Haft Gumbaz

Last updated
Haft Gumbaz
Haft Gumbad.jpg
The tomb of Firuz Shah, the largest of the tombs. An unnamed tomb is also seen in the background.
Location Kalaburagi, Karnataka
Coordinates 17°20′31″N76°50′43″E / 17.34194°N 76.84528°E / 17.34194; 76.84528
Built14th and 15th centuries
Architectural style(s) Indo-Islamic architecture

The Haft Gumbaz, also spelt Haft Gumbad are a group of tombs of the Bahmani dynasty situated in Kalaburagi, in the Indian state of Karnataka. [1] [2] Built during the 14th and 15th centuries, the tombs are examples of early Indo-Islamic architecture. There are seven tombs in total, with four being tombs of the rulers of the Bahmani dynasty. The tomb complex is a monument of national importance, maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. [3] [4] The tomb complex is part of the "Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate", which is an ensemble of various structures added to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. [5]

Contents

History

The tomb complex was built between the 14th and 15th centuries. [6] The capital shifted to Bidar in 1425, and the later Bahmani sultans are buried in the Bahmani tombs complex in Bidar. The tomb complex has been encroached by local businesses and institutions. [7] A social activist, K.M. Mujeebuddin, has filed an RTI query regarding the upkeep of the tombs. [2] [7] [8]

Architecture

The tombs are situated in a garden HAFT GUMBAD.jpeg
The tombs are situated in a garden

The architectural style is reminiscent of Tughlaq architecture. A unique feature seen only in the Haft Gumbaz is the double-chambered tomb, with one chamber for the king and the other for his family members. [9]

There are seven tombs in total, with four being Sultan's tombs. The tombs are situated in a garden.

Tomb of Mujahid Shah

This was the first tomb to be built. [9] It is a single-chambered square tomb, free of any elaborate embellishments. [10] It is on the West end of the tomb complex. [11]

Tomb of Daud Shah

It is a double-chambered tomb. [12]

Tomb of Shams al-Din and Ghiyath al-Din

The two tombs share the same basement. [11] [13]

Tomb of Firuz Shah Bahmani

The tomb of Firuz Shah Bahmani is the largest, and is considered the most important of the complex. [9] It is also a double-chambered tomb. The external and internal elevation is divided into two tiers, adorned by double-recessed arches. The arches of the upper tier have jali-style decorations. [14]

Largest tomb of Haft gumbaz.jpg
Grave Ghumat tomb in Gulbarga Kalaburagi Grave Ghumat tomb in Gulbarga Kalaburagi.jpg
Grave Ghumat tomb in Gulbarga Kalaburagi
Haft Gumbaz complex Haft Gumbaz complex.jpg
Haft Gumbaz complex
Carving on tomb entrance of Haft gumbaz Carving on tomb entrance of Haft gumbaz.jpg
Carving on tomb entrance of Haft gumbaz


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalaburagi</span> City in Karnataka, India

Kalaburagi, formerly known as Gulbarga, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka, It is headquarters of eponymous Kalaburagi district and Kalaburagi division, Kalaburagi city is governed by a Municipal Corporation, It is called a Sufi city. It has famous religious structures, like the Hazrath Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah, the Sharana Basaveshwara Temple and the Buddha Vihar. It also has a fort built during the Bahmani rule, Other Bahmani monuments include the Haft Gumbaz and the Shor Gumbad. Kalaburagi has the world's largest cannon, Kalaburagi has a few architectural marvels built during the Bahamani Kingdom rule, including the Jama Masjid in the Kalaburagi Fort. Kalaburagi houses the circuit bench of the High Court of Karnataka. Under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate, Several buildings in the city and with others in the region were put by UNESCO on its "tentative list" of World Heritage Site in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deccan sultanates</span> Name for five former polities in India

The Deccan sultanates is a historiographical term referring to five late medieval to early modern Indian kingdoms on the Deccan Plateau between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range that were created from the disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanate and ruled by Muslim dynasties: namely Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur, and Golconda. The five sultanates owed their existence to the declaration of independence of Ahmadnagar in 1490, which was followed by Bijapur and Berar in the same year. Bidar became independent in c. 1492, and Golconda in 1512.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gol Gumbaz</span> Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur

Gol Gumbaz, also written Gol Gumbad, is a 17th-century mausoleum located in Bijapur, a city in Karnataka, India. It houses the remains of Mohammad Adil Shah, seventh sultan of the Adil Shahi dynasty, and some of his relatives. Begun in the mid-17th century, the structure never reached completion. The mausoleum is notable for its scale and exceptionally large dome. The structure is an important example of Adil Shahi architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahmani Kingdom</span> Kingdom in Deccan India (1347–1527)

The Bahmani Kingdom or the Bahmani Sultanate was a late medieval kingdom that ruled the Deccan plateau in India. The first independent Muslim sultanate of the Deccan, the Bahmani Kingdom came to power in 1347 during the rebellion of Ismail Mukh against Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi. Ismail Mukh then abdicated in favour of Zafar Khan, who established the Bahmani Sultanate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidar</span> City in Karnataka, India

Bidar is a city and headquarters of the Bidar district in Karnataka state of India. Bidar is a prominent place on the archaeological map of India, it is well known for architectural, historical religious and rich heritage sites. Picturesquely perched on the Deccan plateau, the Bidar fort is more than 500 years old and still standing strong. According to the book "Bidar Heritage" published by the state Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, of the 61 monuments listed by the department, about 30 are tombs located in and around Bidar city., explaining its nickname, "City of Whispering Monuments". The heritage sites in and around Bidar have become the major attraction for film shooting in recent years, with Bollywood making visits apart from Kannada film industry

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lodi Gardens</span> City park in New Delhi

Lodi Gardens is a city park situated in New Delhi, India. Spread over 90 acres (360,000 m2), it contains Mohammed Shah's Tomb, the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi, the Shisha Gumbad and the Bara Gumbad, architectural works of the 15th century by Lodis - who ruled parts of northern India and Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of modern-day Pakistan, from 1451 to 1526 are present here. The site is now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo-Islamic architecture</span> Islamic architecture in Indian subcontinent

Indo-Islamic architecture is the architecture of the Indian subcontinent produced by and for Islamic patrons and purposes. Despite an initial Arab presence in Sindh, the development of Indo-Islamic architecture began in earnest with the establishment of Delhi as the capital of the Ghurid dynasty in 1193. Succeeding the Ghurids was the Delhi Sultanate, a series of Central Asian dynasties that consolidated much of North, East, and Central India, and later by the Mughal Empire during the early 16th century. Both of these dynasties introduced Islamic architecture and art styles from West Asia into the Indian subcontinent.

The Sultanate of Bidar was an early modern Indian polity that ruled a territory in the central Deccan centred at Bidar. As one of the Deccan sultanates, the sultanate's initial territory corresponded to that of one of the five provinces of the Bahmani Sultanate, and under the rule of Qasim Barid I in 1492 assumed de facto control of state affairs of the Bahmani Sultanate. Leadership passed to his sons; Amir Barid I in 1504 and Ali Barid Shah I in 1542. Starting from the 1580s as a result of Ali's death, a wave of successions occurred in the rulership of the dynasty which ended in 1609 under the last sultan, Amir Barid III. He was eventually defeated in 1619 by Ibrahim Adil Shah II of the Sultanate of Bijapur, who annexed the territory of the Bidar Sultanate into his realm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmad Shah I Wali</span> Wali

Ahmed Shah Al Wali Bahamani was the ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate from 1 October 1422 to 17 April 1436, and was a great patron of arts and culture. He brought Persian artisans from Iran, including the metal-worker Abdulla-bin-Kaiser, who was the master of Bidriware, the inlaying of zinc alloy with silver and gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidar Fort</span> Fort in Bidar, Karnataka, India

Bidar Fort is located in old city area, Bidar, Karnataka, India. The fort, the city and the district are all affixed with the name Bidar. Sultan Ahmad Shah I of the Bahmanid dynasty shifted his capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427 and built his fort along with a number of Islamic monuments. There are over 30 monuments inside Bidar fort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulbarga Fort</span> Bahmani-era fort in Kalaburagi, India

The Gulbarga Fort is located in Kalaburagi in the Kalaburagi district of North Karnataka. The fort was originally constructed by the Hindu monarch Raja Gulchand, and it was subsequently significantly enlarged in 1347 by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah of the Bahmani Kingdom after he cut off his ties with the Delhi Sultanate. Islamic monuments such as mosques, palaces, tombs, and other structures were also built later within the refurbished fort. The Jama Masjid, built later within the fort in 1367, is a unique structure built in the Persian architectural style, fully enclosed with elegant domes and arched columns. It was built to commemorate the establishment of the dynastic rule of the Bahmani Kingdom at Gulbarga Fort between 1347 and 1424. It remained the capital of the Bahmani Kingdom until 1424 where after the capital was shifted to Bidar, which had better climatic conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bijapur Fort</span> Fort in Bijapur, India

