u/colouredzindagi

Omar Hayat Mahal was built by Sheikh Omar Hayat in Chiniot. He was a businessman who made his fortune in Calcutta.

However, when his son, Gulzar Vohra, was born in 1920, Sheikh Omar was reminded of his hometown of Chiniot. So, he decided to build a mansion in his hometown. This is why the mansion is also called "Gulzar Manzil".

Construction started in 1923 and was completed in 1935. Sheikh Omar passed away around that time. Two years later, his son Gulzar was married in the mansion, but was found dead the next day.

Today, the cause is thought to have been carbon monoxide poisoning, but back then the two successive deaths of father and son was laid at the feet of a supposed curse.

Sheikh Omar's wife, and Gulzar's mother passed away soon after due to the grief of losing her husband and son.

The remaining family members abandoned the mansion, fearing for their lives.

Through the years, the mansion was transformed into a school, an orphanage, and then abandoned.

In 1989, the Pakistani government took ownership and turned it into a public library and cultural center.

The building still presents a sombre picture, however. If you listen closely, you can probably hear a few haply memories still etched into the walls.

Incredible that technology like this was present during the heydays of Taxila. Methods like this are used for distilling crude oil into its components based on boiling points, water purification, and distilling other chemicals. Ancient civilizations had such investment in gaining all types of knowledge and exploring the natural world without the need for profit or gain.