Chausath Khamba
Encyclopedia
Chausath Khamba, also spelt Chaunsath Khamba , is a tomb built during 1623–24. It is located in Nizamuddin precincts (a heritage zone) of Sufi Muslim shrines and tombs in New Delhi
, India. The name means "64 pillars" in Urdu
and Hindi
. It was built by Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Ataga Khan
, as a mausoleum for himself, at the time when Mughal Emperor Jahangir
ruled from Delhi. Mirza Aziz Koka had served several times as Jahangir’s Governor
of Gujarat before his died in Gujarat. Ataga Khan was Prime Minister
of Emperor Akbar.
. The structure (pictured with facades) has 64 columns that support twenty five bays. Each bay supports a dome
. The domes are not visible externally since they are reverse domes (picture). The roof is flat. Each wall has five arches
that are held by square pilasters. In each face, between each of five pilasters, marble trellised screens
have been fixed.
According to inscriptions, the structure houses the tomb of Mirza Aziz Koka (also named Kotaltash). The tomb of his father, Ataga Khan
, the Prime Minister of Akbar, is also in the vicinity. In addition, there are several other unidentified tombs inside this monument. It is considered the family shrine of Atgah Khan.
The structure is enclosed and has an imposing entrance gate. The Ghalib tomb is located adjoining this structure on the northern side. Comparison is drawn to a similar tomb built in marble in Sarkej in Gujarat where Mirza Aziz Koka served several times as Jahangir
’s Governor
of Gujarat. He died in Sarkej and was temporarily buried there. His remains were later shifted to Chausath Khamba.
The Chausath Khamba is located in the busy 14th century market area of Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti (a predominantly Muslim village). The shrine of the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
(1236 AD – 1325 AD) is nearby.
The monument is part of the Nizamuddin religious complex and has been declared a heritage building. It is categorized under Zone D in New Delhi (one of the six zones of Delhi declared for Conservation and Heritage Management). The location is marked in the satellite plan vis-à-vis the other monuments in the complex.
The Minister in charge of Tourism and Culture has announced that out of 174 monuments or sites in Delhi declared as of national importance, 46 are identified for restoration and 13 for illumination.
As a part of the urban renewal programme in the historic precinct of Humayun's Tomb - Sunder Nursery - Nizamuddin Basti, the Aga khan Trust for Culture has initiated a unique public-private partnership project which will unify the three zones into an urban conservation area of a considerable breadth and cultural significance while improving the quality of life for resident population. The forecourt of Chaunsath Khamba and Urs Mahal was recently landscape by the Trust. Also the successful Sufi qawwali music of Jashn-E-Khusrau in which performers from India and Pakistan performed was held here in March 2010.
URS Mahal
Located in front of the Chausath Khamba, URS Mahal is an assembly hall (pictured in the gallery) where Khawwali programmes are held on festival days and on the days during “Urs
of sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya
”. It is a protected monument (refurbished in 2003).
Mirza Ghalib’s tomb
Mirza Ghalib's tomb is a small tomb of famous Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib
(1797–1869), who was renowned in Urdu and Persian
poetry during the Mughal period. It is a protected monument. The tomb is a work of art located north of the enclosure of the Chausath Khamba. Adjoining Ghalib's tomb, the Ghalib Academy has been established. The academy has a library of Urdu literature
. It also houses a museum that displays a sizable collection of rocks, paintings and works of Mirza Ghalib.
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India. The name means "64 pillars" in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
. It was built by Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Ataga Khan
Ataga Khan
Shamsuddin Muhammad Atgah Khan , also known as Khan-e-Kalan Shamsu'd-Din Muhammad Khan Atgah Khan, held important positions in the court, including that of wakil to which he was appointed in November 1561,much to displeasure of Maham Anga, whose son Adham Khan, eventually murdered him in 1562...
, as a mausoleum for himself, at the time when Mughal Emperor Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
ruled from Delhi. Mirza Aziz Koka had served several times as Jahangir’s Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Gujarat before his died in Gujarat. Ataga Khan was Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Emperor Akbar.
