"No one returns empty handed from here"

By Ajay Kumar - Daily India - Jacksonville, Fl, U.S.A.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Manersharif, the shrine dedicated to the memory of Sufi saint Makhdum Shah Daulat, is now being promoted as a major tourist destination.

Located at Maner, about 30 kilometres from Patna, the medieval period shrine is visited by thousands of people from across the country. The medieval architecture dominated monument contains Quranic inscriptions and a dome built without the support of linters.

Its growing popularity has prompted the Archaeological Survey of India to promote it as a major tourist spot. "We are planning to restore the damaged kiosks into their original shapes as per archaeological norms and principle.

The Bawlis (wells) are being cleaned so that the problem of water inlets and outlets could be solved. We are making a pathway under the tomb and planning a landscaping so that a garden can be laid out.

We are also planning to illuminate the shrine with floodlight so that tourists can come here even in the evening," said P K Mishra, Superintendent, Archeological Survey of India, Patna.

A resort and a cafeteria are also being built here.

Ibrahim Khan, a local ruler, built the shrine in 1619 over the grave of Makhdum Shah Daulat who died in 1608. Since then, it has been a prominent place of worship.

"Devotees, who visit this place realise its significance when their wishes comes true. They tie threads and also Pallus (a piece of cloth) while wishing for their children. No one returns empty handed from here," claims Mohammad Ishaq, the caretaker-priest of Manersharif.

"I came to know about this Dargah from one of my Muslim friends. It is very famous here but people do not know much about it. I came from a distant place to offer a Chadar (or, the holy bed sheet) at the shrine as my wish has come true. I hope, I would come here in future as well," said Siddharth Sahay, a devotee.