Faqir Khana Museum, Lahore

Located near Bhatti Gate in the old city, contained in a private home, this Toshakhana is the private museum of the Faqirs family, it is also a microcosm of Lahore history of which the Faqirs themselves are very much part. The first founder of the family was a Faqir or religious ascetic who had three sons, all devout Muslims in a Sikh Court, who contrived to win Ranjit Singh's favour. One version is that one of the brothers cured a persistent infection in Ranjit's good eye. Since Ranjit was an illiterate he heavily relied on the brothers specially Faqir Aziz-ud-Din who acted as a combined prime minister, interpreter and travel angent, Faqir Nuruddin was the Royal Physician and founded a hospital for poor Muslims in Lahore, today known as the Mayo Hospital. In Faqir Khana, there is many collections of relics of Prophet, Moghuls kings' clothes, paintings, Sikhs' weapons, coins, etc,. The collection was first put on display in 1909, inaugurated by British dignitaries Sir Edward and Lady Maclagan.