Barakhamba: Difference between revisions

|leadership= Muhammad bin Tughluq

Barakhamba monument is a tomb ofconstructed anby unknownMuhammad individual,bin a high noblemanTughluq. It is located in the Nizamuddin heritage area at the entrance road to the [[Nizamuddin Auliya]] and is under restoration.<ref name=great/>

It has been inferred that the twelve pillared square monument may have been a tomb chamber with arcades around it, originally intended as [[Chausath Khamba]]. The Lalmahal, now in ruins and partially demolished, is a red sandstone monument behind Barakhamba.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Capper |first=John |url=https://bookswww.google.com/books/edition/Delhi_the_Capital_of_India/aqqBPS1TDUgC?idhl=aqqBPS1TDUgCen&pggbpv=PR141&dq=Barah+Khamba#PPA84,M1|work%22Barah%20Khambha%22&pg=The BarahRA1-PA84&printsec=frontcover Khamba|title=Delhi, the capital of India|access-date=2009-04-03|author=Anon (revised and enlarged edition of "All About Delhi") |publisher=Asian Educational Services |pageyear=841997 |isbn=978-81-206-1282-2 |yearlocation=1997New Delhi & Madras |page=84 |chapter=Chapter XII: General Survey |access-date=2009-04-03}}</ref>

This heritage monument also called Kushak Lal was built by [[Balban]] the [[Mamluk dynasty (Delhi)|Slave Dynasty]] ruler, between 1266&ndash;1286 during the rule of Sultan [[Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah, Sultan of Delhi]]. This red [[sandstone]] structure had prominent [[chhatri]]s which have been demolished.<ref>{{Cite webnews |date=2008-11-07 |title=Lal Mahal demolition row hots up |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=ad10e328-6ce4-454b-8951-8b7460b77a0f&&Headline=Lal+Mahal+demolition+row+hots+up |titleurl-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606055442/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Lal -Mahal -demolition -row -hots -up/Article1-349758.aspx |archive-date=2011-06-06 |access-date=2009-04-11 |newspaperplace=HindustanNew Delhi, India Times|dateid=2008-11-07{{ProQuest|471139345}}{{dead link|dateagency=AugustHT Political Bureau 2021|botnewspaper=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medicHindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-11-04 |title=About Lal Mahal |url=httphttps://lalmahal.blogspotwordpress.com/2008/11/04/about-lal-mahal/ |titleurl-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125061225/https://lalmahal.blogspot.com/2008/11/about-lal-mahal.html Lal|archive-date=2023-11-25 Mahal|access-date=20092024-04-1229 |website=Lal Mahal}}</ref>

This impressive tomb made of blue tiles (though Subz means ''green'') and stone is located at a circle opposite to the entrance gate to the Barakhamba, on the eastern enclosure wall of the Nizamuddin complex. The [[Sabz Burj]] tomb is believed to be for Fahim Khan who died in 1626 A.D. He was an attendant to Abdur Rahim Khan during Jahangir’s reign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_humayuntomb_complex.asp|work= Nila Gumbad|title =World Heritage Sites|access-date=2009-04-10|publisher=Archological Survey of India| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090410105015/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_humayuntomb_complex.asp| archive-date= 10 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Delhi’s heritage has 2,000 years of history and includes more than 1,000 tombs, [[forts]], [[havelis]], [[baoli]]s, and [[darwaza]]s. The city received the title of a 'World heritage city'. To achieve that status, [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage]] (INTACH), a nationwide non&ndash;profit organization founded (by former [[Primeprime Ministerminister]] [[Rajiv Gandhi]]) in 1984 to protect the common national heritage, Delhi Chapter, signed a MoU with the Delhi government with the objective of ensuring urban development in congruence with the architectural monuments of the city.<ref name="thai">{{Cite news |date=2008-07-03 |title=INTACH to sign MoU with Delhi Government to develop a World Heritage City |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/intach-to-sign-mou-with-delhi-government-to-develop-a-world-heritage-city/articleshow/3192086.cms <!-- also https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/intach-to-sign-mou-with-delhi-government-to-develop-a-world-heritage-city/articleshow/3192094.cms --> |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429200138/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/intach-to-sign-mou-with-delhi-government-to-develop-a-world-heritage-city/articleshow/3192086.cms |archive-date=2024-04-29 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=The Economic Times |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |place=New Delhi}}</ref> In this context, [[William Dalrymple (historian)|William Dalrymple]], an [[Indophile]], states that "only [[Rome]], [[Istanbul]] and [[Cairo]] can even begin to rival Delhi for the sheer volume and density of historic remains".{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}<ref name=thai"mayank">{{Cite web |urlauthor=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/intach-to-sign-mou-with-delhi-government-to-develop-a-world-heritage-city_10067120.html.Soofi |titlefirst=Mayank INTACHAusten to sign MoU with Delhi Government to develop a World Heritage City|accessauthor-datelink=2009-04-11|publisher=ThaindianMayank Austen Soofi News|date=2008-07-02}}</ref><ref04 name|title=mayank>{{CiteSpecial: Will Delhi Wake Up to its Heritage? web|url=httphttps://thedelhiwallawww.blogspotthedelhiwalla.com/2008_07_01_archive.html2008/07/04/special-will-delhi-wake-up-to-its-heritage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2010101614532420101016164920/http://thedelhiwalla.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive2008/07/special-will-delhi-wake-up-to-its.html|url-status=live |archive-date=2010-10-16|title=Special: Will Delhi Wake Up to its Heritage?|access-date=20092024-04-11|author=Mayank29 Austen Soofi|author-link=Mayank Austen Soofi|publisherwebsite=The DelhiwallaDelhi blogshot.com|date=2008-07-04Walla}}</ref> To achieve this goal, 46 historical monuments have been selected by the ASI for renovation work and the Barakhamba monument is one of them, and INTACH Delhi Chapter has categorised it under Grade "A" in terms of heritage value.<ref name=great/> The restoration works of this heritage structure in the strategic Nizamuddin heritage complex is slated for completion before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.<ref name=delhi/>

