INTRODUCTION
A mosque known as Mai Qamru Masjid was constructed by engraving a nearby mountain rock. The ancient Gakhar mosque, Mai Qamru Masjid is situated in Bagh Jogian, across from Pharwala Fort, the remains of this masjid can be seen today. The masjid offers a stunning view of the fort.
LOCATION
This mosque is located close to the right bank of the Sohan River, west of the Bagh Jogian settlement, and faces the stronghold of Pharwala on the left side.
Pharwala Qila, a fort, is located 30 kilometers northeast of Islamabad. The Gakhar village known as Bagh Jogian is located south of the fort, on the left bank of the Sohan River.
STRUCTURE
A remarkable example of Ghakkar architecture is the Mai Qamro mosque. Constructed with a rectangular layout, it is topped with three little domes. The mosque’s two other domes are in relatively decent shape, however, the southern dome has collapsed. Its three arched doorways are what makes it famous.
Two recessed arches surround the central entry, adding to the building’s remarkable beauty. A lovely cut-brick decoration may be found above the arched entryway. Nowhere else in Pothohar can one find such ornamentation. This mosque was built with dressed stone. It was once plastered with the mosque’s exterior still bears evidence of this.
CURRENT SITUATION
A portion of the masjid’s perimeter wall is still standing the test of time. The barrier to the north still exists. There are also evident remains of the eastern and southern walls. The mosque, which the people have converted into a barn for storage, is in terrible shape. Haystack bags can be found all over the mosque’s courtyard. There are gaps in the mosque’s western and northern walls. The southern arched entryway is likewise in disrepair.
HISTORY
The magnificent mosque was constructed in the 17th century AD by Nirwan Hamad Khan, also known as Hathi Khan, the Gakhar family’s monarch, in honor of his Begum.
This masjid, which stands directly in front of the Pharwala fort, is a firsthand account of the events that occurred surrounding the Gakhar dynasty’s rise and collapse, the brother-in-law’s adversary, the young men who died in rebellion, war and conflict, murder, and devastation.
It is neglected these days, and people are afraid that new communities will destroy it. The shrines of the Gakhar nation’s martyrs, as well as those of their heroic rulers, heirs, and families, who gave their lives for Islam and their beloved homeland, are located on the masjid’s grounds.
The final emperor of the Gakhar dynasty, Sultan Muqarrab Khan, is buried in a hexagon-shaped tomb at Bagh Jogian, just a short distance from the garden gate of Pharwala Fort. who, though still the most powerful sultan of the Gakhar dynasty in Pothohar, has a barely maintained tomb today. Another point of dispute around Sultan Muqarrab’s tomb was that, like a Hindu or Sikh samadhi, the architecture of the 18th century is precisely like that of Sultan Muqarrab’s tomb. Even those who explored for priceless treasures showed little regard for the tomb’s sacredness and seriously damaged both the interior decor and the tomb itself.
The Gakhar’s remains were severely damaged during the Sikh conquering, to the point that there is no history or record of the Gakhar during the Sikh era. It is possible that at this period the Bagh Jogians went through their worst moment and the Sikhs brutally killed the Ghakhas.
The remains of Gakhar cities, which the Sikhs demolished in the late eighteenth century, are mentioned by Mount Stewart Elphinstone in his book “Kingdom of Kabul”.
The Sikhs killed thousands of people at this time, and many others fled to far-off places to escape for their lives. Anand Singh Thiporia, the renowned Malla Singh Thiporia’s grandson, later conquered the whole area under Ranjit Singh’s rule and brought his countrymen to poverty and utter starvation.
These gardens provided the British with a superb and appealing hunting area during their rule. In the past, British army officers would mostly come here for camping and hunting. The Awan tribe, came to this area to provide labor during British control, and now there is a minor Awan population.
CONCLUSION
Mai Qamro, the wife of Hathi Khan Ghakkar, is thought to have constructed the mosque. The Ghakkar dynasty was one in which women had prominent and powerful roles. Although there is a lot of promise for tourism here, there is currently little protection, so guests should exercise caution. The Mai Qamro masjid at Bagh Jogian is one of the most notable of the several old, decaying buildings around Islamabad.