Srinagar: Monuments and Historic Buildings

Shah-e-Hamdan or Khanqah-e-Molla is a very old Muslim shrine that is situated on the banks of river Jhelum in the city of Srinagar. It is believed that the shrine contains ‘the secret of Allah’.

The wooden architecture of this shrine is based on the Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist styles.

This shrine was initially built by Sultan Sikander in 1395 in memory of Mir Syed Ali Hamdan, a Sufi saint who played an important role in the spread of Islam in Kashmir.

In 1480, the shrine was destroyed by fire and rebuilt by Sultan Hassan Shah in 1493. In 1731, the shrine was damaged and rebuilt by Abul Barkat Khan in 1731. Currently, this shrine has a square plan that is supported on irregular walled base comprising of materials from ancient temples.

There exists a two-tiered and two-storied monument along with slightly sloping pyramidal roofs along with double-arcaded verandahs that run around the building in the first tier.

There is an arcaded balcony that extends on all four sides in the second tier.