Located about 260 meters inside Delhi Gate and surrounded by the dense, organic urban fabric of the Walled City, the Wazir Khan Mosque Complex stands as its centerpiece. The ornate edifice reflects the urban design trends of the early seventeenth century. Today, the ensemble comprises the mosque itself, Wazir Khan Chowk, its eastern entrance through Chitta Gate, and several smaller monuments within the Chowk, including the Dinanath Well and the Shrine of the revered mystic Syed Suf.

The Tomb of Imam Gamun is situated on the southern side of the mosque. It is believed to be the final resting place of the first Imam (prayer leader) appointed to lead prayers following the mosque’s completion in 1634. This traditional brick masonry tomb covers an area of 387 square feet, with its surfaces finished in glazed lime plaster. Both the interior and exterior are decorated with khatkashi (incised line work) and fresco paintings, executed using techniques similar to those extensively employed in the ornamentation of the Wazir Khan Mosque. The tomb is accessed through a single entrance on the south side, marked by a traditional double-leaf wooden door.

The other three sides feature window openings adorned with terracotta jalis (screens). Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan (AKCS-P), supported by the US Ambassador’s Fund in collaboration with the Government of Punjab and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), began working on the sites surrounding the Wazir Khan Mosque in 2023. This undertaking involved the conservation of the Tomb of Imam Gamun, which was completed in 2024.

Conservation Approach and Strategy

The Tomb of Imam Gamun fell into obscurity following the Partition of the Subcontinent in 1947. It was later renovated in the 1960s by the Department of Archaeology of what was then West Pakistan, with additional interventions carried out in the early 2000s. By the time the WCLA and AKCS-P initiated conservation efforts in 2023, the building was obscured by encroachments and had suffered prolonged neglect. The Mutawallis (descendants and traditional caretakers of the tomb) had relocated their residences outside the jurisdiction of the WCLA, leaving the monument largely unattended.

The conservation strategy adopted by AKCS-P focused on uncovering the tomb’s authentic surfaces, documenting the structure and its surroundings, and investigating the original ground level:

• Revealing the Structure: When first encountered, the tomb of Imam Gamun was obscured by encroachments and subsumed within an early twentieth-century house. After the demolition of this later addition, the tomb was fully revealed. The project team then undertook a comprehensive cleaning of the interior and exterior surfaces to prepare the monument for subsequent conservation interventions.

• Documenting the Tomb: Once the site was cleared, comprehensive architectural and photographic documentation was undertaken. This process produced digital architectural drawings and photographic folios of the tomb, establishing a baseline record of its condition. At the same time, a detailed investigation of the surviving naqqashi was carried out, documenting and tracing the wall paintings and ornamental features that remained within the interior.

• Investigating the Original Ground Level: To determine the historic floor level and address structural concerns, three trenches were excavated around the tomb: The first trench, located on the southern side, revealed a later-added concrete floor beneath which only debris was discovered. Fragments of mud mortar and broken bricks were found at a depth of 50 centimeters, suggestive of earlier flooring, but no conclusive evidence of the original level was found.

The second trench was excavated on the northern side and extended six feet southwards. While this was also covered with concrete flooring and associated debris, traces of lime mortar among shattered brick tiles were also uncovered, confirming the presence of the historic ground level. Stratification revealed three distinct layers: a top layer of concrete flooring, a middle deposit of debris, and a lower layer of lime and brick.

The third trench, also on the northern side, produced similar stratification, but at a depth of approximately two feet, exposed an intact border of broken bricks. This provided clear evidence of earlier brick-and lime flooring. The excavation was extended across the northern area, successfully unearthing a substantial portion of the original floor level. It also uncovered a water feature with traces of historic fresco paintings along with a tharra (stage) adorned in a floral pattern finished in lime stucco. 

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture