Chingus-Fort-Sarai-Where Mughal King Jahangir’s Intestines were Buried.
“Nigahen Neechay, Dil-e-ru-baru, Ba mulaiza hoshiyar, Zilay ilahi, Shehnahah-e-Hind diwan-e-khas mein tashreef la rahe hainn.”…………………………………………………………
The above was the valor in the life time of Jahangir……………….
Chingus Fort or Chingus Sarai, is one of the oldest fort that dates back to 16th century. The fort complex houses one of the two graves of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who died en-route from Kashmir to Delhi. Other one is in Lahore, Pakistan. In order to avoid succession war, Noor Jahan buried the intestine and other abdominal parts of the emperor in the premises of the Sarai to protect the body from decay.
Built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, this fort is also called “one night fort” as Mughals used it every year to stay for a single night while on their way to Kashmir.
This Fort is a reservoir of many great memories and a big lesson for the generation to learn that Death is ultimate and the mightiest reality in the world.
The Notice Board-Chingus Sarai
Gate Ways to Chingus Fort
Chingus Sarai
Chingus Mosque
Chingus Sarai-Grave
Chingus Sarai-Mosque and Grave
(All Internet Photos)
Chingus Sarai, near Rajouri, is built at the site where Empress Noor Jahan buried the intestines of her husband, Emperor Jahangir, to save the Mughal kingdom, writes Jupinderjit Singh.
It was built during Mughal Kingdom in India who used it during their annual entourage to Kashmir in summer season.
It is the tomb of a Mughal Emperor, built at a place where just one part of his body was buried. That too, an internal organ-Intestines.
Chingus Sarai, a unique relic of the Mughal era, lies 25 km short of Rajouri town and about 130 km from Jammu. It is situated on the Jammu-Rajouri highway, near the Tawi River.
The entrails of Emperor Jehangir are lying buried here in the very center of the Sarai
Jahangir is randomly reported to have visited Kashmir about 27 times and when he went to Kashmir for the last time, he fell ill. In view of the deterioration of his health, Empress Noor Jahan decided to carry him back to the capital Lahore. On the way back to Lahore, Emperor Jahangir breathed his last last in 1627 at Behramgala ( a village near Chandi Marh about 10 kilometers from Buffliaz, Tehsil Surankote Poonch).. Behramgala is an historical gorge with a lofty water-fall called Noori Chhamb named after Noor Jahan-the Empress. According to one view, Behram gala has been named after Baram Khan-the tutor of Akbar-the Great and Akbar is reported to have received his little education at this place.
Noori cham – named after Noor Jahan loving wife of emperor Jahangir .Noori Cham is about 1 mile away from Bufliaz area this area is blessed by a water fall. Jahangir had constructed a foot step for himself from where he used to enjoy the beauty and freshness of this waterfall for hours together .Richard Temple a famous tourist who happened to travel over this track in 1859 he writes that at a distance of 1 mile from Behram gala there is small but attractive spot where on an ancient rock some verses in an unknown language have been carved by king Jahangir after being impressed by the beauty of Noori Cham. At the very left side of Noori Cham there is a place made for a big mirror where Noor Jahan used to dress herself.
In another version, Noori Cham is also linked with a very painful story of Behram and Hassan Bano. Behram was one of the ministers of Jahangir and Hassan Bano was a beautiful servant of queen Noor Jahan. They both fell in love. Once Behram showed his will to marry Hassan Bano but Noor Jahan opposed it bitterly and thereafter, she further conspired his killing and threw his body inside the fall of Noori Cham. On hearing this Hassan Bano also embraced death and dead bodies of these two true lovers disappeared in the deep water of Noori Cham.
It is said that during 1627 when Jahangir along with his wife Noor Jahan and his caravan was returning from Kashmir, he felt ill at Chandimarghand. One day during his illness he ordered one of his servants to bring a deer for him. Keeping Jahangir’s order servant bought a deer and while bringing the deer down to base camp the servant slipped to death. On watching his death Jahangir suffered a severe heart attack and on 29 Oct. 1627, this painful incident become cause of his death at Thanna Mandi area
The dead body of the Emperor now was to be carried to Lahore for the last rites to be performed but because it was a to take a long time to reach and in the meantime there was every chance for the cadaver to release stench and smell, so the innards were removed from his body and buried in this Sarai which used to be used as a Transit Camp by Mughals.
