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92-645: Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is the dargah ( mausoleum ) of the Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (1238–1325 CE). Situated in the Nizamuddin West area of Delhi , the dargah is visited by thousands of pilgrims every week. The site is also known for its evening qawwali devotional music sessions. The tombs of Amir Khusrau , Nizamuddin's disciple, and Jehan Ara Begum , Shah Jahan 's daughter, are located at

184-518: A wazookhana ( transl.   ablution area ). Next to the dargah is the Jamat Khana Masjid . This mosque is built of red sandstone and has three bays. Its stone walls are carved with inscriptions of texts from the Quran . The mosque has arches that have been embellished with lotus buds, in addition to the facade of its dome having ornamental medallions. The structure was built during

276-587: A 16th-century heritage park. The tombs of Mirza Ghalib and Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana are also located in this area due to its cultural significance. The other important monuments in the Nizamuddin heritage area include Barakhamba and Lal Mahal. The dargah complex is immediately surrounded by the Sabz Burj at the intersection of Lodhi Road and Mathura Road, the Urs Mahal (a stage for the qawwalis ) and

368-596: A burial place for the entire family of Isa Khan. On the western side of the tomb lies a three-bay wide mosque, in red sandstone. The octagonal tomb bears a striking resemblance to other tombs of the Sur dynasty monuments in the Lodhi Gardens , in Delhi and demonstrates a marked progression in the development of the exquisite architectural style of the main tomb. Some of the architectural details present here were seen later in

460-501: A central reflection pool. It spread over 13 hectares surrounding the monument, changed repeatedly over the years after its construction. The capital had already shifted to Agra in 1556, and the decline of the Mughals accelerated the decay of the monument and its features, as the expensive upkeep of the garden proved impossible. By the early 18th century, the once lush gardens were replaced by vegetable garden of people who had settled within

552-488: A connection or connotation with the Arabic word " darajah ( دَرَجَة )" meaning "stature, prestige, dignity, order, place" or may also mean "status, position, rank, echelon, class". Some Sufi and other Muslims believe that dargahs are portals by which they can invoke the deceased saint's intercession and blessing (as per tawassul , also known as dawat-e qaboor [ Persian : da‘wat-i qabũr دعوتِ قبور , " invocations of

644-458: A continuous process ever since, with subsequent phases addressing various aspects and monuments of the complex. Turkic and Mughal rule in the Indian subcontinent also introduced Central Asian and Persian styles of Islamic architecture in the region, and by the late 12th century early monuments in this style were appearing in and around Delhi, the capital of Delhi Sultanate . Starting with

736-672: A distinct Mughal architecture style, which was to become a lasting legacy of the Mughal rule. The combination of red sandstone and white marble was previously seen in Delhi Sultanate period tombs and mosques, most distinctively in the highly decorative Alai Darwaza gatehouse in the Qutub complex , Mehrauli , built in 1311, under the Khalji dynasty . The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on

828-511: A dome over the grave of Hadrat Zainab bint Jahsh , and Sayyidah Aisha on the grave of her brother Hadrat Abdur-Rahman and Hadrat Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya on the grave of Hadrat Ibn Abbas . So Whoever has classified building domes to be disliked (Makrooh) has said so if they are built in order to show off." (Imam Badr al-Din al-Ayni , also writes the same in his book Umdat al-Qari - commentary of Sahih Bukhari ) Humayun%27s Tomb Humayun's tomb ( Persian : Maqbara-i Humayun )

920-501: A domed ceiling and stone jaalis . Both these monument now lie inside a commercial area facing the complex's parking lot. Another period structure is Barapula , a bridge with 12 piers and 11 arched openings, built in 1621 by Mihr Banu Agha, the chief eunuch of Jahangir 's court. Barber's Tomb: Towards the south-east corner, within the Char Bagh, lies a tomb known as Nai-ka-Gumbad , or Barber's Tomb, belonging to royal barber , it

1012-441: A long time. Khusrau, his disciple, wanted to see him smile and dressed up in yellow and began celebrating the onset of Basant, after spotting some women do the same. This caused Auliya to smile, an occasion that is commemorated to this day. "Arziyan", a qawwali in the 2009 film Delhi 6 composed by A. R. Rahman is dedicated to Nizamuddin Auliya. "Kun Faya Kun", a song in the 2011 movie Rockstar and again composed by Rahman,

