Humayun’s

Tomb
and its surroundings

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According to traditional belief, the tomb of a saint confers sanctity
on the surrounding areas, and therefore many have opted to be buried
in the vicinity of a saint’s tomb.The shrines or dargahs of men like
Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (in Mehrauli) and Nasiruddin Mahmud
`Roshan Chiragh-e-Dehli’ (in Chiragh Dilli) are surrounded by dozens
of graves, of both illustrious and obscure persons.The dargah of Hazrat
Nizamuddin Auliya is a case in point. Around it, within a radius of
about a kilometre, are literally hundreds of graves – including those of
some of Delhi’s most famous residents.
The core of the area is the enclosure of the dargah itself, the burial
place of the saint who died in 1325 but has been the object of
continuous veneration .The shrine is the heart of a bustling centre of
pilgrimage. Most pilgrims visit just the venerated structures in the
complex – the tomb of Nizamuddin Auliya and that of his famous
disciple Amir Khusro, who is buried nearby, the baoli or step-well, and
the large 13th-century mosque which lies to the west of the shrine.
There are within the shrine compound itself the tombs and graves of
several other famous personalities, which deserve a visit.
In the immediate vicinity of the shrine enclosure is the basti.This is a
residential complex as old as the shrine itself, housing those associated
with the shrine.The houses themselves, being of less solid materials
than the tombs or mosques, have been constantly re-built and most are
therefore quite modern. Beyond the basti is a wider area across which
many tombs are scattered – usually belonging to those who aspired to a
bigger mausoleum than could be accommodated close to the dargah!

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© The British Library Board. (Add.Or.4822)

HUMAYUN’S TOMB COMPLEX

Humayun’s Tomb and its surrounding monuments form a vast
complex, with 30 acres of gardens surrounding the central chabutara
(platform) on which the Tomb stands. In fact around the actual
garden of the tomb are several independent enclosures, often
centering on a tomb, like the Isa Khan Tomb or the garden of Bu
Halima. The area had seen many changes over the centuries that
had obscured the original character, particularly of the gardens.
Humayun’s Tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site
in 1993, and extensive conservation work has been carried out
since. This began with restoration of the garden, made possible
by a grant from the Agha Khan Foundation. Extensive research
preceded the works which resulted in the restoration of pathways,
repairing of water channels, and even planting shrubs and other
plants that were popular in the time of the Mughals. The result is
a well-maintained garden tomb, with water running through the
channels, hibiscus and oleander in bloom, and neatly manicured
lawns all around. Work on the tomb building has followed, with
another grant from the same source.
Other than Humayun’s Tomb, there are a number of other
structures within the complex. These include several tombs of
course, but also mosques, gateways, wells and even a ruined
market. They date from many different centuries and represent
a wide range of materials, styles and decorative techniques.
The complex merits a visit of at least a couple of hours, even
if you don’t while away some time resting under a shady tree
and watching the birds which frequent the garden. The many
thoughtfully placed benches allow you to take you time soaking
up the ambience.

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1. HUMAYUN’S TOMB
Humayun’s Tomb was built under the aegis of Humayun’s senior
queen, Hamida Banu Begum, some years after the death of the
emperor in 1556. Designed by the architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas,
the tomb is generally regarded as the precursor to the Taj Mahal. It
is also the first major example of a Persian char bagh (garden tomb)
in India, with the tomb sitting at the intersection of four water
channels flowing in the cardinal directions through a square
garden supposed to represent paradise. On the eastern side, the
wall of the garden was originally washed by the river Yamuna
which has since changed its course. Two wells, one outside the
northern wall, and the other outside the western wall, supply
water to the gardens.
The tomb was built between 1564 and 1573, using large
quantities of marble and sandstone. In the centuries that followed,
Humayun’s Tomb also became a tomb for many of his descendants,
so much so it is referred to as the `Dormitory of the Mughals’.
There are, in all, over a hundred graves in the crypt here. During
the Revolt of 1857, the British captured the last Mughal emperor,
Bahadur Shah II, at Humayun’s Tomb.
The tomb of Humayun is entered today through the 16m high
western gate. The southern gate is the more impressive entrance,
but is now closed to the public. From beyond the gate, a wide
path with a water channel flowing down its centre leads
to the tomb. Humayun’s Tomb stands
on an impressive platform, 47m
high and spreading across

