Sayyid & Lodi dynasty

By Ar Sukriti Gopalakrishnan
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• During the course of time in 15th century and in the first quarter of 16th century
C.E., under the Sayyids and their successors the Lodis, no great buildings were
undertaken.
• Under Sayyids (1414-1451); Lodis (1451-1526)
• founder of Sayyid dynasty was Khizar Khan and Buhlul Lodi was founder of Lodi
dynasty
• the only monuments that appealed time the rulers was memorial structures to
the dead.
• period of Maqbarahs. In no other time have the tomb buildings more raised
than during the rule of Sayyids and Lodis. In course of time the area around
Delhi was converted into a vast necropolis.
• no less than fifty sizeable and important tombs were found. They range from
simple open pillared pavilions in which the cenotaph is exposed outside to
imposing great structures standing in an enclosure entered by tall gateways
with an additional of a mosque.
• Lodis introduced double domestic built one above other leaving a gap in
between.
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Sayyid dynasty rulers:
• Timur’s deputy khizr khan was the founder of Sayyid Dynasty. Khizr khan
was the first ruler of Sayyid dynasty. He rules delhi from 1414 to 1421 AD.
• The name of other rulers of this dynasty are Mubarak khan,( who
succeeded khizr khan), Muhammad shah (1434-43), and the last king
was Alam shah (1443-51 AD).
• Confusion was prevailing in India after the last Tughlaq, Nasir-ud-Din
Mahmud Shah Tughlaq died. At this time Timur’s deputy in India and the
Governor of Multan, Khizr Khan marched to Delhi and defeated Daulat
Khan, the military head and occupied the throne. This led to the rise of
the fourth dynasty in power of the Delhi Sultanate. The family asserted
themselves as the descendants of Muhammad (Sayyids).
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Sayyid dynasty rulers:
• Khizr Khan, who founded the Sayyid Dynasty and took over as the first ruler in
1414, originally did not take the title of sultan and continued to be Rayat-i-Ala or
Vassal (feudatory with mutual obligation to the ruler in exchange for certain
privileges) of Timurdis. As a mark of recognition to his dedication, the name of
Mongol ruler Shah Rukh (the fourth son of Timur lane) was suffixed to his name.
• He appointed Malik-us-Sharq Malik Tuhfa as the wazir of his court and gave him
the title of Taj-ul-Mulk. With his help, Khizr khan opposed the rebellion of Har
Singh, the Raja of Katehar.
• He not only successfully united Punjab with Delhi and but was also regulated the
rebellions of the governors of several fiefdoms such as Mewat, Gwalior, Etawah
and many more under his rule.
• Takhrikh-i-Mubarak Shahi by Yahya Sirhindi states that Khizr Khan was a
descendant of the Prophet of Islam. His son, Mubarrak Khan, took the throne
after his death. He ruled from 1414-1421 and was succeded by Mubarak Shah
(the son of Khizr Khan).
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Sayyid dynasty rulers:
• Mubarak Shah took over the throne in 1421 with a vision of expanding the
empire but he faced the opposition and revolts of the nobles. Despite the
opposition, he was an efficient ruler and retained his rule from 1421-1434.
• Mubarak Shah undertook expeditions to suppress rebellion and reinstate order
through different parts of the kingdom. While he was successful in Bhatinda and
the Doab, the Khokhars of Punjab could not be suppressed.
• He named himself Muizz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah and minted coins with this name.
To collect revenue and keep anarchy in check, he adopted the practice of
invading his fiefdoms using coercion tactics.
• New city called the Mubarakabad was set up by him on the banks of the
Yamuna River in 1433 and personally planned the architecture of his tomb:
‘Mubarak Shah’s Tomb’ during his rule.
• His war campaigns had several setbacks and in1443 one of the annoyed former
Minister Sarvar-ul-Mulk, plotted to kill him with the help of other Hindu courtiers.
He was brutally assassinated while preparing for his prayers. Muhammad Shah
(The son of his brother) was enthroned, since Mubarak Shah did not have a son.
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Sayyid dynasty rulers:
• Muhammad Shah ruled from 1434-1444. He lost the trust and support of
the Nobles as he was an inefficient ruler who misused his power and
authority. Wanting to have a pleasurable life he was extremely lethargic.
He could not control and check the internal-rebellion among the nobles
in the court and eventually his authority of rule was just a meager area of
around 30 miles while the rest of the Sultanate was ruled by the nobles.
His death in 1444, led to the succession of his son Alam Shah.
• Alam Shah like Muhammad Shah, Alam Shah was also an incapable
ruler; he spent his entire life in Baduan, a place he thoroughly loved as a
visitor. The advantage of his weakness and lack of control in Central
Authority got Bahlol Lodhi, (the governor of Lahore and Sarhind) to
gather strength and take control over Delhi in 1447 by replacing Alam
Shah. Alam Shah stayed in and ruled Baduan till 1478 and his death
marked the end of the Sayyid dynasty.
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Lodi dynasty rulers:
• The Lodis were the last ruling family of the Delhi Sultanate and the first to be
headed by the Afghans who were ruling who were over Sirhind when the Sayyid
dynasty was ruling in India. The Lodi dynasty was founded by Bahlul Lodi in 1451
CE.
• Bahlul Lodi was the Governor of Lahore and Sirhind when the Sultan of Delhi was
Alam Shah, the last of the Syed Sultans. With the help of the few nobles Bahlul
Lodi took charge of the army of the Delhi Sultanate and consequently went on
to became the Sultan of Delhi when Alam Shah transferred the powers of the
Sultanate to his hand. Thus the rule of the Lodi dynasty began which continued
up to 1526 CE.
• Sultan Bahlul Lodi was a capable general and to establish his control over the
Sultanate of Delhi he publicly declared himself as one of the Afghan peers and
not a king. Sultan Bahlul Lodi would not sit on the Throne and neither the Afghan
nobles needed to stay standing in court of the Sultan. This earned him the
respect and support of the nobles throughout his reign.
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Lodi dynasty rulers:
• Bahlul Lodi tried to restore the greatness of the Delhi Sultanate and hence
conquered territories around Delhi. When he died in 1489 CE the Sultanate
comprised the territories from Punjab to Varanasi. He was succeeded by his son
Nizam Shah under the title of Sultan Sikandar Lodi in 1489 CE.
• Sikandar Lodi was perhaps the most able and greatest of the three Lodi Sultans.
Sikandar Lodi brought the whole of Gujarat under his control and defeated
many Rajput chiefs. Sultan Sikandar Lodi founded the city of Agra in 1505 CE
and made it his Capital.
• Sikandar Lodi was also a great administrator. He set up an efficient espionage
system and introduced the system of auditing of accounts. He took keen interest
in improving agriculture. He introduced the Gaaz-i-Sikandar of 32 digits for
measuring cultivated fields. Sikandar Lodi was credited with laying and road
and highways and also for providing irrigational facilities to the peasantry. He
laid great emphasis on justice and all the highways of the empire were made
safe from robbers. During his time a lot of Sanskrit works were translated onto
Persian. Sikandar Lodi died in 1517 CE.
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Lodi dynasty rulers:
• After the death of Sikandar Lodi the nobles divided the empire between his two
sons. Ibrahim Lodi was made the Sultan of Delhi and his brother Jalal Khan was
given Jaunpur.
• Ibrahim Lodi was not satisfied with this arrangement imprisoned Jalal Khan and
later executed him.
• All throughout his reign there was continuous struggle between the Sultan and
the nobles and The Sultan portrayed a harsh attitude towards the nobles by
either putting them in prison or putting them to death whenever they showed
disagreement.
• Daulat Khan Lodi, Governor of Lahore greatly displeased by the arrogance and
the insulting attitude of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi invited Babur, the ruler of Kabul to
invade India and ousted Ibrahim Lodi from the throne. Daulat Khan later
realised his folly but it was too late by then. By that time Babur had already
planned his invasion in India by 1519 CE started to raid the regions of the frontier
province.
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Lodi dynasty rulers:
• A sanguinary battle was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi at the battle
field of Panipat in 1526 CE. Ibrahim Lodi was defeated and killed. This battle is
known as the First Battle of Panipat(1526 CE) which resulted in the complete
defeat of the Lodi dynasty in particular and in general also marked the end of
the Delhi Sultanate. By winning this battle Babur occupied Delhi and Agra and
laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India.
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Types of tomb structures:
• Octagonal tomb structures
• Square tomb structures
Octagonal tomb structures:
• one storey building in height-surrounded by arcaded verandah along
with a projecting eave.
• this shape is recognized as the design for the royals and square meant for
nobles and others of higher ranks.
• the earliest octagonal mausoleum building was the tomb of Khan-i-Jahan
Tilangani built during the reign of Tughlaq dynasty.
• avg plan of an octagonal tomb building is one third larger in size and one
third less in height approximately than the square tomb building.
Examples of Octagonal tomb structures:
1. Tomb of Mubarak Shah Sayyid, Delhi, 1434 CE
2. Tomb of Mohammed Shah Sayyid, Delhi, 1444 CE
3. Tomb of Sikander Lodi, Delhi, 1517 CE
Tomb of Mubarak Shah
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• Is the earliest tomb of Sayyid dynasty, built over the
remains of Mubarak Shah Sayyid at Kotla
Mubarakpur at Delhi.
• The Mubarak Sayyid Tomb is octagonal in plan with
a massive dome and eight octagonal roof kiosks
(chhatri) on each side. The roof kiosks occupy the
middle of the sides and stone buttresses are set at
the vacant corners of the structure. This design
gives the tomb a pyramidal effect as a whole.
• The funerary mosque stands near the tomb, and it is
assumed that the tomb and mosque once stood
within precinct walls. This is the only mosque built by
the Sayyids. It is simple in plan and was intended as
an oratory for tomb visitors.
• Dimensions of this building are 9m each octagonal
side, 23m wide and 15m height including the
dome.
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• The tomb contains the following:
✓ Internal chamber with a dome above
✓ Surrounding corridors supported on pillars
✓ Kiosks one over each side of the
verandah roof

• The design of this type of structure was till

in experimental stage. Hence, proportions
of the dome and kiosks are yet to be
improved and adjusted.
• The height of the structure requires to be
raised in proportion to the width.
• There is a funerary mosque near this tomb.
But now the surroundings of this tomb
building were encroached closely by
modern constructions like shops, houses,
etc. Hence, the building is obscured.
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Exterior view of the funerary mosque

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Tomb of Mohammed Shah
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• The architectural austerity practiced during the Tughluq dynasty was relaxed
under Sayyid rule. Ornamental details were once again incorporated into
architectural expression, though the utilization was still prudent.
• Due to the inheritance of greatly diminished state coffers, the Sayyid's could not
commission monumental buildings. During this period came a renewed interest
in melding Hindu and Islamic art traditions and motif.
• The tomb of Muhammad Shah IV, the third ruler of the Sayyid dynasty, is one of
the larger tombs surviving from this period. It is located within the Lodi Gardens
that was designed by the Sayyids and Lodis in the fifteenth and sixteenth
century.
• It is based on a configuration used mostly for royal tombs-an octagonal
chamber ringed by an outer arcade, while square tombs were for high-ranking
members of society. The width of each of the octagonal faces of the arcade is
32'-9" (10m), equivalent to the height that includes the base and the corner
pinnacles (guldasta). Each face is pierced by three arched openings with a
running 'chhajja' (overhanging eaves supported by stone corbels) above. The
corner of the octagon is reinforced by a sloping buttress.
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• The central dome sits on a sixteen-sided high drum, giving the tomb
greater verticality. Hindu influence is reflected in the eight 'chhatris' that
ring the dome, each centered and in line with a face of the octagon.
The dome of each 'chhatri' is a smaller version of the central dome,
each capped by a lotus finial with a decorative band around the base.
• The tomb chamber is an octagon measuring 26'-3" (8m) in diameter. The
ceiling is decorated with carved stucco using circular designs with
arabesques and calligraphic motifs. The main entrance is through the
south, though each side of the chamber has a beam and lintel
doorway. There are eight graves inside, the central one is believed to be
that of Muhammad Shah.