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1104-533: A marble and even stone inlay ornamentation in numerous geometrical and arabesque patterns, seen all around the facade is an important legacy of Indo-Islamic architecture, and flourished in many later mausolea of the Mughal Empire , like the Taj Mahal , which also features twin cenotaphs and exquisite pietra dura craftsmanship. The main chamber also carries the symbolic element, a mihrab design over

1196-499: A serious danger to the preservation of the tomb. At the main entrance of Humayun's Tomb, dingy stalls had been put up under a very corrupt system of municipal patronage known as tehbazari , and all sorts of heavy vehicles were allowed to be parked illegally in these open spaces. On the Nila Gumbad side was a huge citadel of India's vote bank politics – thousands of "slum dwellers" were kept by an influential section of

1288-538: A small road but enclosed within their own separate compound wall. After his death on 27 January 1556, Humayun's body was first buried in his palace in Purana Quila at Delhi. Thereafter it was taken to Sirhind , in Punjab by Khanjar Beg and, in 1558, it was seen by Humayun's son, the then Mughal Emperor, Akbar . Akbar subsequently visited the tomb in 1571, when it was about to be completed. The tomb of Humayun

1380-435: A teleological statement that the king is king as he always has been and always will be." The entire tomb and the garden is enclosed within high rubble walls on three sides. The fourth side was meant to be the river Yamuna, which has since shifted course away from the structure. The central walkways terminate at two gates: a main one in the southern wall, and a smaller one in the western wall. It has two double-storey entrances;

1472-537: A wooden door. The large dome of the mosque features a golden bowl that is suspended from the centre. At the back entrance of the complex is a baoli ( transl.  stepwell ), commissioned by Nizamuddin himself and completed in 1321. It is close to the Yamuna river and is always filled. People believe that its waters have magical powers and bathe in it. According to legend, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq had commissioned

1564-489: Is aligned on the north-south axis, as per Islamic tradition, wherein the head is placed to the north, while the face is turned sideways towards Mecca . The real burial chamber of the Emperor, however, lies in an underground chamber, exactly beneath the upper cenotaph, accessible through a separate passage outside the main structure, which remains mostly closed to visiting public. This burial technique along with pietra dura ,

1656-400: Is also shot at the dargah, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Nizami Bandhu , the traditional qawwal of the dargah. The dargah has also been featured in movies like Bajrangi Bhaijaan featuring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor , and in "Aawan Akhiyan Jawan Akhiyan" a qawwali in the 2006 film Ahista Ahista featuring Soha Ali Khan and Abhay Deol . The dargah is a property that belongs to

1748-527: Is called maqam in the Arabic-speaking world. Dargah today is considered to be a place where saints prayed and mediated (their spiritual residence). The shrine is modern day building which encompasses of actual dargah as well but not always. Dargah is derived from a Persian word which literally means "portal" or "threshold." The Persian word is a composite of " dar ( در )" meaning "door, gate" and " gah ( گاه )" meaning "place". It may have

1840-399: Is called shirk . They believe Islamic prophet Muhammad strongly condemned the practice of turning graves into places of worship and even cursed those who did so. The current Wahhabi rulers of Saudi Arabia have destroyed more than 1400-year-old grave sites of companions and ahl al-bayt including Othman , Khadija and Aisha amongst numerous others, although visiting graves

1932-420: Is datable to 1590-91 CE, through an inscription found inside. Its proximity to the main tomb and the fact that it is the only other structure within the main tomb complex suggests its importance, however, there are no inscriptions suggesting as to who is interred therein, the name Barbers tomb is the local name of the structure, hence still in use. The tomb stands on a raised platform, reached by seven steps from

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2024-617: Is divided into two parts along Mathura Road: Nizamuddin West where the Dargah complex and a lively market dominated by Muslim vendors is located, and Nizamuddin East , where the Nizamuddin Railway Station is situated. The area has been a hub for cultural activities in Delhi since the 13th century, leading to many building important buildings in close proximity to the area. This includes Humayun's Tomb and Sunder Nursery ,

2116-514: Is encompassed by four main octagonal chambers on two floors, set at the diagonals with arched lobbies leading to them also connecting them. There are four auxiliary chambers in between, suggesting that the tomb was built as a dynastic mausoleum. Collectively the concept of eight side chambers not only offers passage for circumambulation of the main cenotaph, a practice common in Sufism and also visible in many Mughal imperial mausoleums, it also reflects