Structure
Chausath Khamba monument was initially built as a hall in an innovative eclectic architectural style of the Mughal period. It was later converted into a tomb. It is a square structure constructed entirely of white marbleMarble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. The structure (pictured with facades) has 64 columns that support twenty five bays. Each bay supports a dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
. The domes are not visible externally since they are reverse domes (picture). The roof is flat. Each wall has five arches
Arches
-Places:* Arches National Park in the U.S. state of Utah* Arches, Cantal, a commune of the Cantal département, in France* Arches, Vosges, a commune of the Vosges département, in France-Other:* Arches of the foot...
that are held by square pilasters. In each face, between each of five pilasters, marble trellised screens
Screens
Screens is the third studio album from Portland, Oregon-based "troublegum" group The Mint Chicks and thus far the only Mint Chicks release not to feature bassist Michael Logie. It was released on March 16, 2009 in New Zealand, The Mint Chicks' homeland on Flying Nun Records...
have been fixed.
Ataga Khan
Shamsuddin Muhammad Atgah Khan , also known as Khan-e-Kalan Shamsu'd-Din Muhammad Khan Atgah Khan, held important positions in the court, including that of wakil to which he was appointed in November 1561,much to displeasure of Maham Anga, whose son Adham Khan, eventually murdered him in 1562...
, the Prime Minister of Akbar, is also in the vicinity. In addition, there are several other unidentified tombs inside this monument. It is considered the family shrine of Atgah Khan.
The structure is enclosed and has an imposing entrance gate. The Ghalib tomb is located adjoining this structure on the northern side. Comparison is drawn to a similar tomb built in marble in Sarkej in Gujarat where Mirza Aziz Koka served several times as Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
’s Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Gujarat. He died in Sarkej and was temporarily buried there. His remains were later shifted to Chausath Khamba.
Heritage status
Nizamuddin Auliya
Sultan-ul-Mashaikh, Mehboob-e-Ilahi, Hazrat Shaikh Khwaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya , also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, was a famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order in the Indian Subcontinent, an order that believed in drawing close to God through renunciation of the world and service to...
(1236 AD – 1325 AD) is nearby.
The monument is part of the Nizamuddin religious complex and has been declared a heritage building. It is categorized under Zone D in New Delhi (one of the six zones of Delhi declared for Conservation and Heritage Management). The location is marked in the satellite plan vis-à-vis the other monuments in the complex.
The Minister in charge of Tourism and Culture has announced that out of 174 monuments or sites in Delhi declared as of national importance, 46 are identified for restoration and 13 for illumination.
As a part of the urban renewal programme in the historic precinct of Humayun's Tomb - Sunder Nursery - Nizamuddin Basti, the Aga khan Trust for Culture has initiated a unique public-private partnership project which will unify the three zones into an urban conservation area of a considerable breadth and cultural significance while improving the quality of life for resident population. The forecourt of Chaunsath Khamba and Urs Mahal was recently landscape by the Trust. Also the successful Sufi qawwali music of Jashn-E-Khusrau in which performers from India and Pakistan performed was held here in March 2010.
Other structures
There are two other structures adjoining the Chausath Khamba, which are also heritage monuments.URS Mahal
Located in front of the Chausath Khamba, URS Mahal is an assembly hall (pictured in the gallery) where Khawwali programmes are held on festival days and on the days during “Urs
Urs
Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...
of sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya
Nizamuddin Auliya
Sultan-ul-Mashaikh, Mehboob-e-Ilahi, Hazrat Shaikh Khwaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya , also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, was a famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order in the Indian Subcontinent, an order that believed in drawing close to God through renunciation of the world and service to...
”. It is a protected monument (refurbished in 2003).
Mirza Ghalib’s tomb
Mirza Ghalib's tomb is a small tomb of famous Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib
Mirza Ghalib
Dabir-ul-Mulk, Najm-ud-Daula Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan , pen-name Ghalib and Asad , was a classical Urdu and Persian poet from India during British colonial rule...
(1797–1869), who was renowned in Urdu and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
poetry during the Mughal period. It is a protected monument. The tomb is a work of art located north of the enclosure of the Chausath Khamba. Adjoining Ghalib's tomb, the Ghalib Academy has been established. The academy has a library of Urdu literature
Urdu literature
Urdu literature has a long and colorful history that is inextricably tied to the development of that very language, Urdu, in which it is written...
. It also houses a museum that displays a sizable collection of rocks, paintings and works of Mirza Ghalib.
External links
- Chausath Khamba @Flickr
- Old images of Chausath Khamba at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...