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12,000 sq m. The tomb, with its white marble dome (topped by
a brass finial), is decorated in inlay work and carving that uses red
and buff sandstone along with white and black marble, mainly
in geometric designs, often following the lines of architectural
features like arches and columns. A prominent motif is the
six-pointed star, a cosmic symbol commonly used by Mughal
builders.
On the platform, the tomb chamber can only be entered
from the southern side, aligned to the southern gate of the
enclosure, which was originally meant to be the main entrance.
Going through an entrance chamber with a ceiling beautifully
decorated with finely incised and painted plaster, one enters the
central chamber. The cenotaph is sparingly carved in white marble
and sits in the middle of the chamber on a floor decorated in a
simple pattern of stars in black and white marble. The chamber
itself was originally heavily gilded and enamelled; today there’s
relatively little ornamentation to be seen. Other articles which
were orignially in the tomb, for instance lamps, the holy Quran,
the emperor‘s turban, sword and shoes, are also missing – looted
in past centuries during times of anarchy and disorder. The four
sides of the chamber are pierced by carved stone jalis (screens).
Side chambers spread out around the central chamber and house
the cenotaphs of the others who share this space.
Timings: Sunrise – Sunset, Open daily.
Wheelchair access, parking.
Tickets: Indian Citizens – Rs. 10.00,
Foreigners – Rs. 250.00.

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2. MOSQUE AND TOMB OF ISA KHAN
Near Humayun’s Tomb is a walled octagonal enclosure with
a ruined gateway. Inside are the mosque and tomb of Isa Khan
Niyazi, a nobleman from the court of Humayun’s nemesis, Sher
Shah Sur. Both the tomb and the mosque which were built during
Isa Khan’s lifetime, were constructed in 1547-8, almost 20 years
before Humayun’s Tomb. Interestingly enough, till the early
1900’s, an entire village had made its home inside the enclosure.
This is a fairly unusual style of mosque, with a large
central dome flanked by a chhatri (a small pillared pavilion)
on either side – a feature unique to this mosque.
Constructed mainly of grey Delhi quartzite and
red sandstone, its façade is exceptionally lovely,
with some fine incised plaster work and glazed
tiles in green, yellow and bright blue.
Isa Khan’s tomb sits in the middle of
the enclosure on a platform. This is an
octagonal tomb with a deep chhaja
(overhang) projecting outward
below a dome surrounded by
chhatris. The eight corners of the
tomb are buttressed by slabs
of quartzite that slope solidly
up from the ground to the
roof, making it even more
imposing. Like the mosque,
the tomb too is decorated with
incised plaster and tilework. The
highlight of the central chamber
is the richly painted ceiling, in
deep red and blue.

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3. MOSQUE AND TOMB OF AFSARWALA
The mosque and tomb of Afsarwala also lie within an enclosure
of their own. `Afsar’ literally means `officer’, so even though the
identity of the man buried here is not known, it is probable that he
was an officer of some standing in early Mughal times (the tomb
and mosque were built sometime before 1566, the date on one of
the graves). The mosque and tomb stand next to each other on a
platform. The domed mosque, which was once probably covered
all over with painted and incised plaster (you can still see traces
on the façade), has three arches along the front, the central arch
being the largest. Each end of the façade has a narrow staircase
built into the thick outer wall.
The tomb adjacent to the mosque is better preserved and more
appealing. It is in the shape of an irregular octagon, similar to a
square with the four corners lopped off. The wider sides of the
octagon are decorated with deep recessed arches, each pierced by
a doorway. The narrower sides have a narrower, shallower recessed
arches, but no entrances. The exterior of the tomb is sparingly
decorated with inlays of black and white marble on a background
of red sandstone.

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4. BARBER’S TOMB
A lowly barber may not seem, to most people, to merit a tomb –
and that too an impressive one within the grounds of an emperor’s
mausoleum. The reason suggested, at least by popular legend, is
that the barber was a powerful man, for he was the only one who
could hold a razor to the emperor’s throat every single day!
Whoever the barber may have been – and whatever the actual
reason for this grand tomb – this square, domed structure is worth
a visit. Built in or about 1590, it stands on a platform diagonally
across from Humayun’s Tomb, near the South Gate of the complex.
The tomb has a large recessed arch on each of its four sides, but
the only entrance is through the arch on the southern side.
On the outside, the bulk of the decoration is around the dome.
Chhatris decorated with traces of green and blue glazed tiles stand
on all four corners of the building, surrounding the dome, along
with pinnacles of red sandstone. Below, the façade of the tomb is
decorated with carved medallions, arches and beautifully carved
jalis. The interior houses two cenotaphs, one of a male and the
other of a female (a male’s cenotaph is indicated by a ridge-like
wedge atop it, known as a kalam; a female’s cenotaph, on the other
hand, has a flat strip on top, called a takhti).

