Shahi Hammam: A Royal Bathhouse inside Dehli Gate, Lahore

Shahi Hammam is situated on a busy street of the Walled City of Lahore, inside the iconic Dehli Gate. This Shahi Hammam showcases the extraordinary history and glory of Mughal empire. Shahi Hammam also known as the Royal Bathhouse was an architectural gem and treat to watch and depicts how sophisticated people were in that era. The Shahi Hammam was built in 1635 by Emperor Shah Jahan and governor of Lahore Wazir Khan, took care of the construction work and it served as a luxurious public bathhouse for travelers, traders, and locals.

The Hammam is inspired by the Persian style of architecture, it offered a space not only for bathing but also for relaxation and socialization. This Hammam is covering an area of approximately 1,000 square meters and designed to have multiple bathing chambers like
The Hot Bath Area also known as the garmkhana, this section has hot water pools and steam chambers. The heat was generated using an underground heating system that circulated hot air beneath the floors and walls.
The Cold Bath Area: This section provided cold water pools for refreshing baths after the steam or hot baths.

The Hammam’s layout was aesthetically designed and space was used very practically. The ceilings allowed natural light to illuminate the interiors, ventilation system ensured proper air circulation. Overall building was well decorated with different geometric colorful motifs on the walls and ceilings and it also includes birds' and flower painting as artwork. Over centuries, the artwork still looks great and thanks to restoration efforts that helped a lot to preserve this art work.

In the Mughal era, to enhance the bathing process the used a variety of natural ingredients. In these ingredients they used aromatic oils, herbal extracts, and flower essences. These ingredients were often added to the water to enhance the properties of water which created a refreshing and aromatic experience. The floors and walls of the Hammam were crafted using local cool materials like tiles and lime plaster etc.

Today, the Shahi Hammam functions as a museum and cultural heritage site, many local and international visitors can explore its chambers. The Walled City of Lahore Authority in collaboration with international organizations like the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, initiated extensive restoration projects to showcase the city’s history and rich cultural identity.

The Shahi Hammam is more than just a historical structure, it is a window into the glorious past of the Mughal Empire. This Hammam is situated inside Delhi Gate and is being restored to its former glory. The Shahi Hammam is open to the public seven days a week from 08:00 to 20:00. The ticket price is around 500 PKR for foreigners.