2208-686: Is encouraged in Islam to remember death and the Day of Judgment . Sufis, refute such claims on the basis of misquotation of hadith. The hadith "Let there be curse of Allah upon the Jews and the Christians for they have taken the graves of their apostles as places of worship.(Sahih Muslim)" , is directed towards the disbelievers not the Muslims who took graves as place of worship i.e. they prayed facing towards

2300-409: Is essentially square in design, though chamfered on the edges to appear octagonal, to prepare ground for the design of the interior structure. The plinth made with rubble core has fifty-six cells all around and houses over 100 gravestones. The entire base structure is on a raised platform, a few steps high. Inspired by Persian architecture ; the tomb reaches a height of 47 metres (154 ft) and

2392-565: Is located in Nizamuddin East , Delhi, close to the Dina-panah Citadel, also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort), that Humayun found in 1538. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and since then has undergone extensive restoration work, which is complete. Besides the main tomb enclosure of Humayun, several smaller monuments dot

2484-475: Is octagonal on the outside while square within; its ceiling is decorated with painted and incised plaster, it has a high neck dome and shows a conspicuous absence of a double dome feature, common to tombs of the period. Chillah Nizamuddin Aulia: Believed to be the residence of patron saint of Delhi, Nizamuddin Auliya (d. 1325), is located just outside the main complex, near the northeastern corner of

2576-747: Is proven to be permissible from the Quran and practice and rulings of the Sahaba . Narrating the incident of the People of the Cave [Ashaab-e-Kahf), the Holy Quran states, “The person who was dominant in this matter said, “We shall build a Masjid over the People of the Cave.”– [Surah Kahf. Verse 21] Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi explains the above Quran verse in his famous Tafsir al Kabeer , "And when Allah said 'Those who prevailed over their affair' this refers to

2668-595: Is seen as a clear departure from the fairly modest mausoleum of his father, the first Mughal Emperor, Babur , called Bagh-e Babur (Gardens of Babur) in Kabul (Afghanistan). Though the latter was the first Emperor to start the tradition of being buried in a paradise garden . Modelled on Gur-e Amir , the tomb of his ancestor and Asia's conqueror Timur in Samarkand , it created a precedent for future Mughal architecture of royal mausolea , which reached its zenith with

2760-516: Is the tomb of Mughal emperor , Mirza Nasir al-Din Muhammad commonly known as Humayun situated in Delhi , India. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum under her patronage in 1558, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects chosen by her. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent , and

2852-592: The Chausath Khamba . The area is referred to as the "nerve centre of Sufi culture in India". On the 17th and 18th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-awwal , thousands gather to observe the birth anniversary and urs (death anniversary) of the saint. Besides this, thousands also visit on the birth and death anniversaries of Amir Khusrau , Nizamuddin's disciple. Hundreds visit the dargah everyday throughout

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2944-523: The Delhi Waqf Board . Offerings are collected under the baridari system through pirzadas , who are the custodians of the Sufi shrines. This usually comprises descendants of those buried at the dargah. The committee, Anjuman Peerzadan Nizamiyan Khusravi, looks after the dargah. Dargah The same structure, carrying the same social meanings and sites of the same kinds of ritual practices,

3036-753: The Indian Rebellion of 1857 , along with three princes, and was captured by Captain Hodson before being exiled to Rangoon. At the time of the Slave Dynasty this land was under the 'KiloKheri Fort' which was capital of Sultan Qaiqabad , son of Nasiruddin (1268–1287). The Tombs of Battashewala Complex lie in the buffer zone of the World Heritage Site of the Humayun Tomb Complex; the two complexes are separated by

3128-485: The Islamic concept of paradise. Each of the four square is further divided into 8 smaller gardens with pathways, creating 32 miniature gardens in all (with the mausoleum in the centre), a design typical of later Mughal gardens . The central water channels appear to be disappearing beneath the tomb structure and reappearing on the other side in a straight line, suggesting a Quranic verse which talks of rivers flowing beneath

3220-457: The Muslim ruler or the friends of Ashaab al Kahf (i.e. believers) or the leaders of town. 'We will surely build a Mosque over them' so that we can worship Allah in it and preserve the relics of companions of the cave due to this mosque" [Tafsir al-Kabeer, 5/475]. Imam Abu al-Walid al-Baji , quotes in his book Al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta (commentary of Muwatta Imam Malik ), "Hadrat Umar built

