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Field guides / Punjab / Hiran Minar & Tank
Field guide · Heritage
A Mughal-era minaret and octagonal pavilion rising from a large water tank near Sheikhupura, built by Emperor Jahangir as a memorial to his pet antelope.
Hiran Minar is one of Mughal India's more unusual monuments: a tall minaret and an octagonal water pavilion rising from a large tank near Sheikhupura, built by Emperor Jahangir as a memorial to Mansraj, his favourite pet antelope. The surrounding hunting reserve once stretched for miles; today the tank and pavilion remain a quiet, photogenic stop.
Why go
The story behind Hiran Minar, an emperor commemorating a favourite animal with a minaret and a private hunting reserve, is one of the more idiosyncratic footnotes in Mughal architectural history, and it's part of what makes the site worth the detour from Lahore.
A worthwhile half-day add-on to a Lahore itinerary, use Plan a trip to pair it with nearby Punjab heritage stops.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March; the tank's reflections are best in calm, clear conditions.
Getting there, About 45 minutes from Lahore, near Sheikhupura.
Allow, 1-1.5 hours.
Straight-line distance from Hiran Minar & Tank, within 30 km.
