s orders during the reign of Jahangir.

Image 1-3: Carvings on the western gateway depicting elephant riders, lion-elephant fight, rhinoceros, winged elephant.

Image 4: Inscription on the upper part of the western gateway.

Image 5: Inscription on the lower part of the western gateway reads:
“Taking payment from travellers is forbidden, the Nawab Zakariya Khan, Bahadur, Governor of the district, having exempted them. Should any faujdar of the Doab collect these dues, may his wives be divorced.”

Documented by CA&A, AIIS in June 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.

(2/2) Details of Akbar’s Tomb Complex, Sikandra, Agra

Image 1: Stone Inlay work on the Southern gateway to the tomb
Image 2: Jali work on the entrance of the tomb
Image 3: Painting on the entrance of the main burial chamber
Image 4: Painting on the ceiling of the Western gateway
Image 5: Chini-khana panel carving on the Western gateway

Image 1,2 are documented by CA&A, AIIS in March 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.

Raja Taal, Punjab

Raja Taal is a small village near the Indo-Pakistan border, approximately 24 kms from Lahore. Literally translating to "the king's reservoir", this tank was patronized by Todar Mal, the diwan (finance minister) during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar. The structure of the tank is in a dilapidated state, the reservoir is now dry and used as wheat field.

A mosque situated inside the village stands on a 3.6 m high platform with cells in it, which may have served as the residence of the Imam or as a small madrasa. The facade of the mosque is divided into panels filled with mosaics of yellow, green, blue, violet, white and orange tiles, depicting vase and flowering motifs.

Image 1 & 2: Mosque in Raja Taal
Image 3: View of cells in the mosque (Documented by CA&A, AIIS in 2009)
Image 4 & 5: Steps of the tank

Documented by CA&A, AIIS in February 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.

The Agra-Lahore Highway had a number of rivers and streams obstructing the way. These were to be crossed by bridges of boats or more frequently, ferries and only small streams were crossed through masonry bridges. Some of these masonry bridges still survive on the Grand Trunk Road.

Image 1: Mughal Bridge in Dakhni, Punjab.
Image 2: Mughal Bridge in Thanesar, Haryana.

Documented by CA&A, AIIS in February-June 2024, supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant.