The Tomb of Anarkali is an octagonal Mughal tomb inside the Punjab Civil Secretariat compound on Lower Mall Road, Lahore. It has been used as a government record office since 1891, and the Punjab Archives still keep a small museum on its ground floor. Because it stands inside a working government complex, public access is limited and you should plan the visit rather than turn up at the gate.
The story people know, of a dancing girl walled up alive on Emperor Akbar's orders, is a legend with very little behind it. This guide separates what is recorded from what was added later, then covers how to see the building.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Punjab Civil Secretariat, Lower Mall Road, Lahore |
| Built | Attributed to Jahangir; dated to 1599 or 1615 |
| Used as | Punjab Archives since 1891 |
| Access | Limited; inside a government compound |
| Reported hours | Weekdays, roughly 8 am to 3 pm (unconfirmed by the department) |
| Enquiries | Archives Directorate, +92-42-99212985 |
What is the Tomb of Anarkali?
It is a large two-storey octagonal building with a double dome, one of the earlier Mughal examples of the form. Its sides alternate in length, with a semi-octagonal tower at each corner. Inside, a marble cenotaph carries carved verses and the 99 names of God. The cenotaph is the piece the legend hangs on.
The building has changed hands often. Under the Sikh rulers it was used as a residence and a house for a prince. The British turned it into offices in 1847, then into the church of St James in 1851, and finally into Lahore's Protestant cathedral until the new cathedral opened in 1886. In 1891 it became the record office, and it was organised as the Punjab Archives and reference library in the mid 1920s.
Legend versus record
The popular story says Anarkali ("pomegranate blossom") was a courtesan loved by Prince Salim, the future Jahangir. Akbar, it goes, had her walled up alive, and Salim later built the tomb in her memory. Films, plays and novels have repeated it until many people treat it as history.
The record is thinner:
- The earliest foreign mention is by the English merchant William Finch, who visited Lahore between 1608 and 1611. He calls her one of Akbar's wives and mother of Prince Danyal, and repeats the story of her burial.
- Later writers disagree. Some say she died naturally, and one 19th-century account has Akbar commissioning the tomb.
- Jahangir's own memoir, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, does not mention Anarkali.
- An 18th-century historian, Abdullah Chaghatai, argued the tomb holds Jahangir's wife Sahib Jamal instead, and that the name came from the pomegranate gardens around it.
Wikipedia's summary is blunt: there is no historic proof that Anarkali existed beyond travellers' accounts and later literary retelling. So enjoy the story, but don't quote it as fact. Even the date is uncertain, with sources giving 1599 or 1615 for the tomb.
A separate point of confusion: a different Punjab government archaeology page describes the Tomb of Nadira Begum, wife of Prince Dara Shikoh, in another part of Lahore. That is not this building.
Can you visit the Tomb of Anarkali?
Yes, but as a controlled visit. The tomb sits inside the Civil Secretariat, and entry is regulated. Expect security checks at the gate and be ready to show your CNIC or passport. Overseas visitors should carry their passport.
The practical advice:
- Phone first. The Archives Directorate lists +92-42-99212985. Ask whether visitors are being admitted that day, which entrance to use, and what documents to bring.
- Go on a weekday morning. Travel sites report the archives open daily except Sunday, roughly 8 am to 3 pm, with a shorter Friday. The department's own website does not state hours, so treat these as a guide and confirm by phone.
- Expect no ticket booth. No official entry fee is published, so don't count on a figure.
- Leave time for security, and don't photograph government offices around the tomb. Ask before taking pictures inside the museum.
What is there to see?
The ground-floor museum sits in the tomb's central hall. According to the department it holds portraits of prominent people from Lahore's history, plus paintings, prints, maps and lithographs. Other exhibits include Mughal farmans (royal orders), official letters, stamps, medals, weapons, miniatures and archival documents dating from 1629 onwards.
The building itself is the main attraction: the double dome, the octagonal plan and the cenotaph. For a first-time visitor the museum is small, and half an hour is enough.
How to reach it
The tomb is on Lower Mall Road in the Islampura area, on the edge of the colonial part of the city. It is close to the Anarkali Bazaar side of the Mall, so it combines well with a walk along Mall Road and a browse through Anarkali Bazaar, which took its name from the same legend. A taxi or ride-hailing car to "Civil Secretariat, Lahore" is the easiest way; parking inside is not for the public.
Who should go?
Go if you like Mughal architecture, archives or the story of how buildings change use, and if you are already in the Mall Road area. Skip it if you want an open, ticketed monument with long hours, such as the Lahore Museum, or if you cannot spare time for the phone call and security checks.
For a wider list of what to see in the city, browse our Lahore experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tomb of Anarkali open to the public?
Access is limited because it is inside the Punjab Civil Secretariat. Visitors are admitted with security checks, so confirm with the Archives Directorate first.
Who is buried in the Tomb of Anarkali?
Tradition says Anarkali, a courtesan of the Mughal court. There is no reliable proof she existed, and one historian argued the tomb holds Jahangir's wife Sahib Jamal.
Who built the Tomb of Anarkali?
It is attributed to Emperor Jahangir. Sources date it to either 1599 or 1615.
Why is the Tomb of Anarkali called the Punjab Archives?
It became the government record office in 1891, after serving as a church. The Punjab Archives were formalised there in the 1920s and still keep a small museum inside.
Is there an entry fee?
No official fee is published, so don't count on one. Ask when you phone.
