Chiniot

Chiniot has been a woodworking town for centuries, its carpenters supplying carved doors, screens and furniture to patrons across the region; the craft is still the local economy, with workshops along the streets turning out inlaid and carved pieces in sheesham. The town's landmark is Omar Hayat Mahal, a five-storey house built between 1923 and 1935 by a merchant for his son, covered inside and out with carved wood, frescoes, mirror work and coloured glass, and layered with a story of grief that Chiniotis tell to every visitor: the son died soon after the wedding held there, the mother followed, and the house passed out of family use. It later became a library. Parts of the upper structure collapsed decades ago and restoration has been intermittent, so access varies. The town also has the Shahi Masjid of the Mughal period and a bridge over the Chenab.

History

Legend says the town was founded by a princess named Chandan as Chandaniot, a name still in use until at least the 1860s. Chiniot reached its height under Shah Jahan, when his governor of Punjab, Wazir Khan, and his grand vizier, Sa'adullah Khan, both from the town, built public works here, and Chinioti craftsmen worked on the decoration of the Taj Mahal; the town became a municipality in 1862, and Omar Hayat Mahal was built between 1923 and 1935 (Wikipedia, Chiniot).

What you'll find

• Omar Hayat Mahal - the carved and painted merchant house of 1923-1935.
• Woodcarving workshops - carpenters working sheesham in the town streets.
• The Shahi Masjid - the Mughal-period mosque near the centre.
• The Chenab bridge - the river crossing and the ghats below.

When to go

October to March; central Punjab summers are severe. Weekdays let you see the workshops in operation, which is the real interest. The mansion's opening is unpredictable and worth asking about locally on arrival.

Before you go

Omar Hayat Mahal has been closed or partly closed for long stretches, and its condition is poor; visitors sometimes see only the exterior. There is little tourist infrastructure in the town. The workshops are working businesses, so ask before photographing. Half a day covers everything.

Nearby

Faisalabad is an hour southeast; Lahore is about three hours away.

Key facts