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5. ARAB SARAI
Adjacent to the Tomb and Mosque of Afsarwala is an area known as
Arab Sarai. Built by Hamida Banu Begum, while she was building
Humayun’s Tomb, one theory is that it was built for, and named
after, some 300 Arabs whom Hamida Banu Begum brought back
to India from Mecca. The other is that the Arab Sarai was built as
housing for the artisans who were working on Humayun’s Tomb.
At any rate, this large enclosure, built in 1560-1, is interesting
enough and is approached by two of the most striking gates in
the entire complex.
The northern gate is at right angles to the gate of Bu Halima.
An imposing 14m in height, it is made of grey Delhi quartzite
and red sandstone, embellished with an inlay of white marble. The
jharokhas or oriel windows still retain traces of blue glazed tile. Not
much remains in the enclosure beyond but an old baoli or step-well
and the remains of an old bazaar – ruined cells made of rubble
masonry. The east gate of the sarai, which was built during the reign
of Jahangir by Mihr Banu, is decorated in blue, yellow and green
glazed tiles. The façade and side bays of the gate also have traces of
painted plaster work.
Interestingly enough, Arab Sarai was occupied till as late as
1925 by a community so large that it merited its own post
office. In 1925, the residents of Arab Sarai were ordered to
vacate the area.

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6. GARDEN AND TOMB OF BU HALIMA
Nothing is known of Bu Halima after whom the garden is named
and who apparently is buried on the ruined grave platform within,
but it is undoubtedly an early Mughal tomb and the gateway to
the garden is a simple but beautiful one. Today it is also the main
entrance to Humayun’s Tomb, since in the nineteenth century the
western wall of Bu Halima’s garden was breached to allow access
for visitors. Today visitors usually go through Bu Halima’s gate in
reverse, while entering the Tomb Complex. Bu Halima’s gate has
an imposing façade which is angled back on both sides and has a
recessed arch in the centre. There are remains of some beautiful
and intricate tilework in blue green and yellow.

7. SUNDARWALA MAHAL
To the north of Humayun’s tomb complex is the government-run
Sundar Nursery for plants. Though seldom explored by tourists,
it contains some treasures that definitely merit a visit. One of the
buildings within is the Sundarwala Mahal, an early Mughal tomb.
It is a relatively plain structure, built of rough rubble masonry,
in the form of an oblong octagon: a rectangle, actually, with the
corners lopped off. The building takes the form of a series of dark
interconnected verandahs that surround a central chamber with
a vaulted tehkhana (an underground chamber) under it. There is
minimal ornamentation – niches in the walls, and some traces
of incised plaster. On one end (the southern side) two steep and
somewhat dilapidated staircases lead up to the roof. The roof
would once have been topped by another structure; all you can
see of it today is a platform.

8. SUNDARWALA BURJ
This amazing little domed tomb is also within the Sundar
Nursery. It dates back to early Mughal days
and is fairly obscure – nobody knows
who is buried here. It has arched
entrances on all four walls;
the ornamentation on the
exterior consists of finely
incised medallions on either
side of the arch that faces
the Sundar Nursery main
gate. There are traces of red
paint on the façade.
The small but compact
interior of the tomb is

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profusely and exquisitely decorated with finely incised plaster.
Almost every inch of the vaulted ceiling and the walls is covered
with fine plaster work. The underside of the dome is covered in
a pattern of six-pointed stars filled with delicate arabesques; and
larger floral patterns spread across the walls, along with bands of
Quranic inscriptions.
Sunder Nursery Timings: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm.

9. BARA BATASHEWALA MAHAL

Within the Bharat Scouts and Guides complex (Bharatiyam)
are two tombs: the Chhota Batashewala Mahal and the Bara
Batashewala Mahal. The Bara Batashewala Mahal was constructed
in 1603-4 as the tomb of Mirza Muzaffar Husain, the son of
Gulrukh Begum, daughter of Humayun’s brother Mirza Kamran
(Humayun’s grand nephew) who was married to Akbar’s eldest
daughter, Sultan Khanam. Mirza Muzaffar Husain’s prestige and
power are obvious in the sumptuousness of his tomb.
The Bara Batashewala Mahal is four-sided and stands on a
high platform. Each side of the tomb has five arches that allow
you to enter a series of chambers that contain traces of extensive
decoration of blue, red, and white painted plaster. The dados
along two of the chambers, in particular, have beautiful geometric
patterns worked in white on a deep-red ground. On the ceilings
there are traces of intricately painted red and blue plaster.
Nobody seems to know the reason behind the names. A batasha
is a small disc of fine sugar, but what connection these tombs have
to a batasha is unclear.

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10. CHHOTA BATASHEWALA MAHAL
This too is a tomb dating back to the early Mughal period. It
is however, smaller than the Bara Batashewala Mahal, and it is
not known who is buried here – in fact, there is not even any
trace of a grave within. Not very much remains now of what was
probably once a fairly ornate octagonal structure surrounded by
an arcade with arched doorways on each of the eight sides of the
building. The central chamber of the tomb has four doorways,
three of which are screened off by stone jalis; the fourth acts as the
entrance to the tomb. Inside, you can still see traces of decoration,
in the form of incised and painted plaster.