3312-643: The Partition of India , in August 1947 the Purana Qila together with Humayun's Tomb, became major refugee camps for Muslims migrating to the newly founded Pakistan, and was later managed by the government of India. These camps stayed open for about five years, and caused considerable damage not only to the extensive gardens, but also to the water channels and the principal structures. The camps were raided many times by jathas which caused vandalism to occur during

3404-428: The Taj Mahal , at Agra . The site was chosen on the banks of Yamuna River , due to its proximity to Nizamuddin Dargah , the mausoleum of the celebrated Sufi saint of Delhi, Nizamuddin Auliya , who was much revered by the rulers of Delhi, and whose residence, Chilla Nizamuddin Auliya lies just north-east of the tomb. In later Mughal history, the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar took refuge here, during

3496-520: The Tughlaqabad Fort at the same time the baoli was being built. Because he forbade all workers from working on the baoli, they would work on it at night. Upon discovering this, the supply of oil was restricted. The masons then lit their lamps with the water of the baoli, after a blessing. The neighborhood surrounding the dargah, Nizamuddin Basti, is named after the saint. The area was initially

3588-860: The Turkic Slave dynasty which built the Qutb Minar (1192) and its adjacent Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (1193 CE). North India was successively ruled by foreign dynasties in the coming centuries, giving rise to the Indo-Islamic architecture . While the prevailing style of architecture was trabeate , employing pillars, beams and lintels , this brought in the arcuate style of construction, with its arches and beams, which flourished under Mughal patronage and by incorporating elements of Indian architecture, especially Rajasthani architecture including decorative corbel brackets, balconies, pendentive decorations and indeed kiosks or chhatris , to develop

3680-414: The 'Garden of Paradise'. Standing in the center at the place where the main axes intersect, the tomb is similar in form and position to a garden pavilion. But here it marks the place where the body of the deceased ruler rests. "The garden is about sovereignty, and the mausoleum is about dynasty. When the mausoleum is implanted in a garden, as it is at Humayun's tomb, sovereignty and dynasty are combined in

3772-522: The Dua-e-Roshni, is an important ritual. Pilgrims gather around the khadim , the caretaker, who prays for the wishes of all those gathered to be granted. Death is celebrated in most Sufi orders. As part of the urs , the dargah complex and the tombs are lit up in the tradition of charaghan . Lakhs of people from different religions come from across the world and recite verses in the tradition of fateha . Plates of rose petals and sweets are offered to

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3864-573: The Empire, at a site near the Yamuna River in Delhi. According to Ain-i-Akbari , a 16th-century detailed document written during the reign of Akbar, Bega Begum supervised the construction of the tomb after returning from Mecca and undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage. According to Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni , one of the few contemporary historians to mention construction of the tomb, it was designed by

3956-615: The Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas (also referred to as Mirak Ghiyathuddin), who was selected by the Empress and brought from Herat (northwest Afghanistan ); he had previously designed several buildings in Herat, Bukhara (now Uzbekistan), and others elsewhere in India. Ghiyas died before the structure was completed and it was completed by his son, Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin. An English merchant, William Finch, who visited

4048-474: The West gate is used now, while the South gate, which was used during Mughal era, is now closed. Aligned at the centre on the eastern wall lies a baradari , which is a building or room with twelve doors designed to allow the free draught of air through it. On the northern wall lies a hammam , a bath chamber. Tomb and mosque of Isa Khan : Several monuments dot the pathway leading up to the tomb enclosure from

4140-440: The cavernous interior volume. In a contrast to the pure white exterior dome, the rest of the building is made up of red sandstone , with white and black marble and yellow sandstone detailing, to relieve the monotony. The symmetrical and simple design on the exterior is in sharp contrast with the complex interior floor plan, of the inner chambers, which is a square ninefold plan, where eight two-storied vaulted chambers radiate from

4232-399: The central marble lattice or jaali , facing Mecca in the West. Instead of the traditional Surah 24 , An-Noor of Quran being inscribed on the mihrabs, this one is just an outline allowing light to enter directly into the chamber, from Qibla or the direction of Mecca, thus elevating the status of the Emperor above his rivals and closer to divinity. This chamber with its high ceiling

