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Kasur Museum

Kasur is a city rich in heritage and culture. If you’re interested in exploring its fascinating past, there’s no better place than the Kasur Museum. It is one of those historical museums exhibiting numerous antiquities. Preserving the district Kasur’s cultural and historical heritage was the central vision behind establishing the Kasur Museum. The museum has an extensive collection of photographs, exhibitions, and artifacts excavated from each part of the city. Visitors can explore various aspects of Kasur’s heritage through these exhibits. Kasur museum is one of the best museums in Pakistan.

The Kasur Museum in Pakistan is a great way to learn about the city’s rich history and culture. Visitors can explore the exhibits at their own pace and better understand the city’s heritage.

About Kasur

The ancient name of the Kasur city was Kussu Para, named after “Kussu,” the son of Ram, who was the legendary hero of the iconic Indian Mythological epic “Ramayan”. According to other historical facts, Kasur is the plural of the Persian word “Kasr,” which means a big chamber or a palace. As the city of Kasur consisted of a variety of Palaces and castles, this city is famous for the phrase ” The City of Palaces.” Kasur is renowned for its delicious cuisine, its well-known guard-changing ceremony at Wagha Border, and the burial place of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah.

Who Built the Kasur Museum?

Shining with treasures of long cultural history, unique traditions, festivals, and traditional continental and Punjabi foods, the Government of Punjab thought Kasur was the best for establishing a museum. This long cherished dream came into existence in 1999. Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, the former Governor of Punjab, performed the inauguration ceremony of the Kasur Museum. Kasur Museum is the first museum accomplished by the Department of Archaeology, Government of Punjab. Kasur museum is inside a colonial building of the British era, once used to hold magisterial offices and residences. The museum opened to local and international tourists on 20th September 1999. 

Galleries Inside Kasur Museum

The museum has five galleries covering different aspects of Kasur’s heritage. Each section contains a lot of information and exciting exhibits, including pottery and coins from the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Some displays showcase the handicrafts and textiles of Kasur’s vibrant culture.

This museum is a beautiful tourist site for travelers from all walks of life and ages because it provides visitors with a worthwhile and memorable experience. Let us talk about the attractions every gallery offers to its spectators. 

Coin Gallery

The coin gallery is a special treat for coin collectors and coin lovers. This gallery features a vast collection of rare and ancient coins dating back to the Indo-Greek era, Kushan era, Initial Islamic rule, Mughal era, Sikh period, Hindu shahi dynasty, pre-historic period, and British Rule. A worthy asset of this gallery is the chronologically arranged collection of Pakistani commemorative coins and currency notes, mint coins from its establishment to the present year. This collection provides valuable knowledge to the local public about Pakistan’s economic history. The featuring elements of this gallery are Punch Mark coins of 6th Century B.C., Coins of Shahi Kings of Gandhara and King Sher Shah Suri, old currency papers, and Numerous other unique coins of Indo Scythians, Indo Parthian, Guptas, Kushans, Indo Sassanians & Hindu Shahi dynasties. Pakistan medals and medallions of gold, bronze, silver, and lead are also on display. 

Kasur Craft Gallery

Next comes the Kasur Craft Gallery, which welcomes its visitors with an extensive collection of exclusive leather garments and footwear because of the popularity of Kasur for its leather industry. Kasur is famous for manufacturing various leather-made materials. They perform tanning and apply different chemical treatments to make the leather durable. Other featuring elements of this gallery are:

  • Special Char-Khana Kasuri Fleece ( a lightweight blanket), rugs, a base map of district Kasur, wood-made items, and various leather saddles are on display.
  • Other featuring elements are old musical instruments of the 19th century. Kasur is famous for these fragile, durable, and colorful objects, and people travel from a vast distance to purchase these items.
  • Photographs and biographies of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah (a Punjabi philosopher and poet) adorn the gallery’s walls. The people of Kasur have a great affiliation and respect for the great mystic poet Bulleh shah. Millions of people visit his shrine located in Kasur. He is famous as “the Father of Punjabi Enlightenment.” 

