Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who is known for its prestigious construction marvel, the Taj Mahal; has a unique taste in architectural knowledge. According to many historians his visualization to perceive a building was remarkably splendid. One of the example of perception and conceptualization of thoughts into a living architecture is the Lahore Fort’s Sheesh Mahal, literally interpreted as ‘Mirror Palace. It was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan for her beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1631 and completed in 1632.

According to the legends, Mumtaz Mahal had a dream that she was floating in the air so high that she could touch the stars. Upon awakening, she expressed her feelings for the ecstasy she had felt in the dream. The response to that desire was the construction of Sheesh Mahal including Pari Mahal and Naulakha Pavilion. The other important parts of Sheesh Mahal were the centrally designed fountain and summer palace below the Sheesh Mahal. As per name, the design of Sheesh Mahal was designed and built with an intention to communicate the feelings and emotions of love.

It has five arched entrances that allow the visitors to be fascinated in the impressive and reflective qualities of hundreds and thousands of mirrors all over the walls and the ceiling. Originally, the structure was finely ornamented with cut concave mirrors embedded on walls and ceilings with embroidery patterns. However, these mirrors were paired with diamonds, pearls, and precious gem stones. The decorated bedroom of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz lies way behind the verandah, nicely inserted among a cluster of other rooms. The bedroom has lavish ceiling, star-shaped and studded with crystals that even shine in the dark. Initially, the room was gilded along with the art decoration of rubies, emeralds, lapis lazuli, and sapphires to romanticize the interior spaces which were looted in the later years. Now the red plastic-glass crystals and blue ornaments have been installed in the wall structures recently as the replacement.

Right outside is a square of fountains with a small, raised platform in the middle, which can be reached by a walkway. When the moon is full, it shines right on the platform and the gushing fountains scatter the light, and reflect it on the mirrors of the Sheesh Mahal. Such lavishly flamboyant would an emperor express his love for his beloved queen, who attempted to realise her dreams. Mumtaz could not live to witness the completion of the Sheesh Mahal but nonetheless, the Sheesh Mahal will be associated to her romance with Shah Jahan in all times to come.