Natural splendour, real musics, wines, wordpower
The highly elaborate “mirror work” decorations on its walls and ceilings are the signature feature of the Sheesh Mahal.
Much less “showy”, but at least as beautiful, are the carved marble screens on its northern side.
As well as being lovely to look at – and to look through – these screens are very “practical”.
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Popularly known as “the palace of mirrors”, the Sheesh Mahal is the most opulent of Lahore Fort’s “notable monuments”.
It sits directly above the summer palace, in Lahore Fort’s northwestern corner.
The Sheesh Mahal’s glittering splendour is only visible from within what was originally a very “restricted” section of Lahore Fort.
This ornate pavilion/palace was constructed in the 17th century CE, for the exclusive use/pleasure of the imperial family. (plus their invited guests and closest aides)
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The featured image (above) was taken at 2.51 pm on 18 August 2025, near Beedelup Falls, in southwestern Western Australia’s “Karri country”.
Although not a very fine photo, it does show some very unusual behaviour.
”Flaunting it” is something to which any male member of the genus Malurus – the eleven Australian species generally known as “fairywrens” – devotes a deal of his life.
Generally, however, these “show-offs” are very wary; as soon as a flaunting fairywren senses a human’s presence, he “disappears”.
Q: So why was the pictured individual right out in the open, on a sealed roadway’s surface, and utterly unalarmed by my very obvious, very close presence?
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At 3pm on 12 May 2024 we were “upstairs”, in very bright sunshine, making our way to the Sheesh Mahal.
If the “selfie index” is any guide, this “palace of mirrors” is 21st century tourists’ favourite of the 21 “notable monuments” within Lahore Fort.
We’ll reach it in this series’ next (selfie-less) chapter.
Meanwhile, take a close look at the various structures visible in this chapter’s featured image…
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Both of the pictured decorations have been restored, recently.
Nothing more needs to be said.
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As “The New York Times” once opined:
Her ballad performances are simply beyond the emotional and expressive capabilities of most other vocalists.
Among the many “notable” jazz vocalists I have experienced “live” and/or have actually met (I interviewed her when she first toured Australia, and saw her here on two other occasions) Sheila Jordan was certainly the most remarkable, musically.
I strongly suspect that she was also the most remarkable and admirable, personally.
Aged 96, whilst listening to music, and in the presence of her daughter, and friends, Sheila Jordan died this week at her home in Manhattan.
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The featured image and the one immediately below both show “faded glory”.
A 21st century restoration effort has rendered 17th century splendour visible again, but a deal of the original’s vibrancy is almost certainly “gone, forever”.
However, the arch in the final image is an example of the “miracles” that dedicated scholars, architects, artists and artisans can achieve, even when the restoration effort’s beginning is a century or more “too late”.
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Originally very grand, Lahore Fort’s Summer Palace has been greatly damaged and degraded – well beyond the point where an “entirely accurate”,”full” restoration would be possible, even if “limitless” funds and expertise were available
That said, however belated, the current, ongoing restoration efforts are carefully considered, meticulously executed, and have no whiff of “Disney”.
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Immediately after admiring Lahore’s picture wall we went “inside” the actual wall.
This was “illegal”, but we did so as honoured guests.
Our chaperone was a senior heritage architect, involved in the ongoing excavation and restoration of Lahore Fort’s summer palace.
Above, you are looking at one of the simpler parts of its elaborate cooling system.
The outermost of the summer palace’s many chambers are literally within the cavity of the fort’s massive outer wall.
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The above cartoon was published this week in “The Age” & “The Sydney Morning Herald”.
Artificial Intelligence offers a whole lot of possibilities, not all of which are dire.
However, it is undeniable that AI has already become the great enabler of greedy bastards who seek to profit by plagiarising (and “dumbing down”) the work/s of the world’s writers, musicians and visual artists.
Hats off to Cathy Wilcox for using her natural intelligence to depict this reality so vividly.
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