Khusro Bagh is a large walled garden near Prayagraj Junction Railway Station and about 6 km from Akbar fort (r. 1556–1605) at the bank of Ganga near Triveni Sangam. It is situated over forty acres and shaped like a quadrangle.
It includes tombs of (1) Khusro Mirza (died 1622), eldest son of emperor Jahangir, (2) Shah Begum, Khusro's mother (died 1604), a Rajput princess and Jahangir's first wife, (3) Princess Sultana Nisar Begam (died c.1624), Khusro's sister, and (4) Bibi Tamolan.
Sandstone mausoleums within this walled garden, present an exquisite example of Mughal architecture.
Tomb of Shah Begum :
The design of its main entrance, the surrounding gardens, and the three-tier tomb of Shah Begum, who died in 1604, has been attributed to Aqa Reza, Jahangir’s principal court artist. Shah Begum, originally Man Bai, was the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das of Amber, Jahangir's Rajput wife, and Khusro Mirza's (d. 1622) mother.
Distressed by the discord between her husband Jahangir and son Khusro, she committed suicide in 1604 by swallowing opium. Her tomb was designed in 1606 by Aqa Reza and is a three storied terrace plinth without a main mound, inviting comparisons with Fatehpur Sikri by experts. The tomb however has a large chhatri that surmounts the plinth and the arabesque inscriptions that adorn her tomb were carved out by Mir Abdullah Mushkin Qalam, Jahangir's greatest calligrapher.
Tomb of Nisar Begum :
This tomb belongs to Khusro Mirza's sister, Nisar Begum.
This wonderful tomb was built by Nisar Begum herself during her lifetime but she was not buried in this tomb. Architecturally, this is the most elaborate of the three. It lies on an elevated platform and is adorned with panels depicting the scalloped arch motif. Within the plinth are rooms whose ceilings have been elaborately painted with stars in concentric circles. The central room has on its walls floral decorations depicting Persian cypresses, wine vessels, flowers and plants.
Nisar’s mausoleum is however empty and it does not contain her tomb within it.
Khusro's Tomb :
Khusro (1587 -1622 C.E.) was the eldest son of Jahangir and queen Shah Beghum. He was well educated and popular for his amicable manners and blameless public character. In 1605 C.E. when Akbar lay seriously ill . Khusru partisans, led by his father-in-law, Mirza Aziz Koka and his uncle Raja Man Singh Amber made strenuous efforts to put him on throne but at last, Akbar on his death-bed nominated Salim as his successor. After the death of Akbar, Salim ascended the throne and assumed the title of Jahangir.
A few months after Jahangir's accession, Khusro rose in rebellion and was completely defeated by Jahangir, Khusro was captured and blinded. He died in confinement in 1622 C.E, when he was under custody of his brother Khurram, the future Shah Jahan. Khusro was buried in Khusro Bagh near mausoleum of his mother.
The Tomb of Khusro was probably built by Khusro's sister Sultan Nisar Begum It is a two storied building with arched walls surmounted by a large hemispherical dome on an octagonal drum, with small pavillian at the corners. The interior consists of single room, wall painted with a design of floral patterns, cypresses etc. On the dome, there is painted medallion with star and geometric patterns similar to the ones in the contemporary tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah Agra.
Tomb of Bibi Tamolan :
This structure is located little westward of Shah Begum's Tomb about 60 to 70 mtrs. It's an elegant two storeyed tomb. Ground floor is not built on a raised platform. Ground floor is an octagonal shaped hall having stone pillars and each wall is having opening.
Roof is an onion shape dome resting on an octagonal base. And having eight small decorated pillars. Ground floor and first floor roofs are having stone overhangs supported by stone brackets. To access the first floor one steps flight is there though it is closed.
It's sure that this Tomb was built by some Royal family member of Mughals. But not much is known except that it might have built by one Royal Turkish lady was residing in Fatehpur Sikri or may be by Nisar Begum. Here, no sign of any grave so it's an empty Tomb. It's a magnificent and attractive structure and a attraction for architecture and art lovers.
During revolt of 1857, Khusro Bagh became the headquarters of the sepoys under Maulvi Liaquat Ali who took charge as the Governor of liberated Allahabad. In Allahabad however the Mutiny was swiftly put down and Khusro Bagh was retaken by the British in two weeks.
It is listed as an Indian site of National Importance.
References :
Pictures © Navneel Neeraj
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khusro_Baghhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khusro_Bagh
Comments