• The tomb is considered a refinement of the tomb built for Mubarak Shah,
father of Muhammad Shah. Muhammad Shah's tomb is more compact
in plan with a higher dome that lends it better proportionality and is
more pleasing visually.
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Interior of the dome

Inside view of the mausoleum

Tomb of Sikander Lodi
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The Lodhi Dynasty under the Delhi Sultanate was the first Afghan Pashtun Dynasty
in India who ruled from AD 1451 to 1526.This dynasty replaced the Sayyid Dynasty
and it was a period of reforms in administration, strengthening the army, gearing
up the machinery of land revenue administration, expansion and improvement of
the cultivation and welfare of the people.
Bahlol Lodhi (AD 1451-1489)
1. He was the founder of the Lodhi dynasty. During the reign of Muhammad Shah
he served as the Subedar (Governor) of Lahore and Sirhind.
2. 2. He tried to restore the greatness of the Delhi sultanate, hence conquered
territories surrounding Delhi. The most successful war was against Mahmud Shah
Sharqi of Jaunpur. Territories conquered by Bahlol Lodhi.
3. Mewat (Ahmad Khan), Sambhal (Dariya Khan), Koll (lsa Khan), Suket (Mubarak
Khan), Manipur and Bhongaon (Raja Pratap ; Singh), Rewari (Qutb Khan), Etawah
and Chandwar.
4. He was succeeded by his able son Nizam Shah under the title of Sultan Sikandar
Shah in AD 1489.
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Sikandar Lodhi (AD 1489-1517)
1. He was the ablest of the three Lodhi rulers. He conquered Bihar and Raja of
Tirhut and concluded a friendship treaty with the Alauddin Hussain Shah of Bengal.
Dariya Khan was appointed as the Governor of Bengal.
2. Sikandar extended his empire by conquering Dholpur, Chanderi etc. He kept
strict vigilance on his nobles and Jagirdars whom he strictly suppressed.
3. He set up an efficient espionage system and introduced the system of auditing
the accounts.
4. He relaxed restrictions on trade, which greatly promoted the economic
prosperity of the people. He introduced "Gaz-i-Sikandari" (Sikandar's yard) of 39
digits or 32 inches, for the measurement of agricultural land.
5. He transferred his capital from Delhi to Agra, a city which was founded by him.
The village of Sikandara, near Agra, where the tomb of Akbar stands, was named
after Sikandar.
6. He was staunch Sunni and a Muslim fanatic. He lacked religious tolerance and
levied Jaziya and Pilgrim's tax on Hindus. He was a liberal patron of arts and letters.
He wrote verses in Persian under the pen name of Gulrukhi.
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Ibrahim Lodhi (AD 1517-1526)
1. Sikandar Shah was succeeded simultaneously by his two sons Ibrahim on the
throne of Agra and Jalal on the throne of Jaunpur. Later, Ibrahim killed Jalal and
succeeded his father.
2. There were many revolts during his reign; Bihar declared its independence
under Dariya Khan Lohani.
3. His repressive policy towards the Lohani, Formuli and Lodhi tribes and his
unsympathetic treatment of Dilawar Khan, the governor of Lahore, turned the
nobles against him. Battle of Panipat, AD 1526.
4. Daulat Khan Lodhi (father of Dilawar Khan) and Alam Khan invited Babu, the
Timurid ruler of Kabul, to invade India.
In the first battle of Panipat (AD 1526), Babur defeated Ibrahim and killed him. He
became the master of Delhi and Agra. This puts an end to the Sultanate and the
rise of Mughal dynasty in India.
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Square tomb structures:
• this shape is recognized as the design for the nobles and others of higher ranks
other than royals.
• These buildings are square in plan and had no verandahs.
• Out of many such tombs some seven are larger and imposing in the
neighborhood of Delhi.
• These structures hardly bear the names of those to whom they were built. Now
they are called by local names.
• The word Ghumbad used in the name of these structures denotes the dome.
• The exterior of these structures is in two or sometimes 3 storeys in height
surmounted by a dome.
