Sheranwala Bagh Baradari (Punjabi: ), also known as Mahan Singh Baradari, is a historic garden pavilion located within the Sheranwala Bagh of Gujranwala in Punjab, Pakistan. The structure dates to the late 18th century and is associated with the period of the Sukerchakia Misl and the Sikh Empire.
The baradari is generally attributed to Mahan Singh, though some sources associate it with the reign of his son Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire. It is an example of Sikh-period garden architecture influenced by earlier Mughal traditions.
The name Sheranwala Bagh translates to âÂÂGarden of Lionsâ (from sher meaning lion). According to historical accounts, the garden was so named because a pair of lions were kept there by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The term baradari is derived from Persian, meaning âÂÂtwelve doorsâ (bara meaning twelve and dar meaning door), referring to a pavilion with multiple openings on all sides.
Sheranwala Bagh was established in the late 18th century when Gujranwala emerged as an important political centre under Sikh rule. The garden and its baradari are commonly believed to have been constructed around 1788 during the reign of Mahan Singh, ruler of the Sukerchakia Misl.
Other accounts attribute the construction to the period between 1790 and 1799, during the early rule of Ranjit Singh.
The garden functioned as a pleasure garden and recreational space for the Sikh elite and was part of a broader tradition of landscaped baghs in South Asia.
During the British Raj, the site was repurposed for public use. A library and a small museum were established within the garden premises. In 1946, a new building known as the Din Muhammad Library was constructed on the northern side of the garden. John Murray of London in the Handbook of Panjab (1883), describes the monument as follows:
The baradari is located near the historic Shahi Bazaar and forms part of the cultural landscape of the Walled City of Gujranwala.
The baradari suffered extensive damage during communal riots in 1992, following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in India.
The structure was largely reduced to ruins and remained in a deteriorated condition for several years. Contemporary accounts describe the building as a heap of masonry after its destruction.
In 2012, restoration work was undertaken by local authorities to reconstruct the baradari using available historical references and architectural evidence. The restoration, costing approximately 3 million Pakistani rupees (about 30,000 USD), was carried out under the supervision of architect Mureed Hussain, who consulted archival plans and drawings from the Department of Archaeology to ensure an accurate reconstruction.
The baradari is constructed on a square plan and represents a traditional pavilion design with open archways on all sides.
The structure originally consisted of a two-storey pavilion. The ground floor contained a large central hall, while the upper level included smaller chambers that provided elevated views of the surrounding garden.
The interior was richly decorated with frescoes depicting fruit platters, floral patterns, intertwining vines, and birds such as parakeets and peacocks, forming a vibrant decorative scheme.
The decoration has been described as largely secular, lacking explicit religious symbolism, which distinguishes it from many other Sikh-era monuments.
Additional architectural features include carved wooden doors with geometric and floral motifs and a symmetrical layout typical of Sikh-period structures influenced by Mughal garden architecture.
Sheranwala Bagh Baradari is protected under the Antiquity Act of 1975 by the Government of Pakistan and is important example of the Sikh-era heritage of Gujranwala. It reflects the city's historical role as a political and cultural centre in the late 18th century.
The site also represents the broader tradition of garden architecture in Punjab, combining elements of Mughal and Sikh design. Scholarly studies on the Walled City of Gujranwala highlight the importance of preserving such historic structures, many of which have been lost or significantly altered over time.