Saturday, January 24, 2015

7 Tombs of Qutab Shahi Kings

The Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex is one of the most significant historic medieval necropolises with 70 structures within its complex, encompassing 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, five step-wells/water structures, a mortuary bath, pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls built during the reign of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad region for 170 years in the 16th – 17th centuries.
 There are many tombs and a mosque the description at the entrance of the site museum gives a concise view of the Kings (and a Queen too. Mistress of King - Bhagamathi is also buried near her King) buried in the tombs there. Except for the last Nizam, who was taken as a captive, the rest of Qutb Shahi rulers are buried here. The architecture is a blend of different cultures, with Persian and Turkish dominance. And most of the rulers constructed their own tombs before they died.
 I visited Qutb Shahi tombs where seven generations of the Qutub Shahi Emperors are resting. The tombs are on the way to Golconda fort but are normally given a miss by most of the visitors. But once you visit the Qutub Shahi Tombs you will realize what you have missed. I think it won’t be wrong to say that Qutub Shahi tombs form the Golden Triangle of Hyderabad along with Golconda Fort and Taramati Bardari from the era of  Qutub Shahi Kings.
 The tombs are surrounded by densely populated residential area with the green coverage slowly being gobbled up by growing concrete jungle. You will find a lot of families from nearby areas coming there for picnic and playing in the shadow of the majestic tombs which stand taller than a multi story building.

 Each tomb is unique and though look similar once you start looking at them closely you realize that each one has finer details different from the other. Besides the tombs of the kings you will also find tombs of other members of royal family and some ministers also.


 While looking at the tombs I was wondering looking at all the people playing around, enjoying their snacks if any one of them realizes that we are actually inside a Graveyard, a Royal one but still a graveyard. Such is the beauty of the majestic Qutub Shahi Tombs that you forget you are surrounded by graves, and you simply start enjoying the moment.

1 comment:

R Niranjan Das said...

Love their architecture style. They have a few in Bijapur.