Rawalpindi's Historic Buildings in Poor Condition
Old buildings, temples and Gurdwaras in Rawalpindi tell the story of the garrison city's majestic past. Before the partition of the Indian subcontinent, Hindus and Sikhs made up a large part of the city's population. However, these buildings are now in bad condition because little has been done to preserve them over the past 79 years.
Rawalpindi's history goes back to the time of Alexander in India. Its beautiful buildings offer many chances for history lovers to explore the city's past. But many of these structures are slowly disappearing with time.
Temples and Gurdwaras Facing Neglect
A walk through the narrow streets of downtown Rawalpindi shows many havelis, temples and Gurdwaras that reflect the city's past. The spires of temples and domes of Gurdwaras can still be seen from the roads. However, none of these buildings has been declared a national heritage site. The land attached to temples and Gurdwaras is also being lost quickly to encroachments.
Mandir Kalyan Das
Mandir Kalyan Das in Kohati Bazaar is one of the largest temples in the garrison city. It was built in 1850 by a wealthy Hindu resident of Rawalpindi, Kalyan Das, from the Suri family.
Old temples and the grand building of the Gurdwara of Rai Bahadur Sujan Singh, built before partition, are among the important historical structures in the city. However, they have not received much attention from the government.
Old Temple in Raja Bazaar
In Raja Bazaar, there was an old temple opposite Narankari Bazaar. The temple was built in 1880 by Shrimati Devi in memory of her husband. Now, its main room has been sealed, while the rest of the building has been rented to traders who have set up their shops there.
Kali Mata Temple
Kali Mata Temple is in Moti Bazaar. After the partition of the Indian subcontinent, the temple was closed and handed over to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) because fewer Hindus were living in the city.
Purana Qila and Old Bridge
In Purana Qila, a gate was built in 1896. The bazaar was then called Lakhshami Narayan Bazaar. A temple can be found at the top of the hill. Old houses with balconies, built more than 200 years ago, are still standing along the main road.
A bridge more than 130 years old connecting Raja Bazaar with cantonment areas is also disappearing because of neglect by the archaeology department and local administration. The truss bridge, made of wood and iron, stands over Leh Nullah. Scrap dealers have removed much of the precious deodar wood used as girders of the bridge.
Sujan Singh Haveli
Another historic structure is the 136-year-old Sujan Singh Haveli, located in the narrow streets of Bhabara Bazaar. It was built by Sikh political figure Sardar Sujan Singh.
The four-storey haveli, built in 1890, is a fine example of brick masonry. It has a front veranda and a central entrance facing the street. Its 45 large rooms have English tiles and Kashmiri wood carvings. The building was once a great example of Kashmiri woodwork, but time has faded its glorious past.
Old Presidency and Fatima Jinnah Women University
The old Presidency, formerly the State Guest House on The Mall, is now part of Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU). It also needs attention from the relevant departments for preservation.
The grand building on The Mall was built to accommodate the Prince of Wales during his visit to India under Queen Victoria's rule. It has served as the Presidency, a state guest house and is now the campus of Fatima Jinnah Women University.
Construction of the building started in 1898 because Prince Edward, later King Edward VII, was scheduled to visit India. However, his visit was postponed after Queen Victoria's death, after which he became king.
Government Response
A senior official of the Evacuee Trust Property Board told Dawn that more than 1,000 buildings in the district were under the board's administrative control. However, due to limited funds, the board could not protect them from weather damage.
He said the ETPB had only managed to protect the properties from encroachments and keep their records. He added that the status of properties already given on rent would not change.
Punjab Archaeology Director General Zaheer Abbas Malik said the Punjab government had made a plan to preserve historical buildings in Rawalpindi city.
"It is a complete heritage city plan, and we are covering temples and other historic structures," he said.
Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026
Source: dawn