Syed Altamash Ahmad

  The tomb of Mohammed Quli Khan was built in the 17th century AD in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi.  Quli Khan was a foster brother of Akbar, son of Maham Anga, he was a general in Akbar's army.  The tomb resembles the Mughal architecture with calligraphy on the walls, the medallions are engraved with Quranic verses and decorated with floral calligraphy. The monument lies on an elevated platform surrounded by stairs on alternative sides to reach to the tomb. In the early 1840s, the tomb was converted into a residence with landscaped gardens, terraces, and guesthouses by Thomas Metcalfe. He named it 'dilkhush, meaning pleasing the heart', He also built extensive gardens around it with a scenic view of the Qutub Minar.

The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque is the earliest surviving mosque in India and stands in the Qutb Minar enclosure in Delhi. The construction was begun in 1193 by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi and founder of the Slave or Mamluk and Dynasty.  The mosque was built over the site of large Jain and Hindu temples. One can still find many idols of Jain and Hindu gods at the site. A Gupta dynasty Pillar dating back to the 5th century, known as Iron Pillar stands inside the mosque. Although it is made of iron, it has resisted rust for over 1,500 years. It is believed that after the death of Qutb-ud-din, many rules involving Alauddin Khalji and Illtutmish contributed to the expansion of the mosque.

Alauddin Khalji was one of India's powerful rulers and one of the world's greatest military geniuses. In just a few years of his reign, he conquered most of the regions of India and expanded his territory, he conquered the kingdoms of Rajasthan, and Jalore, as well as other regions of Gujarat and Malwa. To mark his greatest glory he started the construction of Alai Minar next to Qutub Mirar in the early 1300s after he doubled the size of the Quwwat ul-Islam mosque.  Sufi poet, Amir Khusro mentioned in his book ‘Tareekh-i-Alai’ about the intentions of Alauddin to increase the size of the Mosque Quwwat-ul-Islam and his wish to construct a minaret so high it could not be exceeded. After the death of Alauddin in 1316 CE the construction of Minaret came to an end at just on its first story. The ruins of 24.5 meters Alai Minar remained adjacent to Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Qutub Minar Complex, Delhi. 

  The ruins of a tomb and a Madrasa can be seen in a very dilapidated condition in front of Quwwat-ul-Islam, next to a madrasa adjourned with the tomb in the Qutub Minar Complex, Delhi. It is sad that after the death of Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1316, his body was brought here from Siri. It is believed that it was built by Alauddin Khalji himself in 1315.  The roof of the tomb have been fallen over time and has no dome. It is a simple stone masonry structure without any carvings or calligraphy. There are two small chambers connected to the tomb by passages on either side.

Shams ud-Din Iltutmish also spelled Altamash was a slave but married the daughter of his master, Quṭb al-Dīn Aibak, whom he succeeded in 1211. He strengthened and expanded his empire in northern India and moved the capital to Delhi. He was the third of the Mamluk kings who ruled the former Ghurid territories in northern India. He was the first Muslim sovereign to rule Delhi and is thus considered the effective founder of the Delhi Sultanate.  The Tomb of Shams ud-Din Iltutmish is situated just outside the northwest corner of the Quwwat-ul-Islam near the Qutub Minar in Delhi. It is said that it built by iltutmish himself in 1235 CE, only a year before his death.  The tomb is square from the outside but the squinch arches inside give it an octagonal look which makes a magnificent circular roof. It has three entrances, on the north, south, and east elevations. Three beautifully carved mihrabs are placed as the central niche on the western wall.

  No one really knows when and who built this magnificent stepwell, located at Hailey Road, New Delhi, popularly called Agrasen or Ugrasen ki Baoli. There is no evidence or recorded history regarding this place. However, people believe that it was constructed during the Mahabharata period by the king Agrasen, who was the legendary king of Agroha, a city of traders.  It is believed that this stepwell was constructed or renovated during the Tughlaq period or the Lodhi period. The architectural style and the use of red sandstone in the stepwell and the mosque at the western corner of the stepwell indicate that it was built during the Tughlaq (1321 -1414) or the Lodhi dynasty (1451 to 1526).

"रहिमन धागा प्रेम का, मत तोड़ो छिटकाय।  टूटे से फिर न मिले, मिले गाँठ परिजाय॥" "Rahim says don’t break the thread of love, once broken can’t be joined, even if joined, it will have a knot." Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan was one of the Navratnas in Akbar's court and also was a General in Akbar’s military camp. Along with these Rahim was famous for his couplets. He was mastered in Hindustani, Persian, Braj, Arabic, Turkish, Sanskrit, and many more languages.   In 1598, in memory of his beloved wife, Rahim built a tomb next to Humayun's Tomb in the vicinity of the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi. The Tomb of Mah Banu shows the importance of love in Rahim's life like his poems. The tomb is now known as Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan's Tomb but was originally built in the memory of his wife and he himself was buried here in 1627. Historians say it was the first Mughal monument built for a woman and the architectural innovation developed there “informe...