Fakir Khana facts for kids
| فقیر خانہ (Urdu) | |
 Museum entrance
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| Established | 1901 (as a public museum) |
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| Location | Lahore's Walled City, Hakimaan Bazaar, near Bhati Gate, Lahore |
| Type | Private museum and house |
| Collection size | Over 20,000 objects |
| Owner | Fakir family |
Fakir Khana (which means "Fakir's House" in Urdu) is a special private museum and home in Lahore, Pakistan. It belongs to the Fakir family. This amazing place holds more than 20,000 old and interesting items. It's actually the biggest private museum in all of South Asia!
Contents
Where is Fakir Khana Located?
The museum is found inside Lahore's historic Walled City. You can find it along a street called Hakimaan Bazaar. It's very close to the Bhati Gate. Bhati Gate is one of the 13 famous old gates of the Walled City.
The Fakir Family's History
How the Family Started in Lahore
The Fakir family first came to Lahore around the year 1730. They started a business that printed books and other materials. They became very important in Lahore society. This was because they had strong connections to the Sikh Empire.
Family Members and Their Roles
Three important ancestors of the family were Fakir Nooruddin, Fakir Azizuddin, and Fakir Imamuddin. These three men worked as special representatives for Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was a very powerful ruler of the Sikh Empire.
Opening the Museum to the Public
The family collected many valuable items over the years. Many of these items were gifts from Maharaja Ranjit Singh himself. In 1901, the family decided to open their home as a museum. This allowed the public to come and see their amazing collection. The museum even gets some money from the government to help keep it running.
What's Inside the Collection?
Art and Old Objects
The Fakir Khana museum has about 20,000 pieces of art and other old objects. Most of these items are from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. There is also a small group of very old items from the Gandhara period.
Special Gifts and Paintings
The collection includes many gifts that Maharaja Ranjit Singh gave to the Fakir family. There are also 10,000 old handwritten books and documents. You can see 180 small, detailed paintings called miniatures. The museum also displays old fabrics from the Sikh era. There are statues, pottery, and beautiful pieces carved from ivory.
The Amazing Single-Hair Painting
One truly special item is a painting of Nawab Mumtaz Ali. This painting is about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide. What makes it incredible is that it was painted using only a single strand of hair! It took 15 years to finish this tiny, detailed artwork.
The Museum House Itself
A Glimpse into Old Lahore Life
The house where the museum is located is very interesting on its own. It shows what life was like for wealthy families in Lahore. This includes how they lived during the Sikh and British times.
Original Owner of the House
This historic house was first owned by Raja Todar Mal. He was a very important finance minister. He worked for the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
