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Supervisor: Dr. S. Anthony Welch
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the architecturai developrnent of the site of the dargah (tomb
cornplex) of Nizamuddin, a fourteenth century Muslim mystic of the Chishti tradition in
Delhi, India during the Delhi Sultanate Period (602-93W 206- 15 26). Mughal and British
contributions to the site are briefly surveyed as well. The dcrrgah is considered an
important histoncal and religious site for both Indians and South Asian Muslirns. It has
continued to attract numerous pilgrims h mit s inception to the present &y, a period
spanning over six hundred and fi* years. New evidence that is contributed in this study
includes recent photographs of most of the Sultanate structures at the site tbat were taken
in the course of field research conducted in November and December of 1998.
Previously unrecorded epigraphs on the structure scholars cal1 the Jamatkharm are
documented and identified for the fmt tirne. Existing texnial evidence is reused in new
ways to determine historical perceptions of the built environment. Previous studies of the
site have lefi important chronological issues unresolved. They have also not Mly
explored why the site developed the way it did and have overlooked how the Jamatkhana
epipphs can serve as historical evidence. Here these problems are addresseci with an
approach that integrates a variety of types of archaeological, anthropological, histoncal
and art historical data First, the chronology of the site is reviewed and reassessed.
Second the beliefs, uses and patrons of the site are analyzed in their historical and cultural
context. Third, a detailed study of scholarly approaches to Quranic epigraphy and the
epigraphs of the Jamutkhma is made. Finally, pst-Delhi Sultanate developments are

Table of Contents
Title Page
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Figures
Dedication
C hapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Historical Background
Chapter 3: A Chronology of Construction Events at the Nizamuddùi
Dargoh Complex During the Delhi Sultanates
-
Chapter 4: Beliefs, Uses and Patrons The Role of the Development of
the Durgah and its Surrounding Buildings in Delhi Sultanate
Society
Chapter 5: The Epigraphic Program of the Jamaikhana
Chapter 6: Post-Delhi Sultanate Developments at the Dargoh of
Nizam uddin
Chapter 7: Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix 1 : Proposed Chronology of Delhi Sultanate Building Events at
Nizamuddin West
Appendix 2: Jamarkhona Epigraphs
Figures
Lut of Figures
Alt photographs and drawings are by the author unless stated othenvise. Photographs are
reproduced here as colour laser prints.
Figure 1: Map of Nizarnuddin West, (Based on: Lt. General S.M. Chadha (Rtd):
Delhi Citv Guide, New Delhi: Eicher Goodearth Ltd-, f 998, Maps 22,23).
Figure 2: Photograph of dargah of Nizamuddin. December 1998.
Figure 3: Photograph of dargah of Nizmuddin and " K h i ~ "M asjid in background.
December 1998.
Figure 4: Map of Northem India
Figure 5: Photograph of epigraphs on extenor of main entrance to "Khi~"M üsjid.
December 1998.
Fi,aure 6: Photograph of Swaj Kund (Source: Deepak Hiranandani, Delhi City Guide,
New Delhi: Eicher Goodearth Ltd., 1998).
Figure 7: Map of Delhi region showing the location of Qila Rai Pithora, Sin, Hazc
Shamsi (Based on: Faiz Habib, Delhi Throunh the Azes: Essavs in Urban
Historv. Culture and Society. ed. R.E. Frykenberg Delhi: Oxford University
Press, 1986, inside fiont jacket).
Figure 8: Photograph of Quwwat-zii-islam Masjid. December 1998.
Figure 9: Photograph of the exterior of the Alai Danuaza (lower right) and Qutb
Minur. December 1998.
Figure 10: Photograph of calligraphy and lotus buds on exterior of Alai D~waza.
December 1998.
Figure 1 1: Photograph of the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq. December 1998.
Figure 12: Photograph of court, "sanctuary" and north arcade Begurnpur Mosque.
December 19 98.
Figure 13: Photograph of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq's rnadrasah at Hou= Kim.
December 1998.
Figure 14: Photograph of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq's tomb at Ha= Khus. December
Figure 15: Photograph of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq's tomb showing inscriptions.
December 1998.
Figure 16: Photograph of a portion of the Qadarn Sharifcommissioned by Sultan Firoz
Shah Tughiuq. December 1998.
Figure 17: Plan drawing of Delhi Sultanate buildings at Nizamuddin West (Based on:
Zafar Hasan, Memoirs of the Archaeoloeical Survev of India: No. 10: A
Guide to Nizamuddin. Calcuita: Superintendent Government Printïng, 1922,
Plate i).
Figure 18 : Plan of Nizamuddin's tomb and surrounding buildings and graves built
during the Delhi Sultanate period.
Figure 19: Photograph of baoli (stepwell). December 1998.
Figure 20: Plan of Humayun's tomb and chillagah of Nizamuddin.
Figure 2 1 : Photograph of chikgah of Nizamuddin. December 19 98.
Figure 22: Photograph of Tughluq era building at Nimmuddin known as "langur
khanan (Source: Zafar Hasan, Mernoirs of the Archaeoloaical Survev of
India: No. 10: A Guide to Nizamuddin. Calcutta: Superintendent
Govemment Printing, 1922, Plate V b.).
Figure 23: Photograph of Tughluq era building south of dargah of Nizamuddin
resembling chillagah but with late Mughal additions. Decernber 1998.
Figure 24: Photograph of main entrance to Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah Maqbul Masjid.
December 1998.
Figure 25: Photograph of interior of Mamf s passageway on south end of baofi.
December 1998.
Figure 26: Photograph of extenor of unidentified building known as "'hlM ahall".
December 1998.
