River Hansa

The River Hansa once flowed near Sirhind; the Thanda Burj (the cold tower) where Mata Gujri and the Young Sahibzadas were kept as prisoners was used in the summer by the city's Khan (Chieftain) as a residence as the thermal effect of the hot Sun on the tower would cause winds to be pulled across the rivers surface, cooling the air that entered the Burj. This ancient form of air conditioning was employed in many of the Mughal forts with some even having water being pumped to the higher rooms, which then even ran in channels through rooms making the hot and stiffling temperatures of the summer much more pleasant for the people of wealth and power.

The stone of the tower would become cooled in the night (thermal mass) and keep the rooms cooler throughout the day and as the temperature heated the top of the tower the breezes would again start the cycle again.

However the thanda burj was frigid in the winter and only the kindness of the man who provided the family with a little milk, whom (stories tell us) was executed for providing even this little comfort for the Shahibzadas and their Dadima (Paternal grandmother).

After the City was taken by the Sikh army lead by Banda Bahadur the river channel that ran near the Burj was cursed that it would dry up and today it is dry.