Shahi Hamam near Delhi Gate
Shahi Hamam also known as Wazir Khan Hamam was built by WazirKhanin 1633 A.D. who lived during the era of Shah Jehan. His real name was Sheikh Ilmmudin Ansari, and he belonged to Chiniot. The Hamam was built for Jahangirâs Queen so that she and her family could have steam and hot baths.
The Hamam had 21 rooms, eight with marble pools were used for fresh water baths, other eight were for hot water baths, while five rooms were steam baths which were built on the style of Turkish baths. The walls and roofs had exquisite floral paintings, while the roof centers had natural light openings. Along the sides water ran in cascading fashion in specially designed sitting areas. There were special rooms where the bathers would lavish themselves and servants would scrub and oil them to enhance their beauty. On one side the water would pass through a series of revolving brass pipes, under which log fires would heat them. A portion of the water also flowed towards another sets of brass pipes, under which fires would convert them into steam.
The Hamam had a special âfemale sectionsâ which also had similar facilities, managed by special female staff. The heating chambers and the water pumping section were destroyed in the initial days of Sikh rule. The British did not bother much to redeem them. Instead, they fitted in the bathing and swimming pools to convert them into living quarters. The Hamam was neglected and left to be ruined after the fall of the Mughal Empire.
