KHANQAH FAIZ-E-PANAH
A Khanqah is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood, or tariqa, and is a place for spiritual retreat and character refrormation. In the past, and to a lesser extent nowadays, they often served as hospices for Sufi travellers (Salik) and Islamic students (Talib). Khanqahs are very often found adjoined to Dargahs (Shrine of a Sufi Saint), mosques and madrasas (lslamic schools).
Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Sayed Ali Hamdani with the help of his son Mohd Hamdani established 51 Khanqahs from Kashmir to Kashgar. Khanqah Faiz-e-Panah, Tral is also one of them. Most of these Khanqahs burnt due to fire or decayed with time. Khanqah Faiz-e-Panah was burnt due to a fire on 16 December 1998. In its place, a new Khanqah has been built with the same design as the original.
The Khanqah is said to have been built during the visit of Sultan Sikandar. When Shah Hamdan visited Kashmir for the third time, he stayed at Kausarbal for some time. A search was started to find a new location. This new location was bought by Mir Mohd Hamdani, son of Shah Hamdan for a sum of three rubies due to which the area then got its popular name Tral (tre for three and lal for colour ot rubies). This Khanqah was then constructed on the purchased land in the name of Mir Mohd Hamdani. The Emperors gave patronage for construction of this Khanqah. They managed the langar to feed labourers, artists and other workers at the same place.
The work was completed under the observation of Mir Hamdan. According to Kashmiris, the construction of Khanqah was completed in 880 AD. Inside the Khanqah, there was a big stone depicting the name of Hazrat Amir Kabir. It is said that Baba Nashib-ud-Din had offered namaz many times at this stone. There were also the marks of birds nest on the stone. Later, this stone was kept in the first row of the garden in the presence of Abdul Gani Trali who was the head of the village of that time. In 1950 AD, Ustad Hafiza Saheb depicted the words of Quran on the interior walls of the Khanqah and painter Gani Saheb gave colours to these words to enhance their beauty.