Islamic Gallery

Islamic gallery showcases the affiliation of people for their religion. Muslim culture and history are famous for their rich publications and manuscripts. The Islamic Gallery exists in three sections:

  • The first section showcases handicrafts, wood-carved objects, jewelry, injectors, ornaments, and other household items of the 19th to 20th centuries.
  • The second section houses the old manuscripts of the Holy Quran and spectacular specimens, including the artwork of Hafiz Murtaza Afghan Kasuri in the form of a handwritten Holy Quran written in 1179. A few illustrations written in the Nastaliq script are also on display. Another handwritten account of Aziz Khan Kashmiri called ‘Makhtuta Dalayal Al-Khairat’ written in 1290 is also on display. 
  • The third and the last portion of this gallery feature various weapons of the Muslim era and later. This section displays ancient swords, armor, shields, pistols, guns, daggers, arrow bows, lances, knives, and halberds.

Archaeology Gallery

As indicated by the name, this gallery features archaeological artifacts excavated from Bin Ameer Khatoon in the Chakwal district. Ancient fossils and remains of ancient trees and bones, which are almost 8 to 10 million years old, are on display. Besides this, the archaeology gallery also displays ceramic pottery, human and animal sculptures, an elephant’s tooth, scales, weight balances, stone weapons of the stone age, and various utensils restored from the archaeological sites of Harrapa and Chakwal. The sculptures of Gandhara Art, Hindu deities, and stucco heads of Bodhisattva are also beautifully preserved. The collection provides a great insight into the deep-rooted diverse history of the Kasur district. 

Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gallery

Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gallery is a platform to create a sense of aspiration and acknowledgment in the minds of students that the establishment of this country is a result of the enormous amounts of struggles and sacrifices laid by the nation’s leaders. In this gallery, the collection of pictures and portraits represent the story and struggles leading to the establishment of Pakistan. The walls adorn black and white photographs of Pakistan’s prominent personalities and heroes. It is a precious gallery for the students of Pakistan to study and research. 

Tomb of Wakeel Khan

Nawab Wakeel Khan was one of the reputed and loyal Army generals of the King Sher Shah Suri period. He died in the battle of Kasur. His admirers decided to bury him in the same city. The Tomb of Wakeel Khan is in the vicinity of the present Kasur Museum building adjacent to the hall of galleries, on the heel of main Ferozepur Road, Kasur. The shrine of Wakeel Khan is a vast doomed building with a square structure. The mausoleum’s exterior, adorned with glazed lime plaster and Kankar lime, is an addition to the beauty of the museum. After the Sikh invasion of Kasur in 1802 A.D. till 1848 A.D., the Sikhs used this beautiful tomb as a Guru Diawara. During British rule, the Britishers used the tomb of Wakeel Khan as S.D.M. Office, and Mr. John Tatler was the first S.D.M. of Kasur. It is considered a gift for the museum. Protected Under the Antiquities Act, 1975, the tomb of Wakeel Khan is emitting rays of the inspiring history of Kasur.

Kasur Museum Entry Ticket

There is no entry or parking fee to visit this historical monument. You can freely access the beautifully curated collection of artifacts displayed in every museum gallery. 

Kasur Museum Timings

The timings of Kasur Museum Pakistan are very flexible for the convenience of its visitors. The museum is open for its spectators on all days of the week. The visiting hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

Location of Kasur Museum

Kasur Museum is located in the district of Kasur, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The museum building is on the main Ferozepur road from Kasur to Ganda Singhwala in Abdul Shakoor Colony. You can reach the Kasur Museum by traveling through Lahore Ring Road. It will take you almost 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to this informative center. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Kasur museum famous?

Kasur museum is a fascinating tourist attraction famous for containing the mesmerizing tomb of Wakeel Khan and for its galleries featuring numerous precious artifacts, ancient coins, and fossils. Visitors can explore various aspects of Kasur’s heritage through these exhibits.

Is this a good place for students?

Kasur Museum is an informative place for students and researchers. Specifically, the Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gallery holds significant importance for the students as it showcases the history and struggles leading to the establishment of Pakistan.

Conclusion

Brimming with valuables of deep-rooted cultural history and showcasing precious artifacts in attractive galleries, the Kasur Museum in Pakistan is undoubtedly a masterpiece. It provides a charming and memorable experience for its visitors. So be sure to visit it during your next trip to Kasur.