Safdarjung Tomb : come walk with me

This tomb was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style for Safdarjung wo was  prime minister of the Mughal Empire (Wazir ul-Mamlak-i-Hindustan) when Ahmad Shah Bahadur ascended the throne in 1748.

His real name was Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan and since a madarsa ran here was called till recently Mansur ka madarsa.

He was the Subadar Nawab of Oudh (the ruler of the Indian state of Oudh, also known as Awadh) from 19 March 1739 to 5 October 1754

  The prettiest gateway still existing in Delhi 

Inside the gateway

Obviously these young people don’t mind love among the tombs

& not 

Mere mehboob kahin aur milakar mujhse

Looks grand!

Delhi’s last Monumental tomb

There would be no ticket sales in monuments if not for dating couples!

On all three sides of the tomb a row of rooms and a hall were made. Identical to each other.

This is Jangli Mahal. Probably also used as rest house. Now used by ASI for antiquary 

This one was grandly named Badshah pasand. Was the erstwhile ASI Delhi circle office. Guest house for British. Now closed up

This is Moti Mahal and is the office of the horticulture depth!

Similarly on its 4 corners were rooms built in the walls again used as store or offices

Inside one of the side burj

Repairs are going on in #SafdarjungTomb 

Traditional lime mortar: mix of chuna, belgiri, gud, urad Dal, gond, sackcloth, gitti and sand

Traditional lime mortar mix let’s a building breathe giving it life of 400+ years.

Cement chokes it ND gives life of 80 years or so

The mix

This was called Mansur ka madarsa ( Mansur being Safdarjung ‘s name) and housed a flourishing madarsa.

The lovely mosque. Still functions as a Friday mosque 

Mehrab of the mosque 

Flower on central arch

In a sad state the once beautiful wuzu Khana for ablutions preparatory to Nawaz

This was once a fountain and decorations would have been similar to the one on the gateway 

Mosque is also being repaired