In the context of the Barakhamba, the number 12 (twelve) in the monument, an observation recorded is that the [[Mughal people|Moghul]]s were fond of [[motif (visual arts)|motifs]] of [[Mysticism|mystical]] figures on their buildings as evidenced in [[Delhi]], [[Agra]], [[Lahore]] and elsewhere. Figure seven (7) and figure 12, in particular, seem to have mystical significance to real time events such as 12 hours in the day and 12 in the night, 12 months, 12 [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]], 12 signs of the [[zodiac]], 12 tribes, 12 branched candlesticks and 12 kinds of men and women and so forth. Similarly, the twelve&ndash;pillared buildings are stated to be a common feature during the ancient and medieval periods. As an example, it is mentioned that the [[Mausoleum of Mausolus]], (since then the word Mausol has become an eponym in the word [[Mausoleum]] for all stately tombs), regarded as one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]] in [[Turkey]] had 36 (thirty&ndash;six) slim columns (pillars), which is three times 12. In North India many cities have Barakhambas, like the one in Delhi. The Hazrat Nasiruddin tomb in Delhi is also said to be a 12 pillared square chamber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehinduretailplus.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/03/stories/2003030300380200.htm|title=Many tales of Delhi's Barakhamba|access-date=2009-04-11|publisherwork=The Hindu|date=2003-03-03|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913091744/http://www.thehinduretailplus.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/03/stories/2003030300380200.htm|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Barakhamba Road is one of the premier roads of Delhi that connects Mandi House circle, near Sahitya Akademi and Doordarshan Kendra (Television Centre), with [[Connaught Place, New Delhi]] also called Rajeev Gandhi Chowk. On both sides of the road many commercial complexes and several other landmarks are located. Some of the notable landmark buildings are the [[National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi]], Embassy of [[Nepal]], Embassy of the [[Islamic Republic of Iran]], Vijaya Building, New Delhi House, Gopal towers, Sapru House, the prestigious [[Modern School (New Delhi)]] and many more. The [[Delhi Metro Rail Corporation]] (DMRC) has operationalized the [[Delhi metro]] link, the rapid transit system called the [[Blue Line (Delhi Metro)|Blue Line]] of {{convert|32.1|km|mi|abbr=on|1}} length from Indraprastha via Barakhamba Road to [[Dwarka Sub City]], Asia's largest residential colony in South West Delhi District. A ‘Control Centre’ of the Metro is located at the Metro Bhavan on Barakhamba Road.<ref name=delhi>{{Cite web|url=http://www.delhilive.com/page/barakhamba-monument-great-tourist-attraction-delhi-200903303944|title=Barakhamba monument -- a great tourist attraction in Delhi|access-date=2009-04-11|publisher=Delhi Live.com|date=2009-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401192503/http://www.delhilive.com/page/barakhamba-monument-great-tourist-attraction-delhi-200903303944|archive-date=1 April 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite webnews|url=http://www.delhiscoop.com/story/2009/3/29/231750/503|title=DMRC Opens Second Control Centre At Barakhamba Road|access-date=2009-04-12|publisher=Delhiscoop|date=2009-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222181503/http://www.delhiscoop.com/story/2009/3/29/231750/503|archive-date=22 February 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The name tag Barakhamba of this famous road is credited to a twelve pillared (Bara Khamba) house of a noble man, stated to have been built during the rule of Sultan [[Muhammad bin Tughluq|Mohammad Tuglaq]], originally erected on this road, now demolished (with hardly any traces). An artist’s reconstruction of the house (see external link) shows it as a three storied house with a high [[tower]] and terrace with a {{lang|hi-Latn|chabootara}} (a sit out) to get a scenic view of the city. A high wall surrounds the open courtyard of the house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00019b.htm|title= The Tuglaq Years -3: The Bara-Khamba|access-date=2009-04-15| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624075732/http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00019b.htm| archive-date = 24 June 2008}}</ref>

Recently, the "{{convert|48|C|F|abbr=on|1}} festival" was organized by a biologist on the Barakhamba Road to highlight the heritage loss due to the fast vanishing bungalows of old architectural style (with a stately air) located on the road that were replaced by large modern office complexes.<ref>{{Cite webnews |author=Nehasinha |date=2008-12-21 |title=Barakhamba under art attack to celebrate 'last bungalow' |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/barakhamba-under-art-attack-to-celebrate-last-bungalow/401033/ |titlearchive-url= Barakhamba https://web.archive.org/web/20221201083022/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/barakhamba-under -art -attack -to -celebrate-last-bungalow/ ‘last|archive-date=2022-12-01 bungalow’|access-date=2009-04-12 |authorwebsite=The Neha Sinha|publisher=Indian Express |dateplace=2008-12-21New Delhi}}</ref>

*[[Khairul Manazil|Khairul Manazi]]<nowiki/>l or Khair-ul-Manazil (lit. 'the most auspicious of houses') is a historical [[Mosque|masjid]] built in 1561 in [[New Delhi]], [[India]].