There was some apprehension of some revolt for succession in Lahore; hence Noor Jahan did not want to disclose the secret of Emperor’s demise.
She placed the body of Emperor on the elephant inside a type of Palanquin called ‘Kajawa’ in the then language and the caravan set for Lahore.
The dead-body was placed on the elephant as if the Emperor were alive so news of his death could not reach others. The embalmed body of the king, dressed in his usual attire, was made to sit on an elephant in such a way that he appeared hale and hearty.
When the ‘Qafila’ reached Nowshehra, it is said that a girl from Jamwal, who was grazing the cattle on the wayside, all of a sudden came on the way and cried, “Oh! The King has passed away.”
It was a surprise for the Empress, because even most of the ministers and officers did not know about the death despite being within the Emperor’s cabinet. Noor Jahan took the girl aside and enquired of her as to how she knew about this top secret. The girl said, “I have listened to someone saying that not even a bee can dare to sit on the ‘Kajawa’ (Palanquin) of the Mughal Emperor but today I see that a bee is sitting on his Palanquin. I understood his Majesty is no more.” Noor Jahan was surprisingly happy over the wit and wisdom of this young girl and announced the exemption of the entire Jamwal Community of Nowshehra from all kinds of taxes.
Nearly four centuries after this historical act, the site came to be known as Chingus, which means intestines in Persian, The Sarai was otherwise a locked and abandoned historical monument that was in ruins.
This Fort or the Sarai (constructed in random rubbles, large marbles and lakhauri bricks) is divided into two portions-front area also called Shahi Khana or the Royal residence more spacious in expansion which is surrounded by 68 arc-rooms of about 8sqft size. While entering from the main gate to the north 15 rooms are situated on the right side and 12 rooms are on the left side. After stepping into the forte from the first main entrance, we get into a kind ante-chamber to Diwan-e-Khas where the Mughal Emperor used to relax into indolence with his Empress.
After transcending another gate, having two sentry-cabins on either side, one gets exposed to special residential area of the Emperor, surrounded by 41 more guard rooms/ marhs. These marhs or the guard rooms were meant for the royal army to stay and provide protection to the Emperor.
Some of the opinions are there in the annals of the history that these rooms were the ‘Stable rooms’ but this opinion does not appeal to the common sense. Let’s suppose that these rooms were used for the horses then we don’t have as such any other space available in or around the Sarai to accommodate army of the Emperor.
Hence, the horses could have been kept in the open but the army used to stay in these small spaces.
On the right side of the Royal apartment to the south of the Forte lies a small lodge of Emperor with a Hujra or Veiled Rest Room for the Empress exactly at the back of it where no one was allowed to visit excepting the Emperor or the Lady attendants of the Empress.
In front of this residential complex, there is situated a detailed Diwan-e-Aam with an Arch in the east, now converted into the gate, where the Emperor would deliver directions to his army or address his subjects or people in a gathering. The Sarai is decorated with a number of top-holes to the tune of about four hundred and thirty two in total visible around the top of the entire Gothic type structure.
In the middle of the main area inside the Serai is located the tomb where the Royal Entrails have been buried. The tomb is made up of marble and grilled all around. It happens to have been constructed in the corridor of a small-sized mosque, most probably meant for the emperor and some of the very specials to him to perform prayer etc. Standing eastward, on the left there is a small swimming pool for the Emperor and the Empress for use during summer.
Standing in front of the Royal Chamber of Diwan-e-Khas with the face towards north, about 45 degree on the left above the Central gate of the Forte, there is a small round-raised podium which is speculated to have been used by the announcer to announce the arrival of the Emperor with words like, ” Nigahen Neechay, Dil-e-ru-baru, ba mulaiza hoshiyar, Zilay ilahi, Shehnahah-e-Hind diwan-e-khas mein tashreef la rahe hainn.’
However, currently, this fort is in an untidy condition with broken walls and heaps of garbage all around. Due to ill maintenance, a cell on its northern side has collapsed.
Whist visiting Chingus, one can also visit Bafleaz, where, it is said, Alexander’s horse died.
Source:
Internet