The Bijapur Fort is located in the Bijapur city in Bijapur District of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bijapur fort has a plethora of historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah</span> Royalty in India

Taj ud-Din Firoz Shah, also known as Firoz Shah Bahmani, was the ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate from 16 November 1397 to 22 September 1422. Firuz Shah is considered an important ruler of the Bahamani Sultanate. He expanded his kingdom and even succeeded in conquering the Raichur Doab from Vijaynagara kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahmud Gawan Madrasa</span> 15th-century place of learning, now a mosque, in Bidar, Karnataka, India

The Mahmud Gawan Madrasa is a former madrasa, now mosque, in partial ruins, located in Bidar, in the state of Karnataka, India. It was completed in AH 876 (1471/1472 CE) and is an example of the regional style of Indo-Islamic architecture under the Bahmani Sultanate. Founded by the prime-minister of the sultanate in the late 15th century, it bears testimony to the scholarly genius of Mahmud Gawan, who first came to Delhi, in exile, as a Persian trader from Gilan in Iran and moved to Bidar in 1453.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of the Deccan sultanates</span> Islamic architecture of the Deccan Plateau, India

The Deccan sultanates were five early modern kingdoms, namely Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar, which ruled the Deccan Plateau for part of the 15th, and the majority of the 16th–17th centuries. Their architecture was a regional variant of Indo-Islamic architecture, and influenced by the styles of the Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal architecture, but sometimes also influenced from Persia and Central Asia. Hindu temple architecture in the same areas had very different styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Telangana</span>

The architecture of Telangana dates back over two thousand years. The Indian state of Telangana is in the Deccan plateau, bordering the coastal plain of Andhra Pradesh. It has produced regional variants of wider styles of Indian architecture, both in Hindu temple architecture and Indo-Islamic architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Hyderabad</span>

A distinct Indo-Islamic architecture style with local contribution is reflected in the historical buildings of Hyderabad, making it the first and "Best Heritage City of India" as of March 2012. The city houses many famous historical sites constructed during Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi period, including various mosques and palaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahmani Tombs</span> Necropolis in Bidar, India

The Bahmani tombs complex at Bidar is the necropolis of the Bahmani dynasty, located in Bidar, in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Qutb Shahi architecture is the distinct style of Indo-Islamic architecture developed during the reign of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, also known as the Golconda Sultanate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chor Gumbad</span> Building in Kalaburagi

Chor Gumbad, Kalaburagi is a domed building in Kalaburagi. It is listed as a state protected monument.

References

  1. Barnett, L. D. (1929). "Review of Report of the Archæological Department of His Exalted Highness the Nizam's Dominions". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (3): 627–628. ISSN   0035-869X. JSTOR   25193957.
  2. 1 2 Sivanandan, T. V. (2013-12-18). "ASI finally takes up restoration of Haft Gumbaz". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  3. "Alphabetical List of Monuments – Karnataka – Dharwad". Archeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  4. "ASI spends ₹1.38 cr. on restoration of Haft Gumbaz". The Hindu. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  5. "Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  6. Bowman, John C. (2000). Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture. Columbia University Press. p. 340. ISBN   978-0-231-11004-4.
  7. 1 2 Sivanandan, T. V. (2013-09-24). "A social activist's fight to protect the Haft Gumbaz". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  8. Staff Reporter (2019-01-21). "ASI uses just 7% of funds granted for restoration in Hyderabad Karnataka". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  9. 1 2 3 Brown, Percy (2013-04-16). Indian Architecture (The Islamic Period). Read Books Ltd. ISBN   978-1-4474-9482-9.
  10. Iyer, Meera (2019-07-27). "Alluring Bahmani architecture". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  11. 1 2 "Gulbarga". Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia.
  12. "Haft Gumbad". ArchNet . Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  13. Merklinger, Elizabeth Schotten. Indian Islamic architecture: the Deccan 1347-1686.
  14. "Mausoleum of Firuz Shah Bahmani". ArchNet . Retrieved 2021-07-09.