Adham Khan's Tomb is the 16th-century tomb of Adham Khan, a general of the Mughal EmperorAkbar. He was the younger son of Maham Anga, Akbar's wet nurse thus also his foster brother. However, when Adham Khan murdered Akbar’s favourite general Ataga Khan in May 1562, Akbar immediately ordered his execution by defenestration from the ramparts of the Agra Fort.
The tomb was built in 1562, and lies to the South-West of the Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, Delhi, immediately before one reaches the town of Mehrauli,[1] it is now a protected monument by Archaeological Survey of India.[2] The tomb is opposite Mehrauli bus terminus and many passengers use it as a place to wait.
It lies on the walls of Lal Kot and rising from a terrace enclosed by an octagonal wall provided with low towers at the corners. It consists of a domed octagonal chamber in the Lodhi dynasty and Sayyid dynasty style of early 14th century. It has a verandah on each side pierced by three openings. It is known popularly as Bul-bulaiyan (a Labyrinth or Maze), for a visitor often loses his way amidst the several passages in the thickness of its walls.[3]
Historyedit
The interior of Adham Khan's tomb in Mehrauli, Delhi
Adham Khan, son of Maham Anga, a wet nurse of Akbar, was a nobleman and general in Akbar's army. In 1561, he fell out with Ataga Khan, Akbar's Prime Minister and husband of Jiji Anga, another wet nurse, and killed him, whereupon he was thrown down from the ramparts of Agra Fort twice, by the order of the emperor Akbar and died [4]
His mother after fortieth day of mourning also died out of grief, and both were buried in this tomb believed to be commissioned and built by Akbar, in a conspicuous octagonal design not seen in any Mughal building of that era; a design perhaps designated to the traitors, as it was the common design and features visible in the tombs of the previous Sur dynasty, and also the Lodhi dynasty now within the present Lodhi Gardens (Delhi), which the Mughals considered traitors.[5]
In 1830s, a British officer named Blake of Bengal Civil Service, converted this tomb into his residential apartment and removed the graves to make way for his dining hall. Though the officer died soon, it continued to be used as a rest house for many years by the British, and at one point even as a police station and a post office. The tomb was vacated and later restored by the orders of Lord Curzon,[6] and the grave of Adham Khan has since been restored to the site, and lies right below the central dome, though that of his mother Maham Anga never was.[7]
Further readingedit
Adham Khan's Tomb The Delhi that No-one Knows, by R.V. Smith. Orient Longman, 2005. ISBN81-8028-020-9. p. 18.
Mughals Dictionary of Islamic architecture, by Andrew Petersen. Routledge, 1996. ISBN0-415-06084-2. p. 203.
The Cambridge History of India: Mughal Period, by Edward James Rapson. Published by University Press, 1937. p. 532 Tomb of Adham Khan.
Anthony Welch, "The Emperor's Grief: Two Mughal Tombs", Muqarnas 25, Frontiers of Islamic Art and Architecture: Essays in Celebration of Oleg Grabar's Eightieth Birthday (2008): 255–273.
Delhi and Its Neighbourhood, by Y. D. Sharma. Published by Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, 1974. p. 60–61.
Islamic Tombs in India : The Iconography and Genesis of Their Design, by Fredrick W. Bunce. (Series : Contours of Indian Art and Architecture No. 2. 2004.) ISBN81-246-0245-X. Chapt. 20.
Annual York-Noor Lecture Series: "Murder, Mausolea and the Emperor Akbar: Two Early Mughal Tombs", York University
Mughal Architecture of Delhi : A Study of Mosques and Tombs (1556–1627 A.D.), by Praduman K. Sharma, Sundeep, 2001, ISBN81-7574-094-9. Chap. 9.
