| Afsarwala tomb | |
|---|---|
 Afsarwala Tomb | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mausoleum andmosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Humayun's Tomb,South Delhi,New Delhi |
| Country | India |
  Location of the tomb and mosque inSouth Delhi | |
| Coordinates | 28°31′27″N77°11′09″E / 28.5242°N 77.1857°E /28.5242; 77.1857 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Islamic tomb |
| Style | Mughal |
| Completed | 974AH (1566/1567 CE) |
| Specifications | |
| Domes | Two(one each on the tomb and mosque) |
| Materials | Red sandstone; marble; quartz |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | (ii), (iv) |
| Designated | 1993(17thsession) |
| Part of | Humayun's Tomb |
| Region | India |
TheAfsarwala tomb complex consists of atomb andmosque,[1] located inside theHumayun's Tomb complex in thesouth ofNew Delhi, India. The mausoleum houses the tomb of an unknown person. The tomb, together with other structures, forms theUNESCO World Heritage Site of Humayun's tomb complex.The Afsarwala tomb is located east of the Arab Serai at the Humayun's Tomb complex in Delhi, India.[2] The Afsarwala tomb is located south-east of the mosque.[2]
According to an explanation by theArcheological Survey of India the name "Afsarwala tomb" could derive fromPersian:افسر,romanized: afsar,lit. 'officer', making the building an "officer-wala's tomb", a grave for a military commander. A more recent theory points instead to theTranscaucasian tribal nameAfsar orAfshar as a more likely origin, noting that several elite members of this tribe were employed at the early Mughal court, including one namebearer, who helpedHumayun during his return and recapture of India in 1555.[3] New findings suggest thatAfsarwala, no matter its etymology, might in any case be a misnomer, since the mosque of the complex was apparently built byGulbadan Begum, under the title “Nawab Begum”, during the reign ofAkbar (c. 1577–1581 CE).[4]
One of the graves inside the mausoleum contains the number974, believed by the Archaeological Survey of India to indicate 974AH (1566/1567 CE).[2]
According to archaeological evidence, the mosque was built between 1560 and 1567.[5]: 64 Located adjacent to the Afsarwala tomb, the mosque is built on the same raised platform as the tomb. Thefaçade contains three arches, with red-painted spandrels, each arch enclosing its own alcove. Staircases to the terrace are located at the extreme two sides of the mosque.[6]
Stucco lines the mosque's interior, with ceiling arches containing medallions. Thesoffit of the nave is painted stucco. Thedrum which sits underneath the dome of the mosque is octagonal on the outside, but square in shape internally.[7] Red paint is used to decorate the drum.[8]
There is only one dome andchhatri.Ram Nath opines that the plan of the mosque is nothing new and the themes are just replicas of previous mosques.[6]
The Afsarwala tomb is built on the raised platform of the mosque.[5]: 65 The mausoleum is built from grey quartz and lined withred sandstone and marble. A single cruciform chamber with a double dome is located inside the mausoleum. Externally, the mausoleum is octagonal in shape. Each side of the octagon contains an arch with a squared doorway, which opens into the inner chamber. Red sandstone is used to decorate the spandrels of the arches. The external dome rises from an octagonal drum and is crowned by a red sandstone lotus finial.[5]: 66
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