Umar Hayat Mahal — Attraction in Chiniot Tehsil

The Umer Hayat Mahal in Chiniot, Pakistan!

The Umer Hayat Mahal is a magnificent example of Mughal and Sikh architectural styles, built in the 19th century. It's a beautiful palace that showcases the rich cultural heritage of Chiniot.

The palace was built by Sheikh Umer Hayat, a wealthy merchant of Chiniot, and features intricate wooden carvings, ornate tile work, and stunning architecture.

The Umer Hayat Mahal is considered one of the most impressive and well-preserved examples of a traditional Punjabi mansion. It has been beautifully restored and now serves as a museum, showcasing the art, culture, and history of the region.

Sheikh Omar Hayat Vohra migrated from Chiniot to Calcutta in the late 19th century after being ostracised for marrying against his family's will. Large numbers of Chiniot's Sheikh tribe had settled in Calcutta during the British era.

Sheikh Omar's first son, Gulzar Vohra, was born in 1920, prompting Sheikh Omar's decision to return to his hometown,where he decided to construct a magnificent palace that would feature the best of Chiniot's craftsmanship.

Syed Hassan Shah was assigned the task of the mansion's construction. He gathered the best artisans from Chiniot, as well as from other places, who continued working for 10 ten years to complete the structure. Rahim Bakhsh Pirjha and Elahi Bakhsh Pirjha, masters in the manabat kari style of wood carving, carried out much of the mansion's woodwork.Ahmad Din completed the brickwork, while the celebrated artist Niaz Ahmad Jalandari did the stucco-work.Another celebrated artist, Jan Muhammad, painted the mansion's frescoes.

The mansion was habitable by 1930, and described as a 'local wonder' by the British authors of the District Gazeteer of Jhang. It was completed in 1935 - at a cost of 200,000 rupees. Sheikh Omar died shortly after its completion in 1935.

Sheikh Omar Hayat's only son, Gulzar Vohra, was married in the mansion in an extravagant ceremony in 1937.Gulzar was found dead in the palace the very next day of his marriage, possibly due to carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of large volumes of coal that had been burned for the celebration. He was buried in the courtyard of the ground floor of the palace, alongside the grave of his mother Fatima who later passed.

Hayat Vohra's relatives abandoned the mansion, associating it with bad luck.Servants continued living there for a couple of years, though no family members laid claim to the building. In 1940, the Anjuman-e-Islamia organisation opened a school in the building. An orphanage was established in 1948 by Sheikh Muhammad Amin, though it was shifted in 1950, leaving the building abandoned once again.Local scavengers dismantled some of the mansion's decorative elements, and sold them to collectors in other cities.

Two levels of the mansion was removed in the 1970s due to its state of dangerous disrepair, while another level had to be abandoned following severe rains in 1993. The building was brought under government control in 1989, with large portions repaired by the mid-1990s with funds raised by the local community. The mansion is now used as a cultural centre...

Omar Hayat Mahal alternatively known as Gulzar Manzil, is an early 20th-century wooden haveli mansion in Chiniot, Pakistan.The mansion was started in 1923, and was completed by 1935. The mansion, originally 5-storeys tall,was built by Sheikh Omar Hayat - a Chinioti businessman who had made his fortune in Calcutta.The edifice displays outstanding examples of Chiniot's local woodworking style, and has been described as an "ornament" of a building on account of its lavishly decorated interior. Sheikh Omar migrated from Chiniot to Calcutta in the late 19th century after being ostracised for marrying against his family's will.Large numbers of Chiniot's Sheikh tribe had settled in Calcutta during the British era.

Sheikh Omar's first son, Gulzar, was born in 1920, prompting Sheikh Omar's decision to return to his hometown,where he decided to construct a magnificent palace that would feature the best of Chiniot's craftsmanship.

Syed Hassan Shah was assigned the task of palace's construction. He gathered Chiniot's best artisans,as well as from different places, who continued working day and night for 10 ten years. Rahim Bakhsh Pirjha and Elahi Bakhsh Pirjha, masters in the manabat kari style of wood carving, carried out much of the mansion's woodworking.Ahmad Din, completed the brickwork, while the celebrated artist Niaz Ahmad Jalandari did the stucco-work. Another celebrated artist, Jan Muhammad, painted the mansion's frescoes.

