Lodi Gardens has several entry points and four official gates. At the southern end of it is the tomb of Muhammad Shah Sayyid of the Sayyid dynasty, while at the northern end lies the tomb of Sikandar Lodi of the Lodi dynasty.
Bada Gumbad Mosque
A small mosque stands on the north west corner of the Bada Gumbad. Some historians believe that Bada Gumbad was built as a gateway to the mosque but generally it is considered as a tomb with some unique feature. Sadly, the occupant of the tomb can no longer be identified, but he must have been an officer of high rank during Sikandar Lodi’s rule.
The three domed mosque is approached from the east through a five arched entrance. The central arch is the largest of the five and the size of the arch diminishes as moves away from the centre. Built in 1494 the interiors of the mosque are richly decorated with stuccoes and frescoes, consisting of floral & geometric designs and Quranic inscriptions. Tapering minarets on the back corners and jharokha windows are some of the unique features of the Bada Gumbad Mosque.
Mehmankhana
Opposite the Bada Gumbad Mosque is an elongated hall, which probably served as a Guest House. It is devoid of ornamentation and a striking contrast with the mosque.
Shish Gumbad
Constructed between 1489-1517 CE, the Shish Gumbad is constructed in square shape. Combination of bracket and lintel beams, the architecture is a blend of Islamic and Hindu architectures. Although the Gumbad has an external semblance of spanning in two floors, the structure made only in one floor. The western wall of the Gumbad consists of mihrab which also served as a mosque. The main chamber of the monument measures 10 square metres. The ceiling is decorated with plaster work that contains Quranic inscriptions and floral designs. The monument was originally decorated with blue enamelled tiles that shined like glass. The Gumbad hence got its name “Shish Gumbad”. The blue tile embellishment presently only remains on top of the main frontage in traces.
Muhammad Shah’s Tomb
Muhammad Shah was the third ruler of the Sayyid Dynasty. His tomb follows the typical octagonal plan with a central octagonal chamber. Each side has a triple entrance with slopping buttress occupy each of the eight corners. The chamber contains a single door way on each of the seven sides, with the exception of the western wall, so that the tomb could also serve as a mosque.
The roof contains eight chhatri, each at the centre of the eight sides. The gigantic dome is supported by a sixteen-sided drum with turrets at each corner. The dome is crowned with a sprawling lotus.
The interior contains eight graves; the central one is believed to be that of Muhammad Shah. The interior of the dome contains beautiful fresco. The mihrab on the western wall is decorated with stucco ornamentation. Stucco ornamentation can also be seen above each of the seven doors.
The nearest metro station is Jorbagh on yellow line. The station is around a km from the garden. If you are coming by your own vehicle there is ample parking space near Gate No-1. Entry is free. Nice clean restrooms are there. The garden tends to get crowded on weekends and during evenings. So best time is to go early morning.
