On the southern side of the Choti Dargah is the tank measuring 600’ by 440’ approximately. A local tradition, as quoted by Hafiz S. Ahmad, would indicate that originally the tank was excavated in the earlier Hindu period, when a temple stood now occupied by the site of the Badi Dargah mentioned above.

All the existing masonry and stone works of the tank, however have been mentioned to belong to the Muhammadan period and are attributed to Ibrahim Khan, the builder of Choti Dargah. It is enclosed by masonry walls with flight of steps or ghats leading down to water. It had in the middle of each side, excepting the southern side, two pavilions, projecting into the tank, with cupolas above them. Of these pavilions only one to the east and two to the west now exist in ruins.

The tank was originally fed, through an inlet tunnel, by the river Son – which once flowed nearby – but it is now fed by the rain water. It seems right upto Buchanan’s time (i.e. about 1812), the river was flowing by the side of the tank; though now it is far to the west, about four miles away.

The inlet tunnel is about 300’ long and 6’ in diameter and is throughout its length, arched over and provided with apertures, fitted with stone slabs at intervals for facility of periodical clearance. Buchanan has described it as a “fine tank, which communicates with the Son by a subterraneous tunnel, but at this season the water is dirty and full of weeds. It is lined all round with brick, and at each side has had a stair of brick with a platform on each side, and on each platform is a small cupola but these buildings have become ruinous, and the bare heaps of earth by which the tank is surrounded must always have spoiled the effect.”

To be continued......