Surjan Singh Street AN OVERVIEW:

1. The street was purposely built by the Mughals and later

Gali of Surjan Singh and the Gali
developed by the Sikhs, to confuse invaders.
Gubarchian, located in Lahore Pakistan,
are interlinked and the complex is known 2. Surjan Singh Street is believed to have been built in 1849,
as Koocha Charakh Garan.
and is named after Hakim Surjan Singh, a highly respected
doctor of his time who often treated royalty.

3. This street joins together with another narrow street called

‘Gali Ghubarichian’ to form a complex known as Koocha
Charakh Garan (or Kucha Chargaran).

4. This is a neighborhood of about 23 buildings with houses as

old as 400 years.

5. Most of the buildings were made in the late 19th or early 20th
century.
 LOCATION
In order to reach the Surjan Singh street, people have to enter the
• Located in Walled City of Lahore,
Walled City from the famous Dehli Gate, built by Akbar in 1566.
Lahore, Punjab
One has to walk past the beautiful ‘Shahi Hammam (Royal
• It is set on what has come to be
known as the Royal Trail, a 1.6 Bathhouse)’ on the left, and about three streets down on the right is
kilometer stretch from Delhi Gate - the Koocha Charkh Garan complex.
one of the 13 gates of the walled
city of Lahore - that faced the seat
of the Mughal empire. 
Culture Of Community
And Social Cohesion

With houses less than a metre

distance from each other, the
residents could talk to each other
from their respective balconies,
while houses were open to
anyone who wished to enter.
The cramped street is still home
to tea stalls, corner stores and
high platforms outside houses
called tharas.
 N
ORSERVATION AND
RESTORATION
2
• AKTC reported that a total of 23 houses had
been restored, with 13 fully restored and the
encroachments outside the street removed.
E
• The rough streets were properly paved, and w 1 3
the water sewage system replaced.
4
• Underground gas pipelines were set up and
underground telecommunication wiring
installed to bring modern facilities into the Old
City.

• New bathrooms and kitchens were added into S

the houses, much to the joy of the local
residents.

• Tomb of the saint Syed Mohammad Ishaq • At the northern and southern ends of the prayer chamber, a small
Gazrooni. (4) room has been contrived in the central portion.
RESTORATION

AKTC has trained local

craftsmen to restore the
decaying wood with new
treated wood and limestone.