Examples of Square tomb structures:
1. Bada Khan ka Ghumbad
2. Chota Khan ka Ghumbad
3. Shish Ghumbad
4. Bara Ghumbad
Bada Khan ka Ghumbad
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• There are many legendary monuments located in Delhi. Some are lesser
known, decaying & neglected, whilst there are others that make you
wonder why they are not so famous after all?! Bade and Chote Khan’s
twin tombs in South Extension are of the latter kind.
• They are magnificent structures, colossal enough to get noticed, located
in a prominent area and also in pretty good shape too, but still, hardly
anyone knows about them.
• It is basically a complex of twin tombs. They form part of one of the major
components of the Kotla Mubarakpur complex, which includes several
other lesser known tombs, mostly from the pre-Mughal era, belonging to
various kings and noblemen of the notable Lodi and Sayyid dynasties.
• As of now, they are scattered around the congested lanes of Kotla
Mubarakpur village as well as the posh streets of the neighbouring South
Extension locality.
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• This tomb of Lodhi period is situated at Kotla Mubarakpur near South
Extension Part I of New Delhi.
• This monument is called Bade Khan ka Gumbad but could be distorted
form of Wadde Khan ka Gumbad. The identity of Bade Khan or Wadde
Khan is not known.
• This monument has five tombs of unknown persons and consists of a
domed chamber which is built of rubble masonry.
• The walls of the tomb have recessed arches and terminate at angles with
semi-octagonal pilasters.
• Some of the salient features of this monument are domed octagonal
chhatris at corners of roof, sixteen sided battlemented drum with a
decorative minaret at each angle.
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• Slightly bigger of the two tombs, it dates
back to the 16th century, as per
archaeologists.
• The front is intricately carved, while the
centre is surrounded by three rows of
niches.
• The central niche in each row is larger
than the other two.
• It looks like a typical Lodhi-era tomb with
octagonal turrets at the corners covered
by chattris at the top.
• The interiors were once intricately
crafted, but now they look a bit worn out.
• The structure is supported by four massive
pillars on all four corners.
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Chota Khan ka Ghumbad
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• The Chote Khan Ka Gumbad is the other
tomb that lies adjacent to Bade Khan’s
tomb and it is not certain if they were built
at the same time.
• It is believed that they were related in
some way, with Bade Khan being an
elder, such as a father or a teacher.
• It does not have the pillars like the other
one, but displays some excellent colourful
tile work on the upper parts of the dome;
although worn out, one can still notice
the blue tinge on these walls.
• Green parrots often find shelter on the
cracks of the walls here, and they create
a really pretty picture.
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• This square-plan tomb has a double-storey division on the exterior, with a
central iwan projecting out on each façade.
• The spandrels of the portal arch are decorated with carved stucco. Its
high dome is flanked by four hexagonal roof kiosks (chhatri) at the
corners.
• The interior has a mihrab niche on the western side, decorated with a
lamp motif.
• The tombs are barely a few feet apart. The authorities have now built a
pathway surrounding them. Local children play cricket on the remaining
space, but as a matter of fact, the compound is disproportionately small
for the size of the monuments. The minimal free space is tightly
surrounded by walls and beyond them lie the residential & commercial
establishments and hence it is difficult to get a clear, wide view of the
compound.
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Shish Ghumbad
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• Sheesh Gumbad or ‘Shish’ Gumbad is
called so because of the ‘Sheesha’ or
mirror-like appearance that is reflected
by the glazed tiles of Lapiz Lazulli and
Turquoise.
• Unfortunately, most of them have gone
missing, but we still have enough
evidence to reconstruct the tiles and
give the tomb back it’s original and
significant character by which it was
identified.
• It was perhaps built during Sikander Lodi’s
reign i.e 1489-1517 (Source: ASI’s Cultural
Notice Board). It is not known whose
grave is buried below the Cenotaph that
we see inside the tomb.
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• Sheesh Gumbad has a square plan with
arched entrances. The central arched
openings are made by Bracket and Beam
method. The Western wall has Mihrab,
suggesting it’s double use as a Mosque.
• The tomb is single storeyed inside but has
false double facade, i.e. False doors and
windows marked in the upper area of the
facade, giving it an appearance of two-
storeyed building.