4324-433: The central, double-height domed chamber. It can be entered through an imposing entrance iwan (high arc) on the south, which is slightly recessed, while other sides are covered with intricate jaalis , stone latticework. Underneath this white dome in a domed chamber (hujra), lies the central octagonal sepulcher , the burial chamber containing a single cenotaph , that of the second Mughal Emperor , Humayun . The cenotaph

4416-526: The complex, lies the Afsarwala tomb, dedicated to an unknown person. One of the marble graves inside the tomb is dated 1566-67 CE. The mosque itself can be dated to the same period judging from its siting, standing as it does adjacent to the tomb, rather than away from it. Arab Serai : Literally meaning the sarai (resthouse) for the horses, the structure stands adjacent to the Afsarwala mosque and

4508-499: The concept of Paradise in Islamic cosmology . Each of the main chambers has, in turn, eight more, smaller chambers radiating from them, and thus the symmetrical ground plan reveals itself to contain 124 vaulted chambers in all. Many smaller chambers too, contain cenotaphs of other members of the Mughal royal family and nobility, all within main walls of the tomb. Prominent among them cenotaphs of Hamida Begum herself are there alongside Dara Shikoh . In all there are over 100 graves within

4600-440: The dome's recesses. Nawab Khurshid Jah of Hyderabad ’s legendary Paigah Family gifted the marble balustrade that surrounds the grave. The present dome was built by Faridun Khan in 1562. The structure underwent many additions over the years. The dome is about six metres in diameter. The dargah is surrounded by a marble patio and is covered with intricate jalis ( transl.   trellis walls ). The dargah complex also has

4692-510: The early partition days in 1947. Eventually, to avoid vandalism, the cenotaphs within the mausoleum were encased in brick. In the coming years, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took on responsibility for the preservation of heritage monuments in India, and gradually the building and its gardens were restored. Until 1985, four unsuccessful attempts were made to reinstate the original water features. An important phase in

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4784-564: The entire complex, including many on the first level terrace, earning it the name "Dormitory of the Mughals". Since the graves are not inscribed their identification remains uncertain. The building was the first to use its unique combination of red sandstone and white marble, and includes several elements of Indian architecture , like the small canopies or chhatris surrounding the central dome, popular in Rajasthani architecture and which were originally covered with blue tiles. While

4876-619: The entrance to the complex. Ziauddin Barani and Muhammad Shah are also buried here. Overall, the dargah complex has more than 70 graves. The complex was renovated and restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture around 2010. Nizamuddin's tomb has a white dome. The main structure was built by Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1325, following Nizamuddin's death. Firuz Shah Tughlaq later repaired the structure and suspended four golden cups from

4968-425: The followers of Sufi saints . Many Muslims believe their wishes are fulfilled after they offer prayer or service at a dargah of the saint they follow. Devotees tie threads of mannat ( Persian : منّت , "grace, favour, praise") at dargahs and contribute to langar and pray at dargahs. Over time, musical offerings of dervishes and sheikhs in the presence of the devout at these shrines, usually impromptu or on

5060-475: The fours central water pools on the axial pathways and trees profusely planted in flowerbeds. This fault was corrected in the early 20th century, when on Viceroy Lord Curzon 's orders the original gardens were restored in a major restoration project between 1903 and 1909, which also included lining the plaster channels with sandstone; a 1915 planting scheme added emphasis to the central and diagonal axis by lining it with trees, though some trees were also planted on

5152-446: The garden restored, the water channels dug out and refilled and the whole place restored to its pristine beauty. I went to England last summer and, the eye of the master being away, the whole place has been allowed to revert. The garden has been let to a native and is now planted with turnips and the work of four years is thrown away! I shall drive out there, and woe betide the deputy commissioner whose apathy has been responsible." During

5244-468: The graves or tombs"] or ‘ilm-e dawat [ Persian : ‘ilm-i da‘wat عِلمِ دعوت , "knowledge of invocations "]). Still others hold a less important view of dargahs, and simply visit as a means of paying their respects to deceased pious individuals or to pray at the sites for perceived spiritual benefits. However, dargah is originally a core concept in Islamic Sufism and holds great importance for

5336-492: The graves, this is not the practice of Sufis as they do not take graves as their Qibla (direction). As for constructing structure over grave, it is refuted on the basis that the grave of Prophet Muhammad and the first two Khalifa, Abu Bakr and Umar , itself have a structure over it. To construct a building, shelter or edifice around the graves of the Auliya Allah (Friends of Allah) and Scholars of Islam or nearby