11. TOMB
Past the Bharat Scouts and Guides enclosure, just before the road
curves right towards the Gurudwara Damdama Sahib, a lane
leads off through a gate on the left, to an imposing domed tomb
standing atop a low hillock grown over with scrub. Built during
the Mughal period, this is the tomb of an unidentified person.
Around it are some old graves and even a mosque, which is in
use. The square tomb has an arch on all four sides with traces of
blue tilework on the outside. The interior has a stunning display
of incised plaster. Quranic verses are incised in plaster in a broad
strip above the dado, and in the centre of the ceiling is a very
fine circular design painted in deep blue and red: exquisite. The
unusual finial atop the dome: its shape, similar to a cross, is
fairly unique.

12. NILA GUMBAD

The Nila Gumbad (literally, `blue dome’), is the tomb of one
Fahim Khan, an attendant of Akbar’s general, Abdur Rahim
Khan-i-Khanan, who built the tomb in 1624-5. The tomb is an
unequal octagon, rather like a large square with its
corners knocked off. The wider sides of the
octagon are pierced by
arched doorways. The
narrower sides have
recessed arches that
have unusual paint
work in red and
white, reminiscent
of bricks. The
upper half of the
façade that faces
the gurdwara has

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a beautifully ornate geometrical design of glazed tiles in white,
green, yellow and shades of blue. Combined with the duller blue
of the squat dome above (which retains its original tiles), the
effect is stunning.
The tomb was used as a cattle shed till the late 1800’s and
till very recently, it was occupied by squatters. Ever since it
was cleared of encroachments a few years back, the tomb is
kept locked. If you can find the caretaker to open the barred
door you will see the impressive interior of the tomb. Even if
the door is closed, you can see between the bars, the beautiful
incised plaster on the ceiling, which is covered in a pattern
known as netted vaulting.

13. BARAHPULA
South of the Nizamuddin Railway Station is one of the few
structures in Delhi that was built during the time of Jahangir, in
approximately 1611-12. This is the bridge known as Barahpula
(`twelve bridges’). It’s very literally named – the bridge consists
of eleven arches resting on twelve piers – is a solid yet pleasing
structure. The only ornamentation is a series of rounded minarets
that stand on each pier, on both sides of the bridge.
Till very recently, Barahpula was in serious danger of collapsing
from the weight of the increasing traffic across it. A new bridge
has since been opened parallel to it and Barahpula has been
closed to vehicular traffic. It continues to be a pedestrian bridge
along which some hawkers sit, and rickshaw pullers park their
rickshaws.

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14. TOMB OF ABDUR RAHIM KHAN-I-KHANAN
On the main road that connects Nizamuddin to Jangpura stands
a large, domed tomb that looks obviously vandalised. Unlike the
dressed stone or plaster finishes of other structures, the tomb has
much of its rubble masonry exposed. The Tomb of Abdur Rahim
Khan-i-Khanan should form part of any itinerary simply because
it has so much to recommend it. The tomb is striking; its history
is interesting; and the man himself was a highly accomplished
person who is very well known to schoolchildren across India.
Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan was the son of Akbar’s regent
Bairam Khan. After Bairam Khan was murdered, Akbar took
his widow into his harem and took a personal interest in the
upbringing of her young son. Abdur Rahim grew up to become
one of Akbar’s most famous generals, as well as a renowned poet
(`Rahim’) in Hindi, Turkish and Persian. His Hindi couplets are
still popular in India.
After the death of Akbar, Rahim served under
Jahangir for 21 years, but his star had
declined by then. Still, going by the
magnificence of his tomb, he would
have been a man of consequence

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even when he died in 1626. The square tomb, built in 1626-7,
stands on a 4m high chabutara or platform which has multiple
cells – possibly for visitors and passersby to rest in – all along
the sides. These cells have arched doorways decorated with carved
medallions on each side of the arch. The designs of the medallions
are very varied: you’ll see floral and geometric designs, the name
of Allah, and even a stylised peacock. Some of the cells even retain
traces of incised plaster with further interesting motifs including
the swastika, an ancient Hindu symbol.
Flights of steps lead up to the top of the chabutara from the side
facing the main road. The main chamber of the tomb, in which
Rahim’s rather plain cenotaph stands, is decorated with ornate
patterns in incised plaster. This would once have been painted,
but little remains of the paint; all you can see is the plaster. The
walls have faint traces of geometric patterns, and the ceiling has a
beautiful circular design with eight floral motifs arranged radially
around it. The same motifs are repeated on the walls of the arched
doorways that lead out of the tomb on each of its four sides.
Moving out of the main chamber onto the platform, you can
see a series of shallow tanks on the chabutara. These are connected
by narrow, shallow water channels. The prettiest of the tanks
is a large, flower-shaped one on the side facing
Nizamuddin East.
Before leaving Rahim’s Tomb, take some
time to look up at the large dome and the
four octagonal chhatris that stand at each
of its corners. These were originally
covered with white marble, which
was stripped in later Mughal times
(during the premiership of Asif-
ud-Daulah) and used to adorn the
tomb of Safdarjang. Traces of white
marble, in the form of bosses and
strips, can still be seen on Rahim’s
Tomb, but the bulk of it is now
part of Safdarjang’s Tomb.

