Name

Mubarak Khan-Ka-Gumbad

Tomb of Muhammed Shah (Mausoleum of Muhammad Shah)

Location Main Entrance, South facing

Muhammad Shah Sayyid Tomb
Khairpur (Lodi Garden), Hauz-Khas, South Delhi, New Delhi, New Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), 110003

Approach

It is accessible by Lodhi Road

SITE PRECINCTS
Age

The building is said to have been erected by Alaud-Din Alam Shah (1444-1451), son and successor of
Muhammad Shah.

Ownership

Protected, Public and Government owned

Usage Property-Category

In Use Precinct

Present: Tomb Typology: Funerary

Past: Tomb Subtype: Tomb

Historical Significance

Muhammad Shah, son of Farid Shah, was the third king of Sayyid dynasty. He ascended the throne in
A.H. 837 (A.D. 1433-34) and died in A.H. 849 (A.D. 1445). The building is said to have been erected by
Alaud-Din Alam Shah, son and successor of Muhammad Shah. The tomb consists of an octagonal
chamber surrounded by a verandah. The three arched openings on each face are supported on double
square pillars which are typical of the buildings of this period. The eight-pillared chhatris, the dome of
typical Afghan type, sloping masonry of buttresses, guldastas above the corners and along the angles of
the drum are important architectural and decorative features of the building. There are eight graves in
the building; the one in the center is of Muhammad Shah.

MUHAMMAD SHAH TOMB IN 1451 AD

Architectural Description

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. As a result, their architectural legacy manifested in small tombs and
mausoleum built throughout Delhi. The city became a veritable necropolis leading this period to be
known as the 'macabre' reign, a word perhaps derived from 'maqbara' (cemetery) in Arabic. Also 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.

CHATTRI

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.
 ELEVATION

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.

ROOF PLAN
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.

Actually, most of this village was pulled down in the 1930’s, when it was transformed into the Lady
Willingdon Park; today the whole area is included in a landscape garden known as Lodi Garden (Sharma,
1974: 91-95). The tomb is set in a square garden of 80 m side, four pathways leading toward an
octagonal earthwork terrace in the centre. The domed funerary chamber has its main entrance looking
southward and houses eight tombs. This means that the monument was used as a kind of family
mausoleum.

SECTIONAL PLAN ROOF PLAN

Construction Material and Techniques

Among the features displayed by the tomb are – a continuous eave (“chajja”) along the roof supported
by equally spaced brackets, chattris (domes mounted on slender pillars) raised on the parapet above
each of its sides, strong tapering pillars dressed with grey Delhi quartzite stone along each corner of the
octagon (to afford enhanced structural stability), three-arch entrances on each side along the edge of
verandah & inverted lotus finials atop the central dome & the smaller chattri domes. The squat but well-
proportioned structure sits on a rubble plinth & can be noticed from afar.
SECTIONAL ELEVATION

ARCHED ENTRANCE TOMB

Decorative Features

The parapet, the sixteen-sided drum (base) of the dome & the eight-sided drums of the smaller dome –
each is distinguished by a row of kanguras (battlement-like ornamentation). Slender ornamental pillars
emerge from each corner of the drum of the central dome – portions of the pillars & the kangura
ornamentation have been turned brilliant red, perhaps a result of recent restoration work. Each one of
these adornments, work in tandem to generate a cumulative effect of striking grace & symmetry.

CONCEPTUAL ELEVATION

The verandah is reached by climbing a flight of stairs & one cannot fail to notice the captivating patterns
that adorn the recessed niches that are built into the roof of the verandah – the four-pointed stars were
once painted white; the straight lines, arches & embossments complement each other to form solemn
symmetrical patterns; in the center of the star & embossed within an octagon is a graceful eight-petal
flower pattern bearing in its center an intricate incised plaster.
 VERANDAH ROOF

Originally each side of the chamber bore jaalis (stone filigree screens), however these were lost with
time & the western side was filled in to function as a mihrab (enclosure wall indicating the direction of
Mecca, faced by Muslims while offering Namaz). With the loss of the lattice screens, each face came to
possess an arched doorway leading into the chamber – each doorway is partitioned near the top with a
heavy lintel beam so that the entrance becomes rectangular with an arched window slightly above it.
The pillars that support the lintel beam curve near the top & flower into curves.

NICHE GATEWAY
Inside the tomb, the quartzite walls ornamented with white plasters & medallions appear well
proportioned. Eight graves – each covered with a layer of somber white plaster – line the chamber in
three rows, the central one belongs to Muhammad Shah, the rest are construed to be those of his family
members. Towards the top, the corners of the chamber are spanned by stone wedges to convert the
eight-sided interior into a sixteen-sided figure in order to better support the weight of the massive
dome. The dome & the chamber are separated by a line of arched alcoves set within rectangular niches
topped by a span of quartzite stone & a band of calligraphic inscription.

DOMED ROOF AT THE CENTRE

The dome is massive (diameter 10 meter) & displays a central medallion set within two concentric four-
pointed stars which touch to form an eight-point star at the circumference of the medallion. The sides of
the two stars have been extended to touch the periphery of the dome & each of the eight polygonal
quadrants formed were once adorned with a smaller medallion motif (with tails emerging radially from
the center-facing sides), however only one such medallion exists now. The intricate designs are done in
incised plaster painted in vibrant shades of red, blue, yellow & green to generate a mesmerizing picture
consisting of floral artwork embossed within a circle of calligraphic inscriptions embossed within a larger
circle of bewitching floral designs.
BRACKET CARVINGS

CALLIGRAPHY
State of Preservation

Fair

Threats to the property

Natural: Nuisance of Animals or Birds

Negligence: Lack of Maintenance

Vandalism: Etching

Condition Description

The dome had suffered extensive deterioration due to water seepage & cracking of the plaster layers;
however the same has been rectified recently (along with the fixing of cracks, repainting of discolored
walls & replacement of broken/missing tiles) by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) & Indian
National Trust for Conservation of Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in a conservation drive sponsored by
Steel Authority of India (SAIL). But lately, it has undergone damages like etching on the interior walls,
peeling of plaster of the mounds, mild fungal growth on the exterior surface of dome and discoloration
of stuccos in the interior surface of dome.

MILD FUNGAL GROWTH ETCHING

PEELING OF PLASTER AND NUISANCE BY ANIMALS

Grade: Grade I*

Archaeological: B

Architectural: B

Historical: B

Religious: C

Potential of the Site/Building

The precinct is already maintained but the building maintenance should be regularized. Not only the
landscape, but also the structures should be safe guarded from vandalism.

Bibliography

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/tomb-of-muhammed-shah-sayyid-lodhi-garden-new-delhi-
110-003/wQFEmDZwQqFzfA

http://thespeakingarch.com/splendourofdelhi/?p=73

https://archnet.org/sites/3984/media_contents/3205

https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01407025/document

http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/87960.pdf

http://competentauthoritydelhi.co.in/MonumentViewer.aspx?ID=14

https://lighteddream.wordpress.com/page/2/

http://pixels-memories.blogspot.com/2013/12/muhammad-shah-saiyyids-tomb-lodi.html
Architectural
Conservation
CONSERVATION AT THE TOMB OF MUHAMMAD SHAH SAYYID

SUBMITTED BY:

S.MONIKA

MONIKA TRIPATHI
SUBMITTED TO:
GEETIKA KHARKWAL
AR. AKSHITA BHATT
ROHIT KASHYAP

SONIYA

SWIKRITI GUPTA