5428-472: The identity of the person remains unknown, and it might be (incorrectly) referring to another nearby monument in the Chausath Khamba complex, the tomb of Ataga Khan , the foster brother of Humayun, which lies in Nizamuddin West area and not to the east of the Humayun's tomb. Before the restoration work was undertaken, vandalism and illegal encroachments were rampant at the site of the tomb, presenting

5520-482: The later Emperor Shah Jahan , as well as numerous other subsequent Mughals , including Emperor Jahandar Shah , Farrukhsiyar , Rafi Ul-Darjat , Rafi Ud-Daulat , Muhammad Kam Bakhsh and Alamgir II . It represented a leap in Mughal architecture , and together with its accomplished Charbagh garden, typical of Persian gardens , but never seen before in India, it set a precedent for subsequent Mughal architecture. It

5612-475: The main Humayun's tomb, though on a much grander scale, such as the tomb being placed in a walled garden enclosure. Bu Halima's Tomb and Garden: When entering the complex from the West, visitor's first enter a garden complex, known as Bu Halima's Garden, though little is known about her, and since the tomb or the raised platform where it once stood is not at the centre, it appears to be a later addition. Afsarwala Tomb and mosque : Standing southwest end of

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5704-569: The main entrance in the West. Prominent among them is one that pre-dates the main tomb itself, by twenty years. Constructed in 1547 CE, it is the tomb complex of Isa Khan Niyazi , an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri 's court of the Suri dynasty , who fought against the Mughals. The octagonal tomb is positioned within an octagonal garden, which was built during his own lifetime and the reign of Islam Shah Suri , son of Sher Shah. It later served as

5796-498: The main tomb took over eight years to build, it was also placed in centre of a 30-acre (120,000 m ) Charbagh , a Persian-style garden with a quadrilateral layout. It was the first of its kind in South Asia on such a scale. The highly geometrical and enclosed Paradise garden is divided into four squares by paved walkways (khiyabans) and two bisecting central water channels, reflecting the four rivers that flow in jannat ,

5888-500: The next phase, similar treatment was given to the tomb's first chabutra (plinth), which was originally paved with large blocks of quartzite stone, some weighing over a 1,000 kg. In the 1940s, an uneven settlement in the lower plinth had been corrected by covering it with a layer of concrete, adding to the disfigurement of the original Mughal flooring, which matched with that at the West Gate. Letitia Elizabeth Landon published

5980-471: The occasion of Urs , gave rise to musical genres like Qawwali and Kafi , wherein Sufi poetry is accompanied by music and sung as an offering to a murshid , a type of Sufi spiritual instructor. Today they have become a popular form of music and entertainment throughout South Asia , with exponents like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen taking their music to various parts of the world. Sufi shrines are found in many Muslim communities throughout

6072-567: The pathway leading up to it, from the main entrance in the West, including one that even pre-dates the main tomb itself, by twenty years; it is the tomb complex of Isa Khan Niazi , an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri 's court of the Suri dynasty , who fought against the Mughals, constructed in 1547 CE . The complex encompasses the main tomb of the Emperor Humayun, which houses the graves of Empress Bega Begum , Hajji Begum, and also Dara Shikoh , great-great-grandson of Humayun and son of

6164-489: The platform originally reserved for tents. In 1882, the official curator of ancient monuments in India published his first report, which mentioned that the main garden was let out to various cultivators; amongst them till late were the royal descendants, who grew cabbage and tobacco in it. In Ronaldshay's biography of Lord Curzon a letter is quoted from Lord Curzon to his wife in April 1905: "You remember Humayun's tomb? I had

6256-466: The plinth is 91 metres (299 ft) wide, and was the first Indian building to use the Persian double dome on a high neck drum, and measures 42.5 metres (139 ft), and is topped by 6 metres (20 ft) high brass finial ending in a crescent , common in Timurid tombs. The double or 'double-layered' dome, has an outer layer that supports the white marble exterior, while the inner part gives shape to

6348-543: The poetical illustration The Tomb of Humaioon, Delhi in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833. This reflects on the scene and is based on an engraving of a painting by William Purser, showing a somewhat distant view of the tomb. Ill thought out construction plans like The Delhi Government's plans in 2006–2007 to build a new tunnel to connect East Delhi to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in South Delhi , and to widen

