To the north or north-west of the Chhoti Dargah are shown the ruins of the old Hindu fort and of the palace of the Hindu Raja destroyed by Taj Faqih. Hafiz mentions that it is not clear how far the so called male and female Riwaq or “apartments”, still shown to exist here, really represent the earlier Hindu buildings; for they must have undergone changes during the intervening centuries.

The apartments are associated with the birth of Yahya and contain a curious piece of wooden furniture called Chauki or low table, on which it is said, the mother of Makhdum Sharfuddin of Bihar, used to say her prayers, over six hundred years ago. The spot is thus invested with considerable religious sanctity and is equally interesting historically and archaeologically. But the information on it, so far available, is not quite complete.

It, therefore, needs to be examined and explored more thoroughly and systematically for the earlier Hindu remains it is likely to contain. Hafiz mentions that on proceeding from this place towards the river in the west, “we meet several other tombs of martyrs such as Lurbek Shahid, Taj Shahid, Ali Shahid, Masum Shahid, etc. The tomb of Ali Shahid is situated near the ghat, called Ali Shahid ghat, after him. The narrow passage leading to the ghat has vestiges of old brick work here and there, and in one place, there are unmistakable signs of a large gate. Probably this was one of the gates of the Raja’s fort opening towards the river.”

To be continued......