The tomb of Adham Khan near the Qutb Minar in Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Diary, 1843 British Library
January 01, 1970
tomb, adham, khan, 5234556, 1822583, 5234556, 1822583, photograph, 1872, adham, khan, tomb, which, also, house, tomb, mother, maham, anga, mehrauli, delhi, adham, khan, tomb, 16th, century, tomb, adham, khan, general, mughal, emperor, akbar, younger, maham, an. 28 31 24 44 N 77 10 56 13 E 28 5234556 N 77 1822583 E 28 5234556 77 1822583 Photograph 1872 Adham Khan s tomb which also house the tomb of his mother Maham Anga Mehrauli Delhi Adham Khan s Tomb is the 16th century tomb of Adham Khan a general of the Mughal Emperor Akbar He was the younger son of Maham Anga Akbar s wet nurse thus also his foster brother However when Adham Khan murdered Akbar s favourite general Ataga Khan in May 1562 Akbar immediately ordered his execution by defenestration from the ramparts of the Agra Fort The tomb was built in 1562 and lies to the South West of the Qutub Minar Mehrauli Delhi immediately before one reaches the town of Mehrauli 1 it is now a protected monument by Archaeological Survey of India 2 The tomb is opposite Mehrauli bus terminus and many passengers use it as a place to wait Contents 1 Architecture 2 History 3 Further reading 4 References 5 External linksArchitecture edit nbsp Adham Khan s tomb surrounding archway Mehrauli It lies on the walls of Lal Kot and rising from a terrace enclosed by an octagonal wall provided with low towers at the corners It consists of a domed octagonal chamber in the Lodhi dynasty and Sayyid dynasty style of early 14th century It has a verandah on each side pierced by three openings It is known popularly as Bul bulaiyan a Labyrinth or Maze for a visitor often loses his way amidst the several passages in the thickness of its walls 3 History edit nbsp The interior of Adham Khan s tomb in Mehrauli Delhi Adham Khan son of Maham Anga a wet nurse of Akbar was a nobleman and general in Akbar s army In 1561 he fell out with Ataga Khan Akbar s Prime Minister and husband of Jiji Anga another wet nurse and killed him whereupon he was thrown down from the ramparts of Agra Fort twice by the order of the emperor Akbar and died 4 His mother after fortieth day of mourning also died out of grief and both were buried in this tomb believed to be commissioned and built by Akbar in a conspicuous octagonal design not seen in any Mughal building of that era a design perhaps designated to the traitors as it was the common design and features visible in the tombs of the previous Sur dynasty and also the Lodhi dynasty now within the present Lodhi Gardens Delhi which the Mughals considered traitors 5 nbsp Qutub Minar as seen from Adham Khan s tomb In 1830s a British officer named Blake of Bengal Civil Service converted this tomb into his residential apartment and removed the graves to make way for his dining hall Though the officer died soon it continued to be used as a rest house for many years by the British and at one point even as a police station and a post office The tomb was vacated and later restored by the orders of Lord Curzon 6 and the grave of Adham Khan has since been restored to the site and lies right below the central dome though that of his mother Maham Anga never was 7 Further reading editAdham Khan s Tomb The Delhi that No one Knows by R V Smith Orient Longman 2005 ISBN 81 8028 020 9 p 18 Mughals Dictionary of Islamic architecture by Andrew Petersen Routledge 1996 ISBN 0 415 06084 2 p 203 The Cambridge History of India Mughal Period by Edward James Rapson Published by University Press 1937 p 532 Tomb of Adham Khan Anthony Welch The Emperor s Grief Two Mughal Tombs Muqarnas 25 Frontiers of Islamic Art and Architecture Essays in Celebration of Oleg Grabar s Eightieth Birthday 2008 255 273 Delhi and Its Neighbourhood by Y D Sharma Published by Director General Archaeological Survey of India 1974 p 60 61 Islamic Tombs in India The Iconography and Genesis of Their Design by Fredrick W Bunce Series Contours of Indian Art and Architecture No 2 2004 ISBN 81 246 0245 X Chapt 20 Annual York Noor Lecture Series Murder Mausolea and the Emperor Akbar Two Early Mughal Tombs York University Mughal Architecture of Delhi A Study of Mosques and Tombs 1556 1627 A D by Praduman K Sharma Sundeep 2001 ISBN 81 7574 094 9 Chap 9 References edit Adham Khan Tomb Archived 2010 06 13 at the Wayback Machine archnet org List of Monuments Delhi Delhi Circle N C T of Delhi Archaeological Survey of India Ashri Shashi Bhushan 2010 Delhi A city of cities Delhi India Anubhav Prakashan p 38 ISBN 978 93 8005 320 2 What makes a man great The Tribune 9 June 2001 Adham Khan s Tomb Image and History The New Cambridge History of India by Catherine B Asher Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 26728 5 p 44 Adham Khan s Tomb Delhi by Patrick Horton Richard Plunkett Hugh Finlay Lonely Planet 2002 ISBN 1 86450 297 5 p 127 All About Delhi Delhi the Capital of India by Anon Asian Educational Services 1997 ISBN 81 206 1282 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tomb of Adham Khan Adam Khan s Tomb The Qutub Complex in Delhi Adham Khan s Tomb Images of Adham Khan s Tomb Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts IGNCA Adham Khan s Tomb wikimapia The tomb of Adham Khan near the Qutb Minar in Sir Thomas Metcalfe s Diary 1843 British Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tomb of Adham Khan amp oldid 1182097616, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