The mansion was habitable by 1930, and described as a 'local wonder' by the British authors of the District Gazeteer of Jhang.It was completed in 1935- at a cost of 200,000 rupees.Sheikh Omar died shortly after its completion in 1935.

Sheikh Omar Hayat's only son, Gulzar, was married in the mansion in an extravagant ceremony in 1937.Gulzar was found dead in the palace the very next day of his marriage, possibly as a result of inhalation poisoning as a result of large volumes of coal that had been burnt for the celebration.He was buried in the courtyard of the ground floor of the palace, alongside with the grave of his mother who later passed.

Mr Hayat's relatives abandoned the mansion, associating it with bad luck.Servants continued living for a couple of years, though no family members laid claim to the building.In 1940, the Anjuman-e-Islamia organisation opened a school in the building. An orphanage was established in 1948 Sheikh Muhammad Amin, though it was shifted in 1950, leaving the building abandoned once again.Local scavengers dismantled some of the mansion's decorative elements, and sold them to collectors in other cities.

Two levels of the mansion was removed in the 1970s due to its state of dangerous disrepair, while another level had to be abandoned following severe rains in 1993.The building was brought under government control in 1989, with large portions repaired by the mid-1990s with funds raised by the local community.The mansion is now used a cultural centre...

UMMAR HAYYAT PALACE CHINIOT (PUNJAB PAKISTAN) Who was Ummar Hayyat? some says he was Sheikh by cast and some says he was Khoja of Calcutta . He was born in Calcutta, worked there and migrated to Chiniot after earning handsome money from Calcutta in business. No body knows about his sources of success regarding being rich. Majority believed that he was Chinioti Sheikh and came back to his own city like other Chinioti Sheikhs who were well settled all over the sub continent for business.

After the inspiration of Elahi Buksh Perja, who was an out class artisan and also worked in Buckingham Palace London, Ummar Hayyat Started the construction of a marvelous house in 1923. Rahim Buksh Perja, real bother of Elahi Buksh Perja joined hands with his brother on wood carving work. While other construction work was looked after by Syed Hassan Shah.

It took five years to complete the five story palace with huge amount of 400,000 British Indian rupees. After its completion in 1928, he named this Palace on the name of his only son Gulzar Hayat , “The Gulzar Mahal”. Ummar Hayat died before the marriage of his son.

In 1938 Gulzar married with a girl who was not from Sheikh Family and majority of the family members were not happy with this marriage.

Gulzar invited the elite class of the Chiniot and Calcutta for the celebration of his marriage. His Mother spent huge amount on his marriage and also share the happiness and joy with poor of Chiniot.

The ill fate started just after the marriage. On wedding night Gulzar went to Bath room and very next morning he was found dead there. No body knows what happened with Gulzar, Some says that he died due the Carbon Mono Oxide Gas of coal which was lit in the bath Room to heat up. But still this issue is resolve able. After the completion of four month of Edith (Compulsory for Muslim widow) she married in Lyallpur now Faisalabad. She never came again to claim the property of her husband. Soon after Gulzar Muhammad’s death, his mother couldn’t bear the sheer grief and died. Both mother and son buried in the main hall of the palace. Other relatives left the palace considering it ill fate and bad luck.

At one time, it was an orphanage run by the religious charity mission. Then the surrounding was occupied by encroachers. Meanwhile the fifth story of the building collapsed and palace became a ghost house.

Dr Amjad Saqib, Dy. Commissioner Chiniot took personal interest for the restoration of Ummar Hayat Palace and after spending considerable amount for the restoration, he handed over the palace to Town Municipality, where they established a reading Room and a library but the lack of funds and less interest by the locals, Library and reading room is empty except furniture and reading Table. Mirza Mushtaq is a care taker who narrates the history and tragedy of Palace. Interested tourists can visit the palace from 9.A.M to 5.P.M except Sunday...