Burj Lehna Singh

Four kilometres from Attari, in the village of Wanieke, stands a burj (tower) related to one of the best-loved stories of the Attariwala family. It is remembered as the place where Maharaja Ranjit Singh lay seriously ill, and where his loyal Sardar Nihal Singh Attariwala made a prayer for his recovery. Nihal Singh was the son of Sardar Gaur Singh, who founded Attari around 1735, and the head of the senior branch of the Attariwala family. Nihal Singh served for the Bhangi Misl for a time before joining Ranjit Singh, whom he served with great loyalty. According to local legend, when the Maharaja was traveling from Lahore, he fell seriously ill at Wanieke. It was so serious that even the hakims (doctors) gave up and declared he could not be saved. He stayed at this exact Burj during the illness. When Nihal Singh got the news, Nihal Singh walked seven times around his bed, and did ardaas to pass the illness on to himself. It is said that from that day Ranjit Singh began to recover, and that Nihal Singh died soon after in January 1818. This structure was one of 4 towers, each standing at a corner of a fort constructed by Sardar Lehna Singh Bhangi. He was a great Misldar. In 1765, Lehna Singh Bhangi, alongside Gujjar Singh and Sobha Singh, captured Lahore. This is the only surviving tower. Ruins of old walls can be seen in the vicinity. Restoration work on the Burj is collectively being done by the villagers. It is little remembered beyond the surrounding villages, even though it is linked to the family that later married into the royal house of Lahore, when Sham Singh’s daughter was wed to Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh in 1837.