Located near Fatehgarh Sahib and Sirhind in Punjab, the Aam Khas Bagh bears the historic stamp of three famous Mughal emperors. Today it can be seen as a monument which showcases traces of Mughal architecture, as it has not been preserved well. It was initially built by the first Mughal emperor of India, Akbar, as a highway-inn getaway which can be used by common people as well as the royalty during travelling to Lahore from Delhi. After Akbar, it was rebuilt by Shah Jahan, another Mughal emperor along with the Mughal military road stretching between Lahore and Delhi. The royal couple used this place as their stay halt while plying between Lahore and Delhi.
Later on, Jahangir also made some additions in this monument. The garden area stretching over one and a half mile was segregated into two parts - the Aam for public use and the Khas for private use by the Royalty.

As per history, the city of Sirhind, witnessed repeated wars between Mughals and Sikh forces 1708 AD, 1758 AD and 1768 Ad and thus, this garden went through excessive damage and its tanks & waterways got filled with earth.

History and Architecture

During the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, it was built and planned by the Mughal architect Hafiz Rakhna. He styled this place as "Bagh Naulaka". The Mughal emperors not only constructed the Aam-Khas Bagh but they also developed its hinterland to ensure a pleasant and comfortable stay for the visitors and Mughal royalties. Some of the rare plants from the Mughal era are still extant in this garden.

The Aam-Khas Bagh Complex

The Aam-Khas Bagh Complex was quite famous for its perfect air conditioning system which Mughals used to call "Sarad Khana". Along with air conditioning system, there existed Sheesh Mahal, Daulat khana-e-Khaas, the tank and the Hamam which possessed some unique methodology for heating the water. The palace compound was beautified with a wide array of fountains and waterfalls. Water for these was drawn from a nearly located huge well and this water was circulated through all the fountains with the help of undergrounds conduits.

But, today due to lack of much required upkeep has resulted in ruining of these buildings.

Monuments Around Aam Khas Bagh

Some monuments that are situated in the Aam Khas Bagh's vicinity subsume:

Sarad Khana

This monument was built extensively under the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir. It used to be an air conditioned chamber for which water was pulled out from the adjoining well through large pulleys and was made to pass through the water channels running all through the walls of this building. The circulation of water made this place cool and air conditioned. This water was also used for the waterfalls and fountains in the garden.

Sheesh Mahal

This beautiful monument was known for its astonishing architecture and it was also built on the orders of Jahangir, the Mughal emperor. The domes of this beautiful building were bedecked with glazed tiles, traces of which still exist today.

Shahi Hamam

This monument was constructed on the orders of Jahangir, the Mughal emperor. It was the channel of heated water where water was taken inside through some underground terracotta channels where a unique method for heating the water was applied.

The Tank

This tank was located marvelously between the quarters that were built for Mughal employees. There used to be a Mehtaabi Chabutra in the centre of this tank which has now fallen down.

Daulat Khana-e-Khaas

It was a double storeyed building, which was used by Shah Jahan, as his residence. It was one of the most beautiful buildings of that era. All the main walls and rooms of this building were festooned with some exclusive designs. The central hall of this building was quite big and its eastern walls had two tall minarets. The northern side possessed several tanks and fountains that added extensive value to the grandeur of this building.

Location

Aam Khas Bagh is located at a distance of about 53 Km from Chandigarh near Sirhind and Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab.

How to Reach

By Air

Chandigarh is the nearest airport to Sirhind. Once you reach Chandigarh airport, you can hire a taxi or can board a road transport / private bus to reach Sirhind. After reaching Sirhind, you can hire a taxi or auto rickshaw to reach the Bagh.

By Road

Sirhind is a popular city of Punjab and can be easily reached by private, deluxe or road transportation buses from various cities of Punjab like Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Bhatinda, Chandigarh and Delhi.

By Rail

Sirhind and Patiala are the nearest railway stations which are well connected with the other major cities of the country through direct and indirect trains