The Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah needs no introduction to those who are religiously or spiritually inclined or those who have a deep belief in the concept of secularism. This name has four parts with a meaning attached to it.
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Hazrat is an Arabic title used to honor a person. For example His Highness. Hazrat means the auspicious or holy presence.
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Nizamuddin means of the highest order. In simple dictionary terms, Nizam means a regular Turkish army but since the Turks were considered of the highest order in terms of power and respect, the term Nizam and its superlative Nizamuddin was used synonymously as of the highest order as an adjective or property.
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Aulia is again an Arabic word meaning friend, helper, supporter, patron, or protector. It is often used to designate the status of a saint. In this case, it is attributed to the saint Nizamuddin.
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Finally, the Dargah is a Persian word meaning a shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure often a Sufi saint. This leads to understanding the meaning of the term Sufi.
Sufi people are often compared to the Rishis in India. Rishis were the most learned and wise people who lived aloof from the civilians in secluded regions of the Himalayan mountains performing meditation and research to discover the knowledge of use to the common people ranging from medicine and astronomy to warfare and metallurgy. The Rishis were universally respected and even the king would vacate and offer his throne every time a Rishi visit him.
This never went well with the RajPurohits who were the Pundits in the King’s court. The Pundits also belonged to one of the clans of the Rishis but they lived with the common people and advised the king on the daily chores of running the kingdom. If the king was a Muslim the Pundits were called the Ulema.
This was also the story with the King of Delhi Ghiyasuddin Tughlak who had a courtier Amir Khusro who was a great philosopher and poet. Amir Khusro was a disciple of Hazarat Nizamuddin Aulia whose grave or Dargah I visited yesterday in Delhi.
Unlike the cordial relations between the Rishis and the Hindu kings, the relations between king Ghiyasuddin and the Sufi Saint Hazarat Nizamuddin were those full of suspicion. King Ghiyasuddin Tughlak was famous for his eccentric behavior so much that even today when there is chaos or discontent in 21st century India, Ghiyasuddin Tughlak’s style of administration is used as a phrase for "Tughalaki Karbhar’ or The Tughalaki Order meaning chaos and disorder due to the high handedness with which he ruled.
Once when the king was returning to Delhi from an expedition, he ordered the Sufi to move off the Tughlakbad fort of Delhi that he had built for himself. On hearing this, the saint became furious and cursed the king that he would die before reaching Delhi. The curse had its effect and Ghiyasuddin Tughlak died on his way back in a small accident. Some rumors say that it was a plot by his son to take over the kingdom from his father with cooperation with the Saint.
Hence unlike the Rishis, the Sufi sect is looked upon with suspicion in India. This is because of the widespread notion that whereas the Sufis indulged in music and poerty in the public, they covertly supported the annihilation of those they considered their foes, be it the king, Hindus, or the Muslims.
There are several entranced to Nizamuddin Dargah and Google Maps shows the nearest one based on where you searched. I was returning from the most beautiful sundial in the world and took the entrance just outside the Humayun Tomb. This leads to another famous phrase that is used across India that goes ‘Dilli abhi dur hai’ that translates to ‘Delhi is yet far away’ and means ‘Don’t count your chicken before the eggs are hatched’.
There is a narrow lane that leads to the Dargah or Shrine. On both sides of the Dargah are tiny shops selling flowers and a variety of fancy items like jewelry, sarees, perfume, and also colorful pieces of cloth called the Chadar that is offered to the saint as a ritual. Additionally, there are several taps that provide water to clean the feet and wash hands before offering prayers in a practice called Waju.
The narrow lanes finally end up in an open space that hosts the shrines of both Amir Khusro and Hazarat Nizamuddin Aulia.
The structures are small compared to the nearby mosques and royal tombs but are nicely decorated in rich gold and other shiny colors with verses from the holy Koran inscribed on them.
The domes are covered with marble and look attractive. Besides the two main shrines, there are also several small and big structures that are mosques and chambers for praying all of them having ornately decorated entrance arches and minarets.
Overall the Dargah premises are full of holiness and divinity. As a practice ladies are not allowed to enter the shrine. Even a religiously less inclined person like me could not escape the power and vibe of the place, no doubt Hazarat Nizamuddin Dargah is revered and visited by people of all religions and beliefs.
Have you been to a religious place recently? What was special about the place?
I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Until then… Happy Guiding 
Accessibility Features
The accessibility features at the Dargah are minimal and there are some discontinuities.
Here’s a snapshot:
Ramp access.
A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
A wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
A wheelchair-accessible Parking.
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