Khanqah e Moula (Shah e Hamdan Shrine)

About Khanqah e Moula (Shah e Hamdan Shrine)

Location: Right bank of the Jhelum River, between Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal, Shehr-e-Khas (Old City).

Historical Background: Originally constructed in 1395 AD by Sultan Sikandar (Sikandar Butshikan), this shrine was built to commemorate Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (popularly known as Shah-e-Hamdan or Amir-e-Kabir), a Persian Sufi scholar who played a foundational role in spreading Islam across Kashmir during the 14th century. Prior to the shrine's establishment, the location hosted an ancient structure associated with local worship, reflecting the layered history of the site.

Architecture & Architectural Fate: Built predominantly using local deodar wood without iron nails, the structure is a quintessential example of traditional Kashmiri pagodas merged with Central Asian woodcraft. It features pyramidal roofs capped with spire finials (guldastas), intricate ceiling woodwork (Khatamband), and hand painted papier mâché wall panels. The original 1395 structure was destroyed by a fire in 1479 AD, rebuilt by Sultan Hassan Shah, damaged again by fire in 1731 AD, and reconstructed in its present form around 1732 AD under the direction of Abul Barkat Khan.