| Bara Gumbad | |
|---|---|
 Bara Gumbad atLodi Gardens | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Historic monument andmosque |
| Ownership | Government of Delhi[clarification needed] |
| Status | Active(as a mosque) |
| Location | |
| Location | Lodi Gardens,Central Delhi,Delhi NCT |
| Country | India |
  Location of the monument site inCentral Delhi | |
| Administration | |
| Coordinates | 28°35′34.4″N77°13′12.7″E / 28.592889°N 77.220194°E /28.592889; 77.220194 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | |
| Founder | Sikandar Lodi(attrib.) |
| Completed |
|
| Specifications | |
| Length | 20 m (66 ft)(Bara Gumbad) |
| Width | 20 m (66 ft)(Bara Gumbad) |
| Interior area |
|
| Height (max) | 29 m (95 ft)(Bara Gumbad) |
| Dome | Multiple |
| Minaret | Two |
| Site area | 1,050 m2 (11,300 sq ft) |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Official name |
|
| Designated | 9 April 1936 |
| Reference no. | N-DL-73 |
TheBara Gumbad (lit. 'bigdome') is a medievalmonument located inLodi Gardens inDelhi, India. It is part of a group of monuments that include aFriday mosque (Jama Masjid) and the "mehman khana" (guest house) ofSikandar Lodi, the ruler of theDelhi Sultanate. The Bara Gumbad was constructed in 1490CE, during the reign of theLodi dynasty. Its construction is generally attributed to Sikandar Lodi, and it is believed to have the earliest constructed full dome of any building in Delhi.
The monument is situated near theTomb of Sikandar Lodi andShisha Gumbad. Although the three structures, which share a common raised platform, were all built during the Lodi reign, they were not constructed at the same time. The intended purpose of the builders of Bara Gumbad is unclear: it may have been intended as a free-standingtomb, but no tombstone has been identified, or as a gateway. The area in which Bara Gumbad is situated was formally called Khairpur village.
Bara Gumbad and the associated mosque are aMonument of National Importance,[1] under the administration of theArchaeological Survey of India.
Bada Gumbad was constructed in 1490 CE, and is believed to have the earliest constructed full dome of any building in Delhi.[2][3] Its construction is generally attributed toSikandar Lodi.[3][4][5] Amihrab (prayer niche) in the adjacentFriday mosque (Jama Masjid) gives the mosque's date of construction as 900AH (1494/1495 CE).[5]
Including the Bada Gumbad, there are four monuments in theLodi Gardens; the other three beingTomb of Sikandar Lodi,Shisha Gumbad, and the tomb of Muhammad Shah (who belonged to theSayyid dynasty).[6] The Bada Gumbad is situated approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) southwest of the tomb and 75 metres (246 ft) south of Shisha Gumbad.[3] During the rule of Sikander Lodi, the Bara Gumbad, the adjacent mosque, and the "mehman khana" (guest house) were constructed. The Bara Gumbad is speculated to serve as a gateway to the Friday mosque. However owing to the constitutions date, placement and stylistic differences the theory of gateway is not supported. The purpose and significance of the Bara Gumbad is unknown and to date remains a mystery.[3][5] The Friday mosque was constructed in 1494 CE. It was the first mosque to be built in a style that first appeared during theLodi Dynasty.[3][7]
Some historians suggest that the Bara Gumbad was built by an unidentified noble in 1490 CE, before being appropriated by Sikander Lodi in 1494 CE, to provide an entryway to his mosque.[4]
Simon Digby argued, that the Bara Gumbad served as a gateway to a large walled enclosure, which included theShisha Gumbad, identified by the same scholar as the tomb ofBahlul Lodi.[8]
Initially, all the monuments were built independently, and were not in one confine. In the early twentieth century, a park was developed, bringing the four monuments in one confine. The park was inaugurated on 9 April 1936 by Lady Willingdon, the wife ofViceroyLord Willingdon.[6] The park was originally called the Lady Willingdon Park after her, but was renamed to Lodi Gardens after independence of India in 1947.[9]
It is speculated that the Bara Gumbad was constructed to provide a gateway to the nearby mosque or a large walled enclosure. Although the structure does not house any tomb, there is a platform in the central courtyard that suggests the structure to be a burial place. The purpose of Bara Gumbad is unknown.[3][5] Bara Gumbad is grouped together with a mosque and "mehman khana" which is a smaller structure with five bays. All the structures are constructed on a 4 metres (13 ft) high platform, with a total area of 1,050 square metres (11,302 ft2). The platform measures 30 metres (98 ft) (east-west) and 25 metres (82 ft) (north-south).[3]
Three out of five bays in the mosque have domes whereas the remaining two havevaulted roofs (on mosque and "mehman khana"). The central bays feature low domes, while the end-bays feature flat roofs.[3][4][10] There areoriel windows to the north and south. Both the oriel windows and the taperingminarets appear to anticipate later architectural styles.
The Bara Gumbad is square type construction which sits on aplinth. The mosque measures 20 metres (66 ft) on each side. At the rear, the corners and sides of the mosque feature tall tapering semi-circularminars.[10] The east, south, and west are decorated, and feature ogee arch openings, which are set into rectangular frames. Thearchitecture combinesbracket andlintel beams, blendingIslamic andHindu architectures.[3][4][10]
Bara Gumbad is 29 metres (95 ft) high, 20 metres (66 ft) long and 20 metres (66 ft) wide. The walls are 12 metres (39 ft) tall. Like the Shisha Gumbad, the Bara Gumbad is also a single story structure but has an external semblance of spanning in two floors when viewed from outside. Total floor area of Bara Gumbad (excluding the mosque and the guest house) is 361 square metres (3,886 ft2).[3][4][10]
The dome, the mosque and the "mehman khana" are constructed of red, grey and black stone, including greyquartzite and redsandstone. The interior is elaboratelyornamented with paintedstucco. Colored tiles,incised carvings, and painted plaster on the mosque are decorated withfoliage, flowers, geometric patterns, andQuranicinscriptions.[3][4][10]
The Bara Gumbad is located in and is a part of the Lodi Gardens inDelhi, India. The village where the monument stands was earlier called Khairpur.[11][12] The garden is bounded byAmrita Shergill Marg in the west, northwest and north, Max MuellerMarg on the east andLodi Road on the south side. Safdarjang Tomb is situated on southwest corner of the Lodi Garden.[13]
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