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Safdarjung’s Tomb a marble mausoleum

Written by Sudhir Kumar

The tomb was built for Safdarjung, the powerful prime minister of Muhammad Shah who was the weak Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748. The central tomb has a huge dome. There are four water canals leading to four buildings. One has an ornately decorated gateway while the other three are pavilions, with living quarters built into the walls. Octagonal towers are in the corners. The canals are four oblong tanks, one on each side of the tomb

Safdarjung’s Tomb is a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum in New Delhi, India. It was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style, and was described as “the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture”. The top storey of the edifice houses the Archaeological Survey of India. The garden, in the style evolved by the Mughal Empire that is now known as the Mughal gardens style influenced by Persian gardens style, is entered through an ornate gate. Its facade is decorated with elaborate plaster carvings.

About Tomb

Safdarjung’s tomb was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, the son of Safdarjung. Safdarjung was the governor of Awadh and later became the Prime Minister of Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor. Built in 1753-1754, the Safdarjung tomb lies at the Lodi road, New Delhi. Safdarjung’s tomb is set in the middle of a garden, which spreads over an area of 300 sq m. The garden of Safdarjung’s tomb is laid down on the pattern of the Mughal Charbagh style. The Safdarjung tomb was erected roughly on the pattern of Humayun’s tomb.

After the death of Aurangzeb, the only significant structures raised were the Tomb of Safdarjung, who was the prime minister of Delhi under Muhammad Shah. Built in 1753-1754, the tomb lies at the head of Lodi road.
Described as the “last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture” it is clearly decadent in style. Mehrauli village also has the Zafar Mahal, a summer place of the last Mughal. The memorial was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah who was the son of Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan popularly known as Safdarjung (1739-54)who was the governor of the province of Awadh under Muhammad Shah (1719-48) and later became his prime minister.

The tomb is roughly on the plans of Humayun’s tomb, though much scaled down.It is set in the middle of an extensive garden, which spreads over an area of over 300-sq-metre. The garden itself is on the pattern of the Mughal ‘Chaharbagh’ style. In the center piling up with effortless arrogance is the massive gateway to the enclosure which rises to two levels. Inside there is the tomb, the courtyard and a mosque.
There is also a madrassa (Muslim School) inside the premises of the Tomb Of Safdarjang, Delhi. The red sandstone and buff stone monument comprises of the tomb, the courtyard and a mosque. There is a library over the main gateway, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). One of the last remnants of Mughal architecture, Safdarjung’s Tomb is to some an extent like the Humayun’s Tomb. It stretches over an area of 300-sq-metre and is set in the middle of a widespread garden.

The Mughal ‘Chaharbagh’ style garden has an enclosure raising to two levels, which is entered through an enormous entrance. The central chamber of the tomb stands surrounded by eight rooms all around. The corner apartments of the Delhi Safdarjung Tomb are octagonal, while the rest are rectangular in shape. There is also a dome of the tomb that rises from a sixteen-sided base. The two graves inside the Tomb of Safdarjang, Delhi belong to Safdarjung and most probably his wife.

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Sudhir Kumar

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