Nasir-ud-Din Mahmood, who was the then governor of Bengal, was killed in Lakhnauti (now a ruined city in West Bengal called Gaur). His body was brought to Delhi and buried here in Sultan Garhi.
Standing tall but neglected in Vasant Kunj exists the oldest Islamic tomb built in present-day India. The Sultan Garhi mausoleum was built by Iltutmish, the third ruler of Delhi Sultanate, in 1231 for his eldest son Nasir-ud-din Mahmood. Neglected for years, gamblers used