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NIZAMUDDIN DARGAH COMPLEX
Nizamuddin’s Dargah is of considerable importance as a place of
pilgrimage, with thousands of visitors of all faiths visiting it every
year. People come in droves to pray, present votive offerings, and
often just sit in the paved courtyard of the complex, listening
to the qawwals who sing devotional songs all day long. The most
visited tombs in the complex are those of Nizamuddin and
Amir Khusro.
The complex is surrounded by the densely built basti of
Nizamuddin. Narrow winding lanes lead to the shrine itself,
which is however hard to miss not only because everyone knows
it, but also because the approach to the shrine is lined with those
selling rose petals which are a common offering at the shrine.
They also look after your shoes which have to be removed before
entering the inner complex.
Timings: 5.00 am – 12.00 pm, Open daily.

15. TOMB OF HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN AULIYA

The Sufi mystic Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1236-1325) was
born in Badayun, came to Delhi at the age of 25, and became a
disciple of Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar. By 1325, when he died,
Nizamuddin was a much revered saint of the Chishti silsila (order).
His tomb was built by the Tughlaq emperor, Firoz Shah, in 1325;
nothing, however, remains of this original structure. The present
square tomb surmounted by a bulbous dome of white marble
with an inlay of thin black stripes, dates to later times. Additions,
repairs and modifications to the Dargah were made in 1562-3,
1652-3, 1800 and 1823-4.
Around the cenotaph of the saint is a square enclosure,
pierced by carved marble jalis, with the pillars between gilded
and painted. Outside this enclosure is a wide verandah of
white marble, supported by fluted columns, the arches and
pillars ornately gilded and painted in multicoloured
floral patterns.
Above the arches around the Dargah
is a projecting chhaja which is topped
by a `pinjra parapet’ – an enclosing
cage-like parapet, crowned with a
series of dwarf domes and gleaming
finials at the four corners.
Only men are allowed to enter the
chamber in which Nizamuddin’s tomb
stands. Women may stand or sit in the verandah,
from where you can look into the tomb chamber.

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16. JAMAAT KHANA
The Jamaat Khana (`congregation house’) is the name given
to the imposing red mosque that looms beside the Dargah of
Nizamuddin, forming the western edge of the complex. Built
during the reign of Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316), this is today
the oldest structure in the complex.
The Jamaat Khana mosque has a low dome and an ornate arched
façade with broad bands of Quranic inscriptions running along
the arches. The central chamber of the Jamaat Khana was built by
Khizr Khan, son of the emperor Alauddin Khalji. It is believed that
he built the central chamber to house the tomb of Nizamuddin,
but the saint expressed a desire to not be buried within it.
The side rooms of the Jamaat Khana were added later, probably
in the reign of Mohammad bin Tughlaq. Although the Jamaat
Khana is made of red sandstone with inlays and carving in white
marble, all of it has been covered in a lavish coating of red paint
(over the sandstone) and silver paint (over the marble). This
obviously detracts considerably from the beauty of the building,
but despite that this is a very impressive mosque.

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17. TOMB OF JAHANARA
“…Let naught cover my grave save the
green grass; for grass well suffices as a
covering for the grave of the lowly…”
reads the inscription on a marble
slab on grave of Jahanara (1614-
1681), the daughter of emperor
Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
She was very close to Shahjahan,
and is reknowned for having
voluntarily shared her father’s
imprisonment after he was
deposed by his son Aurangzeb.
The Tomb of Jahanara stands in the southwest corner of the
Dargah Complex. Compared to the relatively opulent tombs of
Mirza Jahangir and Mohammad Shah, Jahanara’s Tomb is a study
in understatement. Built in 1681while Jahanara was still alive,
it stands in a four-sided enclosure of white marble jalis with a
decorative strip of carved marble running all around the top.
Decorative pinnacles project above the enclosure at the four
corners. Inside the enclosure are four graves. Jahanara’s grave is
sparingly carved and with a shallow receptacle on top containing
earth. Traditionally, this receptacle is supposed to be filled with
grass that’s kept watered and growing, but what you see today
is plain earth with a few rose petals scattered on top by visitors.
The other graves are those of other members of the Mughal royal
family from a later date.

