✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind, Punjab, is the ruined Mughal royal inn on the old Delhi–Lahore road, where the district portal says the royal couple stayed on journeys to and from Lahore. It has an “air-conditioned” Sard Khana, a Sheesh Mahal, a hamam and a tank. Google Maps shows about 42 km and 53 minutes from Chandigarh, and its two listings disagree on opening hours, so confirm before you go.
Sirhind is best known for its gurdwaras, but it was also a Mughal provincial capital, and Aam Khas Bagh is the clearest reminder. This guide draws on the Fatehgarh Sahib district portal, Wikipedia and Google Maps, and it says where the accounts differ, especially on who built what.
Aam Khas Bagh at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| What it is | The remains of a Mughal highway inn and royal halting place, listed by the district portal as a historic place |
| Where | Aam Khas Bagh Road, Sirhind, Punjab 140406; plus code J9QW+6F6 on Google Maps |
| From Chandigarh | About 42.0 km, roughly 53 minutes via SH 12A on Google Maps; other routes are 42.1 km and 42.4 km |
| Timings | Google Maps has two listings that disagree: one showed “opens 6 am” during our overnight check, the other shows open 24 hours. A visitor comment says 6 AM to 7 PM, closed on Mondays, which we could not confirm |
| Who built it | Sources differ: see below |
| Condition | Wikipedia says several buildings are in poor condition; the photographs show roofless, weathered walls |
| Visitor rating | 4.3 on Google Maps for both listings, about 3,200 reviews in total (21 September 2026) |
Who built Aam Khas Bagh?
The district portal says Aam Khas Bagh was built for the public and for the exclusive use of Emperor Shah Jahan, and that the royal couple stayed here while travelling to and from Lahore. Wikipedia describes it as the remains of a highway inn, divided into an “Aam” part for public use and a “Khas” part for private use by royalty. It says the inn was first built by Akbar and planned by the architect Hafiz Rakhna, rebuilt by Shah Jahan on the Mughal military road between Delhi and Lahore, and added to by Jahangir.
The same Wikipedia article credits Jahangir with the Sard Khana, the Sheesh Mahal, the hamam and the tank, and Shah Jahan with the Daulat Khana-e-Khas, so the attributions do not line up neatly even within one source. We give them as reported and would not treat any one emperor as settled.
What to see
- Sard Khana: the “air-conditioned” chamber (the district portal spells it Sarad Khana). Wikipedia says water was drawn by pulleys from an adjoining well and run through channels in the walls to feed fountains and waterfalls; the district portal says the remains show a perfect system of air-conditioning.
- Sheesh Mahal (Daulat-Khana-e-Khas): Wikipedia says some glazed tiles that decorated the domes are still visible. The district portal names the Sheesh Mahal as Daulat-Khana-e-Khas, while Wikipedia lists a separate double-storey Daulat Khana-e-Khas as Shah Jahan’s private residence.
- Hamam and tank: water was carried through underground terracotta channels and heated by an unusual method, according to the district portal and Wikipedia. Wikipedia adds that a central platform of the tank has fallen and that quarters for Mughal staff stood on its east and west sides.
- Garden, nursery and orchard: the district portal mentions a garden and nursery; Wikipedia adds an orchard of about 11 acres with mango, pear and guava, some trees more than 70 years old.
- Tourist complex: the district portal says a tourist complex called Maulasari is run within Aam Khas Bagh.
Light and sound show
The district portal says that during the Shaheedi Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib, a light and sound programme on the history of Sirhind and the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons is shown at night in Aam Khas Bagh. Wikipedia names the play as Sirhind Di Deewar. Dates follow the mela, which falls in December on 11–13 Poh per the district portal, so check the current schedule with the local administration.
Sirhind in context
Wikipedia says Sirhind became a provincial capital under the Mughals, controlling the Lahore–Delhi highway, and quotes a popular notion that the name comes from “Sar-i-Hind”, the frontier or gateway of Hind. It also repeats a saying that in its heyday the city had 360 mosques, gardens, tombs, caravanserais and wells, which we treat as tradition, not a count.
Other historic sites nearby
- Haveli of Diwan Todar Mal (Jahaji Haveli): listed by Wikipedia as a historic place in Sirhind and by the district portal as Haveli Todar Mal; Google Maps rates Jahaz Haweli Diwan TodarMal 4.7 from about 1,000 reviews.
- Tombs of Ustad and Shagird: the district portal lists both tombs, and Wikipedia says they are about a kilometre west of Rauza Sharif in the village of Talanian.
- Banyan tree at Cholti Kalan: the district portal describes one of the largest banyan trees in the country, with a canopy spread over 3 to 4 acres, reached by a link road of about 8 km from Sarai Banjara village. It gives the tree’s age only as “a few hundred years” according to local information.
How to reach Aam Khas Bagh from Chandigarh
Google Maps shows about 42.0 km and 53 minutes via SH 12A, and two alternatives of 42.1 km and 42.4 km at the same travel time. The district portal says the nearest airport is Chandigarh/Mohali, about 50 km from Fatehgarh Sahib, and that Sirhind Junction, on the Delhi–Amritsar line, is the rail stop.
Plan a longer day trip
- Sikh heritage day trip: Fatehgarh Sahib and Virasat-e-Khalsa for the gurdwaras in the same town.
- Historical places in Chandigarh and forts near Chandigarh for more heritage stops.
- Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Rauza Sharif are in the same town; Sanghol Museum is in the same district, and Fateh Burj marks the 1710 battle.
Frequently asked questions
What is Aam Khas Bagh?
It is the ruined Mughal highway inn and royal halting place in Sirhind, Punjab, on the old Delhi–Lahore road, with a Sard Khana, a Sheesh Mahal, a hamam and a tank.
Who built Aam Khas Bagh?
The district portal says it was built for Emperor Shah Jahan. Wikipedia says Akbar first built it, Shah Jahan rebuilt it and Jahangir added to it, and it credits different buildings to Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
What is the Sard Khana?
It is the chamber known for its air-cooling system, in which water was drawn from a nearby well and passed through channels in the walls, according to Wikipedia. The district portal spells it Sarad Khana.
How far is Aam Khas Bagh from Chandigarh?
Google Maps shows about 42.0 km and roughly 53 minutes via SH 12A.
What are the timings?
Google Maps has two listings that disagree: one showed “opens 6 am” during our overnight check and the other shows open 24 hours. Confirm locally before you go.
Is there a light and sound show?
The district portal says one is staged at night in Aam Khas Bagh during the Shaheedi Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib in December.
Sources
- Fatehgarh Sahib district administration, Aam Khas Bagh
- Fatehgarh Sahib district administration, Other Visiting Places
- Fatehgarh Sahib district administration, Banayan Tree
- Wikipedia, Aam Khas Bagh
- Wikipedia, Sirhind
- Google Maps, Aam Khas Bagh, Sirhind (listings, hours, directions from Chandigarh; read 21 Sep 2026)