6440-463: The political leadership to serve as "bonded voters" during elections. The environment of the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya had also been ruthlessly degraded and the holy tank had become a messy cesspool. Restoration work by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), in collaboration with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), began around 1999 after research work, which started in 1997, and

6532-559: The principal mausoleum and is an example of Tughlaq period architecture. Yet further away from the tomb complex, lie Mughal-period monuments, Bada Bateshewala Mahal , the tomb of Muzaffar Husain Mirza, the grand nephew of Humayun, built 1603–04 on platform with five arches on each side, has its interior walls decorated with incised and painted plaster ; the Chote Bateshewala Mahal once an arcaded octagonal building with

6624-465: The reign of Alauddin Khalji by his son Khizr Khan . Completed between 1312 and 1313, Khizr was responsible for the central dome and hall, and was a follower of Nizamuddin. Around 1325, when Muhammad bin Tughlaq took over the reign, he constructed the two adjoining halls, each of which has two domes. The southern hall, chhoti masjid ( transl.  small mosque ) is restricted to women and features

6716-486: The restoration of the complex began around 1993, when the monument was declared a World Heritage Site. This brought new interest to its restoration, and a detailed research and excavation process began under the aegis of the Aga Khan Trust and the ASI. This culminated in 2003, when much of the complex and gardens were restored, with the historic fountains running once again after several centuries of disuse. The restoration has been

6808-456: The restoration work, the conditions in and around this complex underwent a sea-change. All the stalls and other intrusions were removed and the monuments and green spaces restored. Elegant gardens now surround the monuments, adding to their dignity and grace. When illuminated at night, the monument looks truly magnificent. In 2009, as a part of the ongoing restoration work, the ASI and AKTC, after months of manual work using hand-tools, removed from

6900-631: The restoration work. This was first a privately funded collaborative effort under the aegis of the National Cultural Fund (NCF) by the ASI. Funding included a sum of $ 650,000 from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture of His Highness the Aga Khan , with help from the Oberoi Hotels Group. In addition, AKTC is conducting a more significant restoration at Babur's tomb , the resting place of Humayun's father in Kabul . After

6992-558: The revered Saint Mu'in al-Din Chishti . In China , the term gongbei is usually used for shrine complexes centered around a Sufi saint's tomb. There are many active dargahs open to the public worldwide where aspirants may go for a retreat. The following is a list of dargahs open to the public. The Ahl-i Hadith , Deobandi , Salafi and Wahhabi religious scholars argue against the practice of constructing shrines over graves, and consider it as associating partners with God, which

7084-410: The roads near the tomb for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to connect National Highway-24 with Lodhi Road , also posed a serious threat to the monument. Urban planners feared that the historic monument would not have been able to withstand the vibrations ensuing from the construction work in such close proximity. Finally, the Archaeological Survey of India was able to halt the plans. On 30 May 2014,

7176-438: The roof a thick layer of cement concrete that had been exerting pressure of about 1,102 tons on the structure. The cement concrete was originally laid in the 1920s to prevent water seepage, and led to a blockage in water passages. Subsequently, each time there was leakage, a fresh layer of cement was added, leading to an accumulated thickness of about 40 cm; this has now been replaced with a traditional lime-based roof layer. In

7268-471: The site of festivals ( milad ) held in honor of the deceased saint on the anniversary of his death ( urs ). The shrine is illuminated with candles or strings of electric lights at this time. Dargahs in South Asia, have historically been a place for all faiths since the medieval times; for example, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was a meeting place for Hindus and Muslims to pay respect and even to

7360-531: The site of the settlement of Ghiyaspur, where Nizamuddin lived, and was later named after him. The Basti's population mainly grew after refugees settled here during the Partition of India . Prior to that, the area was mainly occupied only by the pirzade , the direct descendants of Nizamuddin. The Basti area has small lodges, small eateries and shops selling elements related to Islamic culture, such as religious books, kurtas, skull caps and attar ( transl.  perfumes ). It also has butcher shops. The area