18. TOMB OF MIRZA JAHANGIR

The Tomb of Mirza Jahangir lies to the east of Nizamuddin’s
Dargah, separated from the Tomb of Mohammad Shah by marble-
paved courtyard. Mirza Jahangir was the eldest son of the Mughal
emperor Akbar II, who after a failed attempt to assassinate
the British Resident Seton, was exiled to Allahabad in 1808.
His mother vowed that if he were allowed to return to Delhi,
she would make a pilgrimage to the dargah (shrine) of Sheikh
Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (in Mehrauli). This wish was granted,
and the queen’s promise was duly fulfilled – and eventually
became an annual event that continues even today and is known
as Phoolwalon ki Sair.
Mirza Jahangir’s tomb too is an enclosure of finely carved marble
screens, with two entrances. Jahangir and his brother Mirza Babar
are both buried within, but oddly enough the marble graves of
both were originally placed over the bodies of other people. The

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grave of Mirza Babar has an inscription that mentions the name Mir
Mohammad and the year 1579-80. The grave over Jahangir’s body
was originally that of a woman, as is attested by the takhti or flat
rectangular tablet shaped piece carved on it.
Immediately to the east of Mirza Jahangir’s tomb is what is
known as the `House of Mirza Jahangir’. It is almost certain that
Mirza Jahangir never actually lived here, and the structure which
consists of two arched halls on the north and south of an open
courtyard today houses several graves. One of these is the fairly
plain, unornamented grave of Mirza Jahangir’s sister-in-law, the
wife of Mirza Babar. The hall on the southern edge of the `house’
is barely recognisable any more, since it’s been mostly built over.

19. TOMB OF MOHAMMAD SHAH

Next to the tomb of Jahanara stands the tomb of a later Mughal
emperor, Mohammad Shah (1702-48), who is known as a lover
of the arts – a love that gave him the epithet `Rangeela’ (literally,
`colourful’). During his reign the Persian invader Nadir Shah
ransacked Delhi and made off with the famed Peacock Throne,
amongst other treasures.
Though similar in material, size and shape to Jahanara’s
tomb, Mohammad Shah’s tomb is much more ornate. The plinth
of the enclosure is heavily carved, as is the recessed arch of the
doorway. The door itself is unusual in that it actually has leaves
of white marble, carved in a pattern of daffodils.
Mohammad Shah’s tomb enclosure contains seven graves,
of which the largest is the emperor’s. One of the people buried
here is Mohammad Shah’s daughter who was given in marriage
to the son of Nadir Shah. Her child is buried near her.

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20. TOMB OF AMIR KHUSRO
`The Parrot of India’, Abul Hasan, better known as Amir Khusro
Dehlavi (1253-1325) was a renowned musician, poet and lyricist
of Hindi and Persian. The chief disciple and a devoted friend of
Nizamuddin Auliya, he is is said to have pined away and died
of grief six months after the death of the saint. He was buried
in close proximity to Nizamuddin, and his tomb is today, after
Nizamuddin’s Dargah, the most visited of the tombs in this
complex. It is customary to pay ones respects to the disciple
before moving on to the shrine of Nizamuddin.
Amir Khusro’s tomb stands south of Nizamuddin’s, opposite
the main entrance to the Dargah Complex. The outer sandstone
enclosure has been painted green and white. The inner chamber,
which dates from 1605-6, is made of white marble screens, with
a vaulted roof. This replaced the earlier simpler structure that had
stood there since Khusro’s death. There are numerous inscriptions
– most of them in praise of Amir Khusro – around the tomb.

21. DALAN OF MIRDHA IKRAM

Just south of the tomb of Amir Khusro is the dalan (arcade) of
Mirdha Ikram, who was a non-commissioned officer (a mirdha)
in the court of the later Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (1759-
1805). The dalan is a pleasing rectangular structure, made of red
sandstone with a floor and dado of white marble. Inside there
are four graves, all of Mirdha Ikram’s family. One belief is that
Ziyauddin Barani, a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya and the author
of the historical work Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, is also buried here.

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22. TOMB OF ATGAH KHAN
The emperor Akbar ascended the throne when he was thirteen and
some of the most influential people at his court were his tutors
and wet nurses and their families. Atgah Khan, whose tomb lies
adjacent to the Dargah complex, was the husband of Jiji Angah,
one of Akbar’s nine wet nurses. A close confidant of Akbar’s, Atgah
Khan was murdered in 1562 by Adham Khan, the son of Maham
Anga, another of Akbar’s wet nurses as a result of court politics.
His son Mirza Aziz Kokaltash built this beautiful tomb for him.
Atgah Khan’s tomb is richly decorated in a medley of materials
and decorative techniques . The exterior is dressed mainly in white
marble and red sandstone, with extensive inlays of everything
from black marble to blue tile, marking out floral motifs and
Quranic inscriptions. Remains of incised and painted plaster can
be seen within the chamber, which contains the graves of Atgah
Khan, Jiji Angah and a third, unidentified person.
Also within the walled enclosure of Atgah Khan’s tomb is a
small dalan (a pillared cloister), and beyond it, a wall mosque with
intricate patterns in green, yellow and
blue glazed tile.

