I visited the tomb of Yusuf Qattal last month in the Khirki village located in the congested Malviya Nagar area.
Shaikh Yusuf Qattal was a Sufi saint and poet who lived in this area in the 16th century. The tomb was built in 1527 with red sandstone and is quite ornamental. Sufi saints indulged in poems and songs with the primary aim of luring the local population to convert to Islam. At other times they inspired the Muslim rulers for forceful conversion. The Sufi movement in the medieval period was so strong that today, 550 million of 2000 million that is more than 1/4th of the Muslim population of the world lives in the Indian sub-continent comprising India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, all according to the tour guide at the Qattla tomb in Delhi.
The tomb has twelve pillars and a gate on the south though it looks symmetrical on all sides.
It has beautiful Kangura nets on all four sides and a dome with its base decorated with blue tiles.
Once I entered the premises, quietness enveloped me, and the din on the road became irrelevant.
The tomb is in a good condition but its surroundings are in ruins.
I found this place to be a nice monument in terms of artwork and also not huge or prominent yet a peaceful secluded place to visit.
The compound also consists of a domed mosque and ruins of other structures which are not in a good condition.
This place definitely offers solitude in the heart of the city though it is in dire need of proper care and maintenance else the whole compound is at the risk of destruction.
Just outside this tomb is the maddening crowd of Delhi and here’s a shining example of how a goods auto-rickshaw is trying to squeeze through a height-limiting barrier causing a traffic jam and wasting everyone’s time.
Accessibility Features
There are ramps everywhere on the premises so the entire tomb complex can be explored using a wheelchair
There are also plenty of accessible benches parked near the entrance.
Here’s a snapshot:
Ramp access.
A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
A wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
A wheelchair-accessible Parking.