7452-627: The south, it has a square plan and consists of a single compartment covered with a double-dome. Inside lie two graves each inscribed with verses from the Quran. Also, one of the graves is inscribed with figure 999 which may stand for the Hijra year 1590–91. However, in an 1820 watercolour now at British Library , the Persian caption beneath the structure reads, Maqbarah-i-Kokah i.e. "Tomb of Kaka", and Kokah or Kaka in Persian stand for foster-brother (mirak brother), Mirak (a Persian title as sir) though

7544-473: The tomb in 1611, describes rich interior furnishing of the central chamber (in comparison to the sparse look today). He mentions the presence of rich carpets, as well as a shamiana , a small tent above the cenotaph, which was covered with a pure white sheet, and with copies of the Quran in front along with Humayun's sword, turban and shoes. The fortunes of the once famous Charbagh (Four-gardens) made of four squares separated by four promenades, radiating from

7636-466: The tombs and fragrant chaddars ( transl.  sheets ) are draped on them. People tie colourful threads on the jaalis and make vows ( mannat ) to the saints. Each thread symbolizes a wish. The festival of Basant Panchami is also celebrated at the dargah. According to legend, Nizamuddin was deeply attached to his nephew, Khwaja Taqiuddin Nuh, who died due to an illness. Nizamuddin grieved over him for

7728-497: The walled area. However, the capture of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 together with the premises, and his subsequent sentencing to exile, along with execution of his three sons, meant that the monument's worst days lay ahead, as the British took over Delhi completely. In 1860, the Mughal design of the garden was replanted to a more English garden -style, with circular beds replacing

7820-443: The water channels were re-laid to an exacting grade of one centimetre every 40 metres (1:4000 slope). This eventually enabled water to flow through the watercourses in the gardens, and dormant fountains to start functioning once again. Other tasks in this mammoth restoration project included setting up a rainwater harvesting system using 128 ground water recharge pits, and desilting and revitalising old wells that were discovered during

7912-401: The west and south, 16 metres high with rooms on either side of the passage and small courtyards on the upper floors. The tomb, built of rubble masonry and red sandstone, uses white marble as a cladding material and also for the flooring, lattice screens ( jaalis ), door frames, eaves ( chhajja ), and the main dome. It stands on a vaulted terrace eight metres high and spread over 12,000m . It

8004-655: The world and are called by many names. The term dargah is common in the Persian-influenced Islamic world, notably in Iran, Turkey and South Asia. In South Africa , the term is used to describe shrines in the Durban area where there is a strong Indian presence, while the term keramat is more commonly used in Cape Town , where there is a strong Cape Malay culture. In South Asia, dargahs are often

8096-521: The year to pray and pay their respects. The dargah has a tradition of qawwali , especially the one on every Thursday night attracting about 1500 visitors. The regular qawwalis occur every evening after the Maghrib prayer . The dargah has multiple intergenerational darbari qawwals. Women are traditionally not allowed inside the dargah’s inner sanctum. Besides this, the dargah organizes a daily langar . The evening prayers in which lamps are lit, called

8188-490: Was built by Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana , son of Bairam Khan also a courtier in Mughal Emperor, Akbar 's court, for his servant Miyan Fahim. Fahim, who not only grew up with his son, but later also died alongside one of Rahim's own sons, Feroze Khan, while fighting against the rebellion of Mughal general Mahabat Khan in 1625–26, during the reign of Jahangir . This structure is known for its unique architecture, as it

8280-406: Was built by Bega Begum around 1560-1561 CE, ostensibly built for the craftsmen who came for the construction work. It could accommodate 300 Arabas. (in Persian ارابه means: Cart or Gari (vehicle) ). Nila Gumbad : Standing outside the boundary of the complex is the tomb known as Nila Burj (now known as Nila Gumbad ) or 'Blue Dome', so called because it carries striking blue glazed tiles. It

8372-431: Was built by the orders of his first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum (also known as Haji Begum). Construction began in 1565 and was completed in 1572; it cost 1.5 million rupees, paid entirely by the Empress. Bega Begum had been so grieved over her husband's death that she had thenceforth dedicated her life to a sole purpose: the construction of a memorial to him that would be the most magnificent mausoleum in

8464-479: Was completed in March 2003. Around 12 hectares of lawns were replanted, and over 2500 trees and plants, including mango, lemon, neem, hibiscus and jasmine cuttings, were planted in the gardens. Installation of a new water circulation system for the walkway channels was also undertaken. To ensure that water flowed naturally through the channels and pools on the 12-hectare (30 acre) site without the aid of hydraulic systems,

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