I visited the tomb of Qutb-Ud-Din Muhammadd Khan in Vadodra last month. My
first impression was to praise the Archeological Survey of India for doing an
excellent job of restoration and maintenance.
The mausoleum known as Hazira contains the graves of Q Qutb-Ud-Din Muhammad
Khan, who was the tutor of Salim, son and successor of Akbar, and also that of
his son Naurang Khan who held important offices in Gujarat under Akbar. Qutb-Ud-Din
Muhammadd Khan was uncle of Mirza Aziz Koka, foster brother of Akbar and Governor
of Gujarat thrice in between 1573 to 1583 A.D. He was the last Sultan of
Gujarat.
Built on a high octagonal platform with smaller gates on the cardinal
directions and five arches on each side. It is in the style of Moghul tombs at
Delhi.
The real grave is in an
underground chamber and the false grave in the tomb chamber. The Quranic texts
in Arabic are carved inside the tomb chamber, on lintels, arches and also above jail
work on eastern side walls.
The extant parapet wall on the roof terrace is embellished with merlon
designs in brick red colour evident from the traces. The lower portion of
cylindrical dome surrounding the tomb was covered with a thick plaster of brick
red colour.
The mausoleum has a double dome and seems to have been a garden tomb and
vav
or stepwell to its west across the modern road was perhaps used for supplying
water to the garden.
Please do not miss the pigeon resting there...
Exquisite jali work.
Impressive stone work
Respects to the departed.
A gargoyle for outflow of rain water.
(Text source: Board put up by the Archeological Survey of India at the site.)
