Shish-Gumbadi

There exist two patterns in the tomb built during the rule of Lodi sultans (1451-1526): square and octogonal. This tomb, and the Bara-Gumbad to its south, are square on plan.

With its facade divided horizontally by a string-course and with series of sunk niches running above and below it, it has an external semblance of being double-storeyed. Its westen wall is provided with a Mihrab (arch), which served as a mosque, while the other sides have a central entrance set in a projecting frame. The niches are spanned by arches, the central openings by bracket – and lintel beams, combining thus features of both Hindu and Islamic architecture. It was originally faced with friezes of blue enamelled tiles, which survive now only in traces, and which gave it its name, meaning a dome of glass.

Inside, its high ceiling is decorated with stucco and painted ornamentation containing floral patterns and quranic inscriptions. There are several graces inside it, but the names of persons buried here are are not known. The tomb was, however, built perhaps during Sikandar Lodis reign (1489-1517).

Bara Gumbad

During the Lodi-Period (1451-1526), tombs were raised in two styles: square and octagonal. The Bara-Gumbad and the Shish Gumbad to its north are examples of the square type, while two other tombs in the Lodi gardens represent the octagonal type.

Adjoining the Bara-Gumbad is a mosque which has led some scholars to surmise that this structure was raised as a gateway of the mosque. The Bara-Gumbad, however, is nothing but a tomb with certain unique features. The mosque was no doubt erected as an adjunct to the tomb, and finally, in front of the mosque was raised a Mihman-Khana guest house for pilgrims.

Like the Shish Gumbad, the Bara-Gumbad also has a semblance of being double-storeyed; it combines spans of both arches and bracket-and-lintel beams: is decorated with stucco and painted ornamentation and is faced in selected places with red stone to relieve the monotony of the grey surface. In addition black stone is also used here.

The name of the pesonage who was buried in the Bara-Gumbad, but whose grave not longer exists, is not known, but he must have occupied an important position during Skandar Lodi’s reign.

Bara-Gumbad Mosque

This three-domed mosque was built in A.H. 900 (1494) during Sikandar Lodi’s reign, according to an inscription on its southern interior.

The mosque-hall is faced with five arched openings and a frontage of bracket-and-chhaja cornice above them the tapering minarets at the rear are in Tughlaq style but seem to anticipate the octogonal towers of early Mughal and sur periods. The oriel windows on the north and south also anticipate features of later mosques.

The interior of the mosque is extremely rich in arabesque stucco decoration and paintings, consisting of floral and geometric designs and quranic inscriptions. Partaking both the Tughlaq and Mughal features, it occupies an important place in the development of the Mughal mosque.

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