Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi is located in pocket 9 in Vasant Kunj just opposite Sector C. Built by Iltutmish, Qutbuddin Aibak’s slave, for his eldest son in 1231, Sultan Ghari’s Tomb represents the first tomb which was built for a Muslim royal in northern part of India during the medieval period.
History says that Iltutmish’s son, Nasiru’d-Din Mahmud, popularly known as Sultan Ghari, had fought numerous wars to defend the empire. He was the most favorit child of Iltutmish. Mahmud was also throned as the Governor of Lachnauti, which was then known as Dhaka. However, as ill luck would have it, the prince died at Lakhnauti in 1229. Perhaps, the climatic peculiarity of Bengal did not suit his physical state. As a result he fell ill severely and succumbed to death. It is learnt that Iltutmish, who reigned the empire as the founder of Slave dynasty, could not recover from the shock of Sultan Ghari or ‘Sultan of the Cave’’s death immediately. With the passage of time, Itutmish overcame his grief and decide to build a tomb for his beloved son at a juncture of his reign when his own subjects were rebelling against him.
You will have to travel to Malakpur Kohli village on the Mehrauli-Palam Road to visit Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi. We assure you that the golden tinge of the tomb’s structure will impress you. Architecture of Sultan Ghari’s Tomb, exudes of elegance and structural excellence. The tomb was falling to ruins till the Delhi Development Authority took up the project of restoration of Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in 2003.
Architecture of Sultan Ghari’s Tomb:
Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi will mesmerize you with its architecture. Sultan Ghari’s Tomb imbibes many architectural principles of Hindu places of worship though it was strictly built in veneration of a Muslim prince.
- It was constructed of a stone having golden tinge and a plinth 3 meters long.
- The tomb spreads across an area of 23.6 square meters
- The tomb is octagonal in shape.
- It is placed in the center of a closed premise
- The courtyard has walls on the northern and southern side and colonnades on sandstone pillars on the western and eastern sides
- You will notice domed bastions in the corners of the premise
- The colonnades in the western corner is used as a mosque because there is an area made of marble and raised on pillars, which is used for prayers.
- The corridors are used as the madrasa- a place for learning.
- You will be impressed by the design of the tomb chamber which operates like a crypt.
Fast – Facts:
Location:
Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi is located in pocket 9 of Vasant Kunj opposite sector C. You have to travel from Andheria More Road towards Delhi Airport
Built By: Iltutmush
When was it was built: 1231 A.D.
Special Feature:
The presence of Oriental architectural styles in the structure of the tomb.
How to Reach:
You can reach this tomb by boarding any of the buses from any point of Delhi to reach this tomb in southern Delhi.. You can also hire a cab or an auto-rickshaw or even avail of the metro rail to reach this site.
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat
Nearest Railway Station: Nizamuddin Railway Station
Open: On all seven days of the week
Nearby Attractions:
Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi will impress you with its architecture displaying the blend of Persian and Oriental structural designs. However, after visiting Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi, you should try out exploring various nearby Attractions of Sultan Ghari’s Tomb.
Qutab Minar is located in Mehrauli, was built in 13th century. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this red sandstone monument was built by Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, Muhammad Ghori’s chief general and Turkish slave to celebrate Muhammad Ghori’s victory over the Rajputs in 1192
Jamali Kamali Mosque and tomb located in the Archaeological Survey of India Park in Mehrauli, was built in 1528. Shaikh Fazlullah, a saint and poet, who was a favorite of Mughal Emperor Humayun, was known as Jalal Khan. This tomb was built after his death in 1535.
Adham Khan’s tomb is located north of Qutab-Mehrauli Road at the border of Mehrauli village. Adham Khan, a general, was the son of Maham Anga, a wet nurse of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. However, he was killed by the directive of Akbar when he murdered Ataga Khan, the husband of another wet nurse
Gandhak ki Baoli is also located near Adham Khan’s tomb in Mehrauli village . It is a step-well or baoli, the water of which smells like gandhak or sulphur
Rajon-ki-Bain and mosque is located in the Archaeological Survey of India Park. Rajon-ki-Bain is a four-tiered stepped well. There is also a mosque that is connected to the well by steps.
You can also shop at the market complexes like Ambavata Shopping Complex, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas Village, Residential Market of Vasant Kunj, Sahara Mall and DT Mall in Gurgaon.
