Safdarjung Tomb

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.

 

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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