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23. TOMB OF MIRZA GHALIB
Just beyond the Ghalib Academy, a fenced enclosure houses the
tomb of Delhi’s poet laureate, Mirza Asadullah Khan `Ghalib’
(1796-1869). Generally acknowledged to be one of the greatest
poets of Persian and Urdu ever, Ghalib lived most of his life in
Delhi. He was buried here when he died in 1869, and his tomb
was simply marked by a marble slab with an inscription on it.
Later, in the 20th century, a white marble structure, designed
by the architect Nawab Zain Yar Jang of Hyderabad, was built
over the tomb. This is a small, sparsely decorated structure, but
pleasing nevertheless. It has jalis along the four sides and forming
the parapet; a wide, flat chhaja projects above the structure.

24. CHAUNSATH KHAMBA

Mirza Aziz Kokaltash, the son of Atgah Khan, built for himself
an unusual tomb, a square pillared hall that looks more like a
pavilion than a mausoleum. Constructed in 1623-4, it is known as
Chaunsath Khamba (`sixty four pillars’). It stands within a raised,
walled enclosure, approached through a stone gateway south of
the Ghalib Academy. From the yard in front of the Urs Mahal a
short flight of steps leads up to Chaunsath Khamba.
The white marble tomb spreads across twenty-five bays roofed
by domes and supported by square pillars. At first glance, it doesn’t
look as if there are sixty-four of them, but if you look closely,
you’ll find that the outer rows contain double columns and the
corners hold groups of four.

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Each of the four walls of Chaunsath Khamba is pierced by a
doorway; in addition, there are insets of carving and jali screens
decorating the walls. Inside, the ceiling is vaulted, and there is fine
carving on the graves of Kokaltash and his wife. The other graves
in the Chaunsath Khamba are un-inscribed but are believed to be
the cenotaphs of members of the family.
Outside the tomb, and within the walled enclosure, are many
finely carved cenotaphs. A rough stone jali in the north wall allows
a view of the Tomb of Mirza Ghalib, which is in the immediate
neighbourhood. While you’re on this side of the tomb, look at
the lintel of the doorway leading into Chaunsath Khamba: there’s
a finely carved inscription on it.

25. KALI MASJID

Khan-e-Jahan Junaan Shah, who followed his father Khan-e-
Jahan Telangani as the chief minister of Firuz Shah Tughlaq, was
probably one of the most prolific mosque-builders that Delhi has
ever seen. He is believed to have built seven mosques in the city –
the Begumpuri Masjid near Malviya Nagar, the Khirki Masjid near
Saket, the Kalan Masjid near Turkman Gate. and the Kalan (or Kali)
Masjid in Nizamuddin, from mid to late 14th century.
Like most of Junaan Shah’s mosques, the Kalan (`large’) Masjid
is a solid structure that resembles a fortress. It has an impressive
projecting gateway that is flanked by tapering minarets that
look like bastions, and the interior, with its four courtyards,
is huge. Many of the domes that once covered the courtyards
are now gone, and the modern painting and whitewashing
of the mosque detracts from its original character. The other
name for the mosque – the Kali (`black’) Masjid – refers to the
blackness of the surface plaster, a result of organic growth that
was inevitable in buildings such as this, where ingredients such
as fenugreek, Bengal gram and yoghurt helped make the mortar
more porous and resilient. The blackness at the Kalan Masjid
(like at the Kalan Masjid near Turkman Gate) is now obscured
by whitewash and paint.

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26. SABZ BURJ
The traffic island at the intersection of
Mathura Road and Lodhi Road is one
of Delhi’s most distinctive ones – on
it stands a striking blue-domed
`Baghdadi’ tomb known as
Sabz Burj, literally, `green
dome’. Today the name is
misleading because the
original tiles were replaced
by the present blue ones
during conservation work.
Below the blue dome,
the geometrical pattern of
green, blue and yellow tiles on the high drum is original,
dating back to early Mughal times, when the Sabz Burj was
built. During the early 1900’s Sabz Burj housed the local
police station,.
Sabz Burj is an irregular octagon and sits on a high chabutara
or platform, with a few steps leading up. The four wider sides of
the tomb have recessed bays and are pierced by doorways; the
narrower sides still contain traces – in some cases, substantial and
very well preserved – of exquisite paint work in red, black and
white. There is a pair of delicately incised plaster medallions on
either side of one of the arched doorways.
Inside, the tomb is decorated with squinches and niches and
more incised, painted plaster. The ceiling is in poor condition,
but one can still see traces of beautiful paint work in deep blue,
red and white. The grave inside this chamber is of an unidentified
person.

