Faqeer Khana Museum — Attraction in Lahore City Tehsil

Fakir Khana Museum, also known as "The House of The Humble Ones," stands as one of Pakistan's largest private museums, open to the public since 1901. Originally the residence of Raja Todar Mal, the Finance Minister in Akbar's court during the Mughal Empire, it was later transformed into a museum in the 20th century. Situated near Bhatti Gate in Lahore's walled city, it remains the only privately owned museum recognized by the Government of Pakistan.

Operated by the sixth generation of the Fakir family, which settled in Lahore in 1730 and established a publishing house, Fakir Khana Museum boasts a collection spanning three centuries—from the 18th to the 20th. It houses over twenty thousand artifacts and artworks, including a remarkable collection of ten thousand manuscripts acquired over the years.

One of the museum's highlights is the Miniature Hall, showcasing a large room depicting the lifestyle of a prosperous Lahore family during a period of Western influences. The hall is particularly noted for its collection of 160 miniature paintings, framed and glazed, representing various schools such as Irani, Mughal, Kangra, Rajput, and Pahari. Among these miniatures is the masterpiece—a 19th-century portrait of Nawab Mumtaz Ali, created with a single-hair brush over a span of 15 years.

Another significant section of the museum focuses on Buddhist art from the Gandhara civilization, flourishing between the 1st and 5th centuries in what is now northwestern Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan. Gandharan art exhibits strong Greek influences and is renowned for its early representations of Buddha sculptures, as well as its role in spreading the Mahayana school of Buddhism across South Asia.

Islamic calligraphy, revered as a refined art form, is also prominently featured in the museum. Originating with the Kufic script and traditionally used for writing the Quran and Hadith, examples of early Islamic calligraphy can be found in the museum's collection.

The textile collection predominantly dates back to the 19th-century Sikh period, showcasing items such as a Kashmiri shawl believed to have belonged to Maharani Jindan, the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab during that era. Additionally, the Hall of Carpets displays 18 carpets, shawls, and embroideries, providing insights into the artistry and craftsmanship of the region during different historical periods.

Overall, Fakir Khana Museum not only preserves Lahore's cultural heritage but also serves as an educational institution, attracting visitors from around the world to explore its extensive collection and learn about the rich history and artistry...

In the verandah, the firewood was sparkling golden-red flames. A group of tourists was seated in the reception room of Fakir Khana Museum. The host, Mr. Saif, was narrating enigmatic accounts of old Lahore, as alluring as the tales from the Arabian Nights, and his portrayals as convincing as that of Scheherazade. I was lucky to be there to hear such heart-rendering facts about our history that the cold wintry evening warmed up inside me as hope and prayer for our future as a country. What we were once, we cannot choose to be any different: Proud, Courageous, Tolerant, and Undefeatable. Each article in the museum has a story to tell. The journey from this day to back and beyond took me to the courts of monarchs who ruled Lahore and how people lived in harmony and embraced differences without discord. The sunflower ring of King Porus, the ivory paintings of Mughal kings and queens, the celebration of seasons so intricately depicted, valuable pieces of furniture, jewelry, coins, terracotta items from Mehrgarh, images of Buddha in stone, artifacts from Indus Valley Civilizations, rare pottery pieces from China, Persian carpets hung on walls are worth seeing. The highlight is a cupboard that contains rare Quranic manuscripts. There is a section of precious /semi-precious rings encased in velvet boxes. Fakir Khana is a treasure house of period-specific objects carefully placed for display, and anyone who wants to know how great our ancestors were, can visit this museum. Fakir Saif says: This is a house open to all. Welcome! For me, the experience was...

The Fakir Khana is an old 'haveli' type mansion, and is now the private museum of the famous Fakir Family of Lahore. It is one of the largest private museums in South Asia. Considered a hidden treasure of art: paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, Chinese porcelain, Persian carpets and countless masterpieces of Art, it is situated in Bhaatti Gate area, an old section of the Walled City of Lahore, in Punjab province of Pakistan.

The Museum gives the visitor interesting information on the culture and history of the Punjab. The exhibits of the museum include gifts from Queen Victoria and Maharajah Ranjit Singh to Fakir Syed Azizuddin and Fakir Syed Nooruddin who were ministers in his court. The Museum is currently managed by members of the Fakir Family. It is closed to the general public and visitations are by appointment only. People who are allowed to visit go between the hours of 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday, I believe. It is acceptable to make a small donation to the curator/incharge as there is no...