Dear LG Community,
I recently visited the historic Safdarjung’s Tomb located in New Delhi as part of a Heritage Walk sponsored by INTACH Delhi Chapter. I was amazed at the beautiful architecture, intriguing history and story behind the construction of this monument.
History : Safdarjung’s Tomb was built by Shiraj-ud-Daulah in memory of his father Mirza Abul Mansur Khan, more popularly known as “Safdarjung”, in 1753-54. Mirza Abul Mansur Khan was a governer of an Awadh province during the reign of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah Rangila. Safdarjung literally means “Lion of the Battle”. Safdarjung and his wife were buried here, however no cenotaph for his wife could be found.
Background of the time the tomb was built : By the mid 18th Century, The Mughal empire was in decline, the invasion of Nadir Shah depleted their wealth by almost 80%. The death of Aurangzeb and resulting revolts from Rajputs and Marathas means successive Mughal rulers were either weak or ruled for a short period of time. Hence, the Mughal empire couldn’t spend as much to build this tomb, the red sandstone and marble used in this structure was removed from the tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, therefore the marble is not uniform in shape. The construction is also not as proportional as it used to be in Humayun’s era.
Architecture : It is constructed on the Char Bagh Pattern (Garden on all four sides with waterways intersecting the garden) which was common during the Mughal era and contains a double storey gateway. It is constructed on a raised platform with a wide dome on top. The structure is decorated with floral motives, geometrical patterns and verses of Quran. Since this was the one of the last structures in the Mughal Era, it is also known as the “Last Flicker of the dying Mughal Architecture”.
Current Status : Visitors can see the architectural wonder of this place and also roam around the garden. There are small structures around the tomb which is now closed, there is also a Mosque which we can’t enter anymore. We can also find a small publication counter, though the products they have are very limited and less useful.
Accessibility / Ticket Details
We need to purchase the tickets either in the ticket counter or online. Price of the ticket is Rs.20 per person
Wheelchair Accessible parking is available, though located a few hundred metres away from the main entrance
Restrooms are wheelchair accessible
Entrance is wheelchair accessible, however we need to climb stairs to visit the main tomb which contains the cenotaph
Being a history buff, I love exploring heritage sites all across my city. I would love to hear from you all about your experiences visiting heritage sites in your city.
Regards,
