Adilabad Fort

It is one of the lesser known monument. This fort was built by Mohammed-Bin-Tughlaq. There is no proper way to enter the monument as such and the ASI board is there but there are no guards to protect the structure.

Some Interesting Facts!!

   1) When I entered the fort I saw people playing cards, drinking and they were smoking. Just after that I saw that a slum had developed inside the fort.  On my right side I saw so much garbage that I could not believe my eyes !!

 

2)    The monument is in very bad condition. This is a only monument I recommend you don’t go to. I wrote this blog post to just show you how badly we need to do something very quickly.







3) This is referred to by historians as the fourth fort of Delhi and was built in the 14th century. Historians claim that this fort was used to protect the Jahanpanaha city during the Tughlaq dynasty.

Chausath Khamba

Chausath (the number 64 said in Hindi) is a tomb which was built in 1623-24. It is located in Nizamuddin precincts of Sufi Muslim shrines and tomb in New Delhi, India.

Some Interesting Facts!!

  1)    The name chausath is the word for the number 64 in Hindi and Urdu. The tomb has 64 pillars hence the name.

  

  

2)    The monument was built by Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Ataga Khan, as a mausoleum to himself. A mausoleum is an external free- standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person.

  

  

3) It is a structure made with white marble.

 

Mubarak Tomb

Mubarak Tomb is the burial ground of Mubarak Shah, the second ruler of Sayyid dynasty who died in A.D 1434.

Some Interesting Facts!!

  1)    The exact date as to when this tomb was built is not known.

  

  2)    Originally the tomb was enclosed by an octagonal compound wall, with two gates on the south and west.

  3)    The monument is believed to have a northern gate which has now disappeared!

Mirza Khan Ghalib Tomb

Delhi’s favorite and most popular poet of Udru and Persian, Mirza Ghalib was born in Agra.

Some Interesting Facts

  

  1)    He was married to Nawabilahi Baksh Khan’s daughter Umrao Begum at the age of 13 and he moved to Delhi, the city he loved and refused to leave till he died.

  2)    He adopted a pen-name “Ghalib” which means one who conquers all, superior, most excellent.

  3)    Amongst the greatest poets of South Asia, Ghalib’s unique poetry covers- an immense canvas of intense feeling with lyricism and profound insights on ways of interpreting the physical, emotional and spiritual dimension of life and the world.  

Nili Masjid

Nili Masjid is located in Delhi within the Hauz Khas Enclave. It was built during the reign of Sinkandar Lodi between the years 1505-06 by a nurse.

Some Interesting Facts!!

  

  1)    The nurse, Kausaumbhil served Fath Khan who was the son of Khan-i-Azam - the then governor of Delhi. 

  2)    Only the central chamber of the mosque remains  It has three-arched openings and a dome. The central arch has the construction date in scripted on it. 

  3)    It is a rubble built mosque but has been well plastered . The name "Nili" comes because the facade over the Chajja is decorated with blue tiles.

4) Though not maintained very well, this mosque is in use as of today.

Ferzo Shah Tomb

The tomb measures 13.5m by 13.5m, forms a junction of two wings in the collage, and the top of its dome is the highest point of the entire complex.

Some Interesting Facts!!

  1)    Thought Ferzo Shah died in 1388, he built his tomb at the same time as the madrasa, in 1350s. Now, that's what I call planning. Plan your life and death too. Why not ! 

  2)    The inception on the south entrance tells us that repairs to the building were carried out under the orders of the king Sikandar Lodi in the year 1508.  

  3)    The grave in the center of the chamber is that of Ferzo Shah, while the other marble graves are said to be of his son and his grandson.                             

Madrasa

Madrasa is the Urdu word for a school/ college. The Pavallions that stand in the garden of the Madrasa are mostly tombs, probably containing the remains of the teachers of the Madrasa. I am sure then that, in those times teachers were important people and well respected too.  

Some Interesting Facts!!

  

  

1)    All the pavallions are of similar ornamentation, though each one has a different plan - eight sided, six sided or square. 

    2) Some of pavallions have shallow marked graves in the center. It is possible that the tombs were designed so that the pupils could sit there and  study- in shadow of their departed teachers. Is it not amazing !!

3)    The two smallest pavilions have very heavy projecting stone beam just under the dome. It is possible that they were a part of a larger building.

  

  

  

 4)    The western wing of madrasa extends a distance of 65.5 meters west of Feroz  Shah’s tomb. It was an open pillared room at the top story.

  

  5)    In the lower story one can see small dark cells which were probably meant for student accommodation. Inside there are narrow openings for light and air, and small strong niches.

  6)    In front of these cells there was an arched room which has unfortunately fallen down. 

7)    At the western most end of this wing there are large domed buildings with two stories.


            

Dadi Poti

The term Dadi Poti means (grandmother and granddaughter) used for two tombs placed side by side was perhaps coined because the fact that one tomb is bigger than the other.

Some Interesting Facts!!

  

  

  1)  It is not known who was buried here.

  

  

  2)  The smaller -Poti, has sloping walls and a distinctive lantern on the dome. The dome measures 11.8 meters by 11.8 meters and belongs to the Tughlaq period (1321-1414).

  

  

  3)  The bigger tomb - Dadi measures 15.86 meters X 15.86 meters and dates back to the Lodi period.  

Adam Khan Tomb

The tomb belongs to the Lodi period. To the east side of the tomb there are remains of a rubble wall. The tomb is a square plan and it has arched opening except the western side, which has recessed Mihrab (a niche in the wall, at the nearest point to Mecca)

Some Interesting Facts!!

1) The interior wall and domes are embellished with geometrical deigns and Quranic inscription incised in plaster.

2) Externally, the notable features are the decorative battlements/Kanguras at the palate and drum level, minarets and ornamental medallions etc.

3) There are also trenches and gazed tiles on the base of the lotus crest and Kanguras      

Chor Minar

This Minar is built of rubble masonry and - stands in the center of a platform. Each of the four sides of the platform has three arched recesses, the center one being the east of the doorway which gives access to a spiral stairs leading to the top.

  

Some Interesting Facts!!

  1)    The Minar itself is circular in the plan and tapers towards the farther end.

  

  2)    The monument is known as Chor Minar because it was possibly built to strike terror in the hearts of thieves by placing their severed heads in these holes for public exposure !!

3) This structure was properly built during Khalji period (A.D 1290-1312)

Lodi Garden

Subz Burz

Subz Burz is an octagonal tomb with four wide and four narrow sides (Muthamman-i-Baghdadz) andstands to the west of Humayun's tomb. 

Some Interesting Facts!!

  1)    The tomb has high recessed arches on all its sides and a high drummed double dome covered with colorful tiles.

  

  2)    The name Subz Burz means green tiles.

  
3)    The structure lacks all the pre Mughl architectural deigns elements like guldastas, chhajjas and chhatris etc.

Athpula

Athpula bridge was built during the region of the Mughal king Akbar, the bridge was constructed to span a stream that went through this area and probably joined the Barahpula nala further south which fed into the river Yamuna.

Some Interesting Facts!!

  1)   The name Athpula is derived from ath (eight) that refers to the eight pillars that support the seven arches and 'pul' of course means a bridge in Hindi. The span between the arches reduces from the center to the bank of the stream. 

  

  

  

 2)   The bridge is placed diagonally across the stream and has a beautiful curving shape.

  3)   It is not clear which road went over this bridge, but the presence of a Mughal  garden nearby suggests that this was an important resting place.