The Lahore Fort’s Khilwat Khana Subterranean chambers were unveiled during an official opening ceremony attended by French Ambassador Nicolas Galey, the Head of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and officials from the Aga Khan Cultural Service - Pakistan (AKCS-P) and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA). Guests were taken on a guided tour of the site, including a prototype section that will eventually form part of the public experience in December this year.
Speaking at the event, the CEO of AKCS-P, Mr Tausif Khawaja, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the project, noting that “the work was completed three months ahead of schedule due to great teamwork and cooperation between all organisations.”
The conservation of the Khilwat Khana basements is part of a broader effort to safeguard Lahore Fort’s layered history. Hidden beneath the pavilion are three subterranean levels that once served as storage for perishables and documents, but centuries of waterlogging, erosion, and structural strain from later additions have taken their toll. These underground chambers posed growing risks to the historic structures above, making their conservation a matter of urgency. Speaking on the occasion, Director General of WCLA Ms. Maleeha Rashid remarked that “it is not merely about preserving bricks and stones but about creating a greater impact and promoting heritage through this precedent - it is a moment of pride and excellence.”
Soon, the conserved Khilwat Khana basements, a complex of three subterranean levels, will open to the public with interpretive displays
The Khilwat Khana has a long history of interventions, from drainage works in 1928 and major restorations in the 1930s to the 1973 Master Plan, which uncovered hidden frescoes and reinstated marble facings. The latest phase of work, launched in April 2023 by AKCS-P in collaboration with WCLA, with support from the Government of Punjab and funding from AFD, addressed urgent needs including structural consolidation, plaster repairs, excavation for new flooring, and improvements to drainage.
As part of the Lahore Fort masterplan, sections of the Khilwat Khana basements will be opened to the public for the first time. Visitors will be able to walk through selected chambers equipped with audio-visual installations and interpretation displays that narrate the fort’s evolution. Strict health and safety measures, including underpinning, lighting, ventilation, and emergency exits, were introduced to secure safe access. These precautions were especially critical, as the Khilwat Khana is the first interior and underground site within the fort to undergo conservation, presenting conditions unfamiliar to the team and labour force.
The inauguration of the structure closed on a reflective note, with Ambassador of France to Pakistan His Excellency Mr Nicolas Galey describing the project as a bridge between past and present. “Being part of the rediscovery of your past is both exciting and an honourable task; walking through such a site and experiencing history unfold before you is a surreal experience,” he said, underscoring the significance of making the Khilwat Khana subterranean chambers accessible to future generations.