Safdarjung Tomb

26-08-2023

01:28 PM

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1 min read
Safdarjung Tomb Blog Image

Overview:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to finish conservation and restoration work on the central dome of Safdarjung Tomb soon, officials familiar with the matter said recently.

About Safdarjung Tomb:

 

  • Safdarjung Tomb is the last garden tomb constructed in the late Mughal Empire Style
  • Location: At the Intersection of Safdarjung Road and Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, India.
  • It was built in 1753- 54 as a mausoleum of Safdarjung, the viceroy of Awadh under the Mughal Emperor, Mohammed Shah. It was built by his son, Nawab Shujaud Daula.
  • Architecture:
    • Also known as ‘Safdarjung ka Maqbara,’ the tomb is built on a square plan and has a central dome and is made of marble and sandstone.
    • The dome is surrounded by four smaller domes and four minarets.
    • The exterior of the tomb is decorated with intricate latticework and calligraphy.
    • The interior of the tomb is decorated with marble and gold leaf.
    • The tomb is surrounded by lush green gardens. The garden is in the Mughal charbagh garden style, and is a smaller version of the garden of Humayun Tomb.

 

Who was Safdarjung?

  • Safdarjung (1708 – 5 October 1754), whose full name was Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan, was a major figure in the Mughal court during the declining years of the Mughal Empire.
  • He became the second Nawab of Awadh when he succeeded Saadat Ali Khan I (his maternal uncle and father-in-law) in 1739.
  • In 1739, Safdarjung was appointed the Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire by Emperor Muhammad Shah.
  • He served as Prime Minister for five years, during which time he helped to stabilize the Mughal Empire and to improve its relations with other powers in the region.
  • After his term as Prime Minister, Safdarjung returned to Awadh, where he ruled as Nawab for the next 15 years.
  • He was a capable ruler, and he helped to make Awadh one of the most prosperous provinces in the Mughal Empire.
  • He built many mosques, madrasas, and other public buildings in Awadh, and he also supported the arts of music, poetry, and painting.
  • He died in 1754, and he was buried in Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi.

 


Q1) Where is Humayun Tomb located?

Humayun's Tomb is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture.

Source: ASI to restore Safdarjung tomb dome in Delhi by July-end