<p>One of the many sleepy urban villages in Delhi is Kotla Mubarakpur. This neighbourhood, dotted with numerous home furnishing shops today, was once home to two of the earliest Muslim dynasties in India – Syed and Lodhi. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Consequently, this village, flanked by South-Ex and Lodhi Colony today, nur-ses big and small tombs of two entire lineages. <br /><br />Kotla Mubarakpur gets its name from the tomb of Muizud-din Mubarak Shah, son of Khizr Khan of the Syed dynasty (15th c. AD). Khizr Khan, who was the governor of Punjab under the Lodhi dynasty, took over the reins at Delhi in 1414 AD after <br />defeating Daulat Khan Lodi. He established the Syed dynasty. <br /><br />His son Muizud-din Mubarak Shah succeeded him and established a city Mubarakabad on the banks of the Yamuna, though no trace of it exists now. He died in 1434 AD and was buried in Kotla Mubarakpur. <br /><br />His tomb was built in a fusion of Lodhi style octagonal plan with Tughlaq style buttresses and a wide dome. Three tiers of Quranic inscriptions adorn the springing of the ceiling of the dome. Adjoining the tomb, there is a ‘funerary mosque’ meant as a venue for prayers, and making public addresses by the visitors to the tomb. The mosque is located on the <br />west side of the tomb. It has two bays depth wise and five bays width wise and is decorated with arches supported on pillars. <br /><br />In the precincts of the Mubarakpur tomb and mosque, there are many other tombs of the Lodhi period. The tomb of Darya Khan Lohani - Chief Justice during the reign of Bahlol Lodhi and vakil (advocate) during Sikander Lodhi’s rule - is dated to early 16th century. Considered an unusual tomb, it has a commemorative circular platform structure with Chhatris (kiosks) at the corners. It has been deduced that when built, the tomb had an impressive layout with a beautiful view.<br /><br />Bade Khan ka Gumbad is an impressive tomb monument with an intricate frontage. The central bay of the tomb is flanked by three rows of three niches. The central niche in each row is larger than the other two. The interior of its domed Chhatris have ornamentation with incised and painted plaster with a decorative medallion. The Chhote Khan ka Gumbad, located next to it, has a well-maintained interior. <br /><br />Kotla Mubarakpur is worth a stroll in for all its lost majesty.<br /></p>
<p>One of the many sleepy urban villages in Delhi is Kotla Mubarakpur. This neighbourhood, dotted with numerous home furnishing shops today, was once home to two of the earliest Muslim dynasties in India – Syed and Lodhi. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Consequently, this village, flanked by South-Ex and Lodhi Colony today, nur-ses big and small tombs of two entire lineages. <br /><br />Kotla Mubarakpur gets its name from the tomb of Muizud-din Mubarak Shah, son of Khizr Khan of the Syed dynasty (15th c. AD). Khizr Khan, who was the governor of Punjab under the Lodhi dynasty, took over the reins at Delhi in 1414 AD after <br />defeating Daulat Khan Lodi. He established the Syed dynasty. <br /><br />His son Muizud-din Mubarak Shah succeeded him and established a city Mubarakabad on the banks of the Yamuna, though no trace of it exists now. He died in 1434 AD and was buried in Kotla Mubarakpur. <br /><br />His tomb was built in a fusion of Lodhi style octagonal plan with Tughlaq style buttresses and a wide dome. Three tiers of Quranic inscriptions adorn the springing of the ceiling of the dome. Adjoining the tomb, there is a ‘funerary mosque’ meant as a venue for prayers, and making public addresses by the visitors to the tomb. The mosque is located on the <br />west side of the tomb. It has two bays depth wise and five bays width wise and is decorated with arches supported on pillars. <br /><br />In the precincts of the Mubarakpur tomb and mosque, there are many other tombs of the Lodhi period. The tomb of Darya Khan Lohani - Chief Justice during the reign of Bahlol Lodhi and vakil (advocate) during Sikander Lodhi’s rule - is dated to early 16th century. Considered an unusual tomb, it has a commemorative circular platform structure with Chhatris (kiosks) at the corners. It has been deduced that when built, the tomb had an impressive layout with a beautiful view.<br /><br />Bade Khan ka Gumbad is an impressive tomb monument with an intricate frontage. The central bay of the tomb is flanked by three rows of three niches. The central niche in each row is larger than the other two. The interior of its domed Chhatris have ornamentation with incised and painted plaster with a decorative medallion. The Chhote Khan ka Gumbad, located next to it, has a well-maintained interior. <br /><br />Kotla Mubarakpur is worth a stroll in for all its lost majesty.<br /></p>
