Considered to be Kashmir's holiest Muslim shrine, Hazratbal Shrine contains a relic believed by Muslims to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad. It is situated on Dal Lake in the municipality of
Srinagar. It was originally built by Sadiq Khan, the Subedar of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a
Palace with a garden in 1623, but was later converted into a prayer house in 1634 as ordered by
Emperor Shahjahan.

AWA's intent with this project is to provide a lighting solution that highlights the natural beauty of
the shrine's architecture, as well as the connection between the visual and the physical approach to the building. The lighting design approach provides a sense of calm and clarity that augments the spiritual purity of the site.

The large dome of the shrine will be illuminated as the primary focal point of the design, and its massing will be highlighted so as to create a monument to the city of Srinagar.
The arched openings located along each façade will be grazed with light, and the texture of the screens between the openings will be lit from within, making the building appear to be glowing from within, while highlighting the texture of the ornate screens.

This project is undertaken by AWA as part of our community work where we contribute our time and undertake lighting projects for the public good on a pro-bono basis.