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Location: On the Andheria More Road to Delhi Airport, about eight kilometers southwest of Qutab Minar in pocket 9, opposite sector C, Vasant Kunj.
Time to Visit: Open on all days
Preferred Timings: sunrise to sunset
Admission Fee: Free and open to all
Photography charges: nil
How to Reach: Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this monument, which is located in south Delhi, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or take the metro rail.
Nearest Railway Station: Nizamuddin Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat
Functional Metro Station: Central Secretariat
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing: About 30 minutes
(All data as of October 2005)
Located on the Andheria More Road to Delhi Airport, about eight kilometers southwest of Qutab Minar in pocket 9, opposite sector C, Vasant Kunj, lies the tomb of Sultan Ghari, the first monumental Islamic tomb in northern India. The tomb was built by Iltutmish (1211-36) in 1231 for his eldest son. The prince Nasiru'd-Din Mahmud who waged several wars on behalf of his father died in 1229 at Lakhnauti. He was given the name of Sultan Ghari. Measuring 23.6 square meters, the tomb is constructed of a stone with a golden hue on a rubble plinth about 3 meters high.
The octagonal tomb lies in the center of the enclosure, which has an open courtyard with walls in the northern and southern direction while the western and eastern sides have colonnades based on sandstone pillars and domed bastions on the corners. The western colonnades served as a mosque as there is a prayer-niche of marble raised on pillars and with a mihrab in its center. The corridors are said to be the place of learning known as the madrasa. The enclosure or the tomb chamber due to its architectural style is said to function like a crypt. The notable feature of the tomb is that there are many architectural elements here that are taken from earlier Hindu temples.
Apart from the Sultan Ghari's tomb, there are also the pillared tombs of Rukn-ud-Din Firuz Shah and Mu'izz-ud-Din Bahram Shah in the southern direction, the sons of Iltutmish and his respective successors for a short period.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
Qutab Minar complex, Jamali Kamali Mosque, Adham Khan's tomb, Qutab Minar, Gandhak ki Baoli and Rajon-ki-Bain and mosque.
Nearby Places to Eat
Thai Wok Ambavata Complex, Osaka Aurobindo Marg, Red Snapper Aurobindo Marg, good eating joints in Vasant Kunj Market and a number of roadside food stalls near the Qutb complex.
Nearby Shopping Venue
Ambavata Shopping Complex, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas Village, Residential Market of Vasant Kunj, Sahara Mall and DT Mall in Gurgaon.
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