• It is a fusion of Hindu and Islamic
Architecture. The soffit of the dome is
decorated with Quranic inscriptions and
floral motifs. It is heavily damaged by bat
excreta and must be treated immediately.
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• Shish Gumbad (Glazed dome) is thought to have been
constructed between 1489 and 1517. The architecture is
a blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture.
• It has vivid blue tiles that adorn its facade. These glossy
blue tiles are rare in the medieval structures and must
have been difficult to produce and hence expensive
back then.
• Conjecture is that once the whole top surface of the
tomb were covered with such tiles.
• Shish Gumbad houses tombs of an unknown family that
may have been part of the Lodhi family and a part of
Sikander Lodi's court.
• However some historians believe that the tomb is of
Bahlul Lodi, who was chief of the Afghan Lodi tribe and
founder and Sultan of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi
Sultanate.
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Internal Mihrab wall of Sheesh Gumbad Unidentified graves inside the Sheesh Gumbad
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Soffit of Sheesh Gumbad Internal niches on upper side of Sheesh Gumbad

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Decorations inside
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Dome soffit
Bara Ghumbad
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• The Bara Gumbad, or "big dome," is a large domed structure grouped together
with the Friday mosque of Nizam Khan Sikandar II ("Sikander Lodi") (r. 1489-1517)
and a mehman khana (guesthouse), located in New Delhi's Lodi Gardens.
• The buildings were constructed at different times during the Lodi era and
occupy a common raised platform. Formerly an outlying area of Delhi, the Lodi
Gardens are a British-planned landscaped garden which includes a number of
monuments (primarily tombs) from the Sayyid and the Lodi dynasties. Originally
called Willingdon Park, the gardens were located in the former village of
Khairpur, now on the edge of Lutyen's Delhi, the colonial capital built by the
British in the early 20th century.
• The gardens, which cover approx. 70 acres, have come to be surrounded by
institutional buildings and some of contemporary Delhi's most expensive real
estate. Although they were built under the same dynasty, each of the three
structures was undertaken separately.
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• The Bara Gumbad, completed in 1490, is considered to have the first full dome
constructed in Delhi.
• Its original purpose is contested; although it appears to be a freestanding tomb,
it contains no tombstone. This causes the speculation that the building might
have been intended as a gateway for the Friday mosque; however, their
respective placements, stylistic differences, and construction dates do not
support this theory.
• The Friday mosque, completed in 1494, is the first example of the new mosque
type that developed during the Lodi era. Characterized by a relatively simple
five bay prayer hall building adjacent to a simple open courtyard, this type was
an important precedent for mosque architecture in the Lodi and Mughal eras.
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The complex can be accessed from various points along the roads bordering the Lodi Gardens, with
the access from the Lodi road towards the south most prominent. Another prominent structure, the
Shish Gumbad, is located facing the Bara Gumbad at a distance of about seventy-five meters
towards the north. The area surrounding the buildings is landscaped with manicured grass lawns. Few
trees are planted in the immediate vicinity, leaving the view of the structures unobscured. The path
winding through the Lodi Gardens approaches the buildings axially from the north, although the
building plinth is accessible all from all sides.
The buildings are sited on a three-meter-high platform, measuring approximately 30 meters (east-
west) by 25 meters (north-south). The Friday mosque is located along the western edge of the
platform; the guesthouse is sited opposite it, occupying the eastern edge, while the Bara Gumbad is
located along the southern edge. Stone masonry walls, about six meters high, connect the three
structures along the southern edge. The northern edge is provided with staircases for accessing the
platform. A centrally located straight flight comprising of eight steps, about ten meters wide,
connects the ground to a generous mid landing. Another 'C' shaped flight of eight steps wraps
around the landing, creating an amphitheatre-like space and reaching the top of the platform. The
current arrangement of steps appears to be more recent, and the remains of walls adjoining the
southern face of the guesthouse and the mosque indicate that the northern edge might have
originally been walled. In the center of the raised court, with its southern edge along the staircase,
are the remains of a square shaped platform, 8 meters wide, which appears to be a grave.