27. BARAH KHAMBA

On the north end of Nizamuddin village spreads a small, leafy
park known as Mirza Ghalib Park. Within this stands Bara Khamba
(‘twelve pillars’), the tomb of an unidentified person. This solid
domed structure of rubble masonry and stone dates back to the
Lodhi period, i.e. the late 15th-early 16th centuries. It stands on
a chabutara, with a projecting chhaja on all sides, below the domes
crowning the building.
The tomb consists of a central square chamber surrounded
by a verandah with arched openings –three to a side – all
around. A small domed apartment stands at each corner of the
tomb, acting as an interesting complement to the main central
structure.

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28. BAOLI OF HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN
The baoli or stepwell of Nizamuddin Auliya, can be approached
either through the shrine complex or from the north. Once also
known as Chashma Dilkusha (‘heart-uplifting spring’), the baoli is
surrounded by walls on three sides, with steps built down to the
level of the water on the north side.
The baoli was constructed under the supervision of Nizamuddin
himself, and its water therefore is believed to be sacred and to
have curative powers. There is an interesting story behind the
construction of the well. The building of the baoli (in 1321-2) had
become the major bone of contention between Nizamuddin and the
then ruler of Delhi, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. The emperor was at that
time building his citadel at Tughlaqabad, and he summarily forbade
all labourers in Delhi from working during the day at any site other
than Tughlaqabad. The labourers, however, held Nizamuddin in
such esteem that they got around Ghiyasuddin’s ban by working
on the baoli’s construction at night – which immediately made
Ghiyasuddin ban the sale of oil which was used in lamps. The story
goes that the baoli was finally completed by labourers working by
moonlight. Another story has it that the workers used the water of
the baoli instead of oil, and effectively enough. Whichever tale you
believe, it’s enchanting enough to merit a visit.

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Sundar
Nursery
Delhi Public
School Sundarwala
Mahal
❼

❽ Sundarwala
Burj
Ma
thu
ra
Ro
ad

&
Masjid

uts
co
Chakarwali S
Bhara t

Sabz Burj
❻ Bu Halima’s
L o di Ro a d Tomb
Barah Khamba
Nursery
Atgah Khan’s
Baoli Tomb (i)
Jamaat
Khana ⓰ Mirza ❷ Isa Khan’s
Hazrat Ghalib’s Tomb Tomb
Nizamuddin ⓯
Auliya Tomb
Jahanara’s ⓱
⓳ Mohammad Shah’s Tomb
Tomb ⓲ Mirza Jahangir’s Tomb
Ma

❺
thu

Amir Khusro’s ⓴ Chaunsath

ra

Tomb Khamba
Ro

Ar
ad

Kali Masjid
Dalan
ad
a Ro
Nalw
La l

Mir
aL

Nizamuddin
za
ajp

West
Roa
at R

⓮ Khan
ai P
at h

Khan
Jangpura

Nearest Bus Stops

(i) Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin: MS (+) 40, 101, 156, 181, 323,
402, 403, 405, 410, 411, 421, 429, 436, 438, 447, 453, 454, 457,
458, 459, 470, 893, 894, 966, 0422, 055, LTD 274

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wala
ahal
❼ ⓫ Tomb
Bharat Scouts
& Guides Trg Centre
➒ Bara Batashewal Mahal
ndarwala
j ❿ Chhota Batashewal Mahal
arg
sM Bath
ide
Gu
&
uts
co

S
Bhara t
Western ❶ Humayun’s Tomb
Gate

Halima’s
mb
❸ Afsar Wala Barber’s
Tomb
Masjid & Tomb
❹
a Khan’s South Gate ⓬
mb Nila
Arab ki Sarai Road
Gumbad
b

❺
Harsha Road

Arab Ki Sarai

Nizamuddin
Nizamuddin East Railway Station
Mir
za
Roa

Rah
d

im K
⓮ Khan-i- h an
R oa Barahpula
Khana’s Tomb d

Bus Stand
Petrol Pump
Parking
Toilets
Cafeteria
Metro Station

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CORONATION
PARK

Route 6
Delhi Metro

Civil Ho Ho Bus Route

Lines
Heritage Route

SHAHJAHANABAD Red Fort

Kotla
Connaught Firoz Shah
Place
Jantar
Mantar
NEW DELHI
Route 5
Rashtrapati
Bhavan
Purana
Route 7 Qila

NIZAMUDDIN
Lodi Route 4 Humayun’s
Garden Tomb

Safdarjung’s
Tomb

SAFDARJUNG

Route 3
Hauz Khas

Siri

SULTAN GHARI Jahanpanah

Chirag
Dilli
Khirki

Route 1
Qutb MEHRAULI TUGHLAQABAD
Mehrauli Village Minar

Route 2
Mehrauli
Archaeological Park

SPONSOR Created by

I N TAC H
This publication has been made possible Delhi Chapter
by World Monuments Fund’s Sustainable
Tourism Initiative, sponsored by
American Express.

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