Figure 27: Photograph of unidentified building known as "Bara Khamba". December
1998.
Figure 28: Photograph of unidentified building at Mahihpalpur, Delhi, resembling
chillagah. December 1998.
Figure 29: Photograph of arcade surrounding intenor court of Begarnpur Mosque
commissioned by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq. December 1998.
Figyre 30: Photograph of arcade surrounding interior court of "Kali"M asjid
commissioned by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah. December 1998.
Figure 3 1 : Photograph of grave marker in tomb of Khan-iJahan Tilangani. December
1998. (Source: Welch, Anthony and Howard Crane. 'The Tughluqs: Master
Builders of the Delhi Sultanate." Muaamas- (1983) 1 : 148, Plate 19.
Figure 32: Photograph of small domed tombs on grounds of Sultan Firoz Shah's
madrasah- December 1998.
Figure 33 : Photograph of small domed tomb at the dargah of Nasiruddin. December
1998.
Figure 34: Photograph of interior of dome of Sultan Firoz Shah's tomb at Hauz Khas,
Delhi. December 1998-
Figure 35: Photograph of interior side chamber dome in Jmnatkhana TXhini" Masji4.
December 1998.
Figure 36: Photograph of entrance way to Alai D a m a . December 19%.
Figure 37: Photograph of squinch in Alai DUWCCID. ecember 19 98.
Figure 3 8: Photograph of main entrance arch to Jamtkhana Decernber 1998.
Figure 39: Photograph of squinch in central chamber of Jomathm. December 19 98.
Figure 40: Photograph of lotus buds on Jamafkhana. Decernber 1998.
Figure 4 1 : Photograph of arch over entrance to tomb of Ghi yasuddin Tughluq showing
use of dressed red sandstone and lotus bu&. Decernber 19 98.
Figure 42: Photograph of exterior of ''hiG umbd'. December 1998.
Figure 43: Photograph of small arch on extenor of Jama~khanus howing lotus buds.
December 19 98.
Figure 44 : Photograph of lotus buds on Jahanpanah Masjid (Begampur Mosque).
December 1998.
Figure 45: Photograph of bracket on Jamatkhana. December 19 98.
Figure 46: Photograph of squinch on Sultan Firoz Shah's tomb at Ha= Khas.
December 1998.
viii
Figure 47: Photograph of screen in Sultan Firoz Shah's tomb at Ha= Khas. December
1998.
Figure 48: Photograph of intenor of south Jamutkhana side charnber. December 1998.
Figure 49: Photograph of JamatRha~si de chamber arch December 1998.
Figure 50: Photograph of arch on gateway to darguh of Nasimddin. December 1998.
Figure 5 1 : Photograph of posts and screens in Jamatkhana side chamber. December
1998.
Figure 52: Photograph of window in Jallultkhrrnu dome. December 1998.
Figure 53: Photograph of screen in Jahanpanah Masjid (Begampur Moque). December
1998.
Figure 54: Photograph of screen behind Princess Jahanara's tomb. December 1998.
Figure 55: Photograph showing post and beams of original enclosure on east side of the
dargah. December 1998.
Figure 56: Photograph showing north end of enclosure with inscription refemng to
Humayun. December 1998.
Figure 57: Photograph of exterior of Khan-iJahan Tilangani's tomb surrounded by
modem development. December 1998.
Figure 58: Photograph of exterior east psrssageway on baoli. December 1998.
Figure 59: Daniells' drawing of the baoli. December 1998. (Source: Page, J. A., ed
Monuments of Delhi: Lastina Splendeur of the Great Muhals and Others,
MaulM Zafar Hasan, compiler. 4 vols. in 3 bindings. [1917] reprint ed. New
Delhi: Aryan Books International, 1997. vol. 3.
Figure 60: Photograph of Gandak ki Baoli. Decernber 1998.
Figure 6 1 : Photograph of two-storey Masjid40mb ("Chini Ka Bunj"). December 1998.
Figure 62: Photograph of unidentified tomb east of Nizamuddin's tomb. December
1998.
Figure 63: Photograph of Nizamuddin's grave with flower petals. December 1998.
Figure 64: Photograph of interior central charnber ofJarnatkhaaD ecember 1998.
Figure 65 : Photograph of meâallion in Jamatkhana side chamber. December 1998.
Figure 66: Photograph of small arch on interior south wall ofJ amtkhoa Decernber
1998.
Figure 67: Photograph of calligraphy on tomb of Atgah Khan December 1998.
Figure 68: Photograph of m i h b in central chamber of Jamafkham. December 1998.
Figure 69: Photograph of epigraph on interior of base of dome in Jamattkha~ce ntral
chamber. December 1998.
Figure 70: Photograph of north side chamber of JamatkhnanaD ecember 1998.
Figure 71 : Photograph of the beginning of Surah ar-Rahman on exterior of main
entrance to JamatWtuw and of small arch between main and north arches
December 1998.
Figure 72: Daniells' drawing of the darguh and Jumtkhuna. (Source: H. K Kaul,
Historic Delhi (Deihi: Oxford University Press, 19 85).
Figure 73 : M. A. Khan's drawing of Nizarnuddin's dargah and hImtkh4~(.S ource:
M.M. Kaye, ed- The Golden Calrn: An Enelish Ladv's Life in MoehuJ
DeIhi- Exeter: Webb & Bower, 1980.
Figure 74: Photograph of exterior of Centenw Methodist Church December 1998.
Figure 75: Photograph of Islamic Centre at Nizamuddin December 1998.
Figure 76: Photograph of Hindu temple near the J a m a t k h December 1998.
Figure 77: Photograph of interior of dargah of Innayat Khan. December 1998.