Situated close to central Delhi, the Tomb of Safdarjung is a historical monument of grand proportions. The sprawling gardens around the structure, a passage lined with fountains, and brilliant in depicting the Mughal style of architecture, the tomb is often overlooked, lost amongst many of Delhi’s ancient monuments. However, it makes for an enjoyable quick stop for photography enthusiasts.
The famous Lodi Gardens are merely a few meters away from this magnificent and clean complex which has been standing tall since 1754. The tomb was erected by Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan’s (known as Safdarjung) son after his death.
Safdarjung was the ruler of Avadh and later was made the Chief Minister of the Mughal Empire under the rule of Mohammed Shah Ahmed Shah.
This sandstone and marble mausoleum give glimpses of the Taj Mahal, but architecturally there are many differences between them both. However, that does not make Safdarjung’s tomb any less striking in the city’s architectural heritage.
On this particular cool winter morning, a band of local photographers, including myself, descended upon the monument to try and catch a glimpse of it at sunrise. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case, as the memorial and the sun, hid behind a thick blanket of fog. It wasn’t until much later when the mist lifted a little that we managed to take a few photographs.
On a separate note, it was disappointing to see the blatant disregard and disrespect towards the monuments of our country as evident from the graffiti all over the tomb. There is a nominal entry fee and guards at the main entrance, but no one to look over near the actual monument which is why miscreants get away with this. It’s an issue that one comes across around the world, and I can only hope that when caught, these vandals are given strict punishment and made an example of, to deter others from doing this.
Historical and architectural information source – Wikipedia
