Described as the "last flicker in the lamp of Mughal
architecture" it is clearly decadent in style. Mehrauli
village also has the Zafar Mahal, a summer place of
the last Mughal.
The memorial was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah who
was the son of Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan popularly
known as Safdarjung (1739-54)who was the governor of
the province of Awadh under Muhammad Shah (1719-48)
and later became his prime minister.
The tomb is roughly on the plans of Humayun's tomb,
though much scaled down.It is set in the middle of an
extensive garden, which spreads over an area of over
300-sq-metre.
The garden itself is on the pattern of the Mughal 'Chaharbagh'
style. In the center piling up with effortless arrogance
is the massive gateway to the enclosure which rises
to two levels. Inside there is the tomb, the courtyard
and a mosque.
On either side are beautiful pavilions known as "Moti
Mahal" or the pearl palace, "Jangli Mahal" or the sylvan
palace and "Badshah Pasand" or the emperor's favorite.
The mausoleum built with red sandstone and buff stone
is faced with marble and stands squarely in the middle
of a garden. There are two graves here, one of Safdarjung
and the other presumably his wife's. The square central
chamber of the mausoleum is surrounded by eight rooms
all around.
All the apartments, except the corner ones are rectangular
in shape, the corner ones being octagonal. The dome
of the tomb rises from a sixteen-sided base. The tomb
has been criticized for its weakness in proportions
hence a lack of balance in its make-up.
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