Ahmad Shah's Tomb

Ahmed Shah's Tomb
Ahmed Shah's Tomb in 1860s
Location in Gujarat, India
Basic information
Location Ahmedabad
Geographic coordinates 23°01′26″N 72°35′18″E / 23.0239575°N 72.5883574°E / 23.0239575; 72.5883574Coordinates: 23°01′26″N 72°35′18″E / 23.0239575°N 72.5883574°E / 23.0239575; 72.5883574
Affiliation Islam
Municipality Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
State Gujarat
Status Active
Architectural description
Architectural type Tomb
Architectural style Islamic
Funded by Muhhamad Shah
Dome(s) 5
Designated as NHL National Monument of Importance
ASI Monument No. N-GJ-9

Ahmad Shah's Tomb, locally known as Badshah no Hajiro or Raja no Hajiro (King's Mausoleum), is a medieval mosque and the group of tombs in Ahmedabad, India. Ahmad Shah's tomb is situated close to Jama Mosque and Manek Chowk.[1]

History

Tomb of Ahmad Shah
Traditional drummers playing Naubat

The mosque has the tomb of Ahmad Shah I, the founder of Ahmedabad in centre. It was completed by his son Muhammad Shah II (r. 1442-1451) in 1414, and who is buried to his left. His grandson Qutb-ud-Din Ahmad Shah II (1451–1458) is buried to his right. The tomb of Ahmad Shah's brother is outside of the main chamber. On Ahmad Shah's tomb flowers and chadars are still offered.[1]

Architecture

The mosque has the main square building with large central dome. There are four chambers at all four corners with smaller domes. The tombs are in centre. The chamber is lit with delicately carved stone screens, (jaalis).[2][3]

Women are not allowed to enter, and men must cover their heads before entering. There are also tombs of a few ministers laid across the road.[1]

Naubat

Naubat is a traditional orchestra which announced arrival and departure of the king, welcomed dignitaries, marked beginning of wars and special occasions like birth, death or marriage of Royals. They were also time keepers of the city. Naubat is still played as a remembrance of Ahmad Shah near the tomb. The ninth generation of Naubat musicians plays nagara and shehnai every day at Naubat Khana, a drum room above the entrance of the tomb. They played Naubat at evening to announce the sunset and at night to announce the closing of the gates of fort during royal times. They are played at 19:30 (or sunset) and 23:00 IST every day. On Thursday and Friday three more Naubats are played; 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00 IST.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ward (1 January 1998). Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide. Orient Longman Limited. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-81-250-1383-9.
  2. ↑ Ward (1 January 1998). Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide. Orient Longman Limited. p. 22. ISBN 978-81-250-1383-9.
  3. ↑ Dr. Shiv Sharma. India - A Travel Guide. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 491. ISBN 978-81-284-0067-4.
  4. ↑ Anjali H. Desai (November 2006). India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-9789517-0-2.
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