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Bara Gumbad:
Square in plan, the Bara Gumbad measures approx. 20 meters per side. Set on a plinth 3 meters high, it
joins the common plinth on the north and projects beyond it to the south. Its plinth is decorated on the
east, south, and west with ogee arch openings set into rectangular frames. These provide access to a
basement.The walls of the Bara Gumbad are approx. 12 meters tall, above which a hemispherical dome
on a hexadecagonal drum extends another 14 meters from the roof level, for a total building height of 29
meters above ground level.

Each of its elevations is nearly identical and divided into 2 horizontal sections. A projecting portal
composed of an ogee arch set in a rectangular frame (approx. 8 meters wide), is centered in each
elevation and rises approximately 75 cm above the parapet line of the building. The 1.5 meter wide frame
is made of dressed gray granite. Each vertical pier of the frame has six shallow red sandstone niches
arranged atop one another at varying heights; nine niches continue in a line along the horizontal portion
of the frame. The portal is described by two receding planes of grey granite ogee arches; the spandrels
are cased with black granite with a thin projecting edge of red sandstone. Two round plaster medallions
adorn the spandrels. The lower layer of the portal has a central doorway, spanned by two red sandstone
brackets that form a trabeated arch supporting a black granite lintel. These brackets are supported on
grey granite posts. An intricately carved red sandstone frame adorns the brackets and the lintel; it starts at
the springing point of the arch and frames the lintel of the doorway. The entire composition is set in a
rectangular yellow sandstone frame. An ogee arch window has been provided above the trabeated
entrance. The portal is crowned by the arched crenellations of the blind parapet. Solid turrets mark the
projecting corners of the portal.
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The remainder of the elevation, that flanking the central portal on either side and recessed behind it, is
divided vertically into two equivalent parts by projecting horizontal bands of stone. Each part is described
by two equal arched panels set into rectangular frames. Both the panels of the upper part on either side
of the portal are blind and filled with granite masonry. The lower panels located adjacent to the portal are
windows, while the lower panels at the edges are filled in. The parapet, like the portal, is decorated with
arched crenellations, and the roof has solid turrets at each corner.
A single hemispherical dome surmounted on a sixteen-sided drum crowns the building. Each face of the
drum is described by an ogee arched niche set in a rectangular frame. The voussoirs of the arches are
gray granite, while the spandrels are clad with red sandstone. The top edge of the drum is decorated with
a band of arched crenellations, similar to those on the roof parapets, running above a projecting band of
stone that surrounds the drum. Below this projection is band of leaves carved in relief. The extrados of the
dome are finished in smooth plaster. The lotus base, possibly for a vanished calyx finial, is still extant.
The structure can be entered either from the raised courtyard via the north elevation or from a double
flight of steps located on the western elevation. Inside, the square building measures about seven meters
per side. An 80 cm high, 45 cm wide solid seat runs continuously along the interior perimeter of the
building. Light streams in from all four walls, which are punctured by the openings of the doorway at the
ground level and the ogee arch window above. The interior surfaces of the Gumbad are unornamented
and finished in dressed granite. The square plan of the room transitions into an octagon via squinches,
which then support the thirty-two-sided drum and the dome. The apex of the dome has two bands of floral
inscriptions; otherwise, the dome is finished in plaster. The absence of historical inscriptions has contributed
to the confusion over the original purpose of the Bara Gumbad.
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The differences in the surface ornament of the buildings suggest that the buildings were
constructed at different times, with the Bara Gumbad and the guesthouse being similar in style and
decoration, without the multilayered arches of the Friday mosque. The function of the Bara
Gumbad is still unknown; its geometry and form aligns with the predominant tomb architecture of
the period (like the neighboring Shish Gumbad). However, there is no grave or cenotaph in the
building, and rather than being blank, its qibla wall (like its other walls) is punctured by an entrance.
While the continuous stone bench in the interior is also found in gateway architecture, (as in the
Alai Darwaza at the Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Mehrauli), the size of the Bara Gumbad vis-a-vis the
Friday mosque does not support this conjecture. Some scholars surmise that the structure might
have been a gateway to the larger complex of tombs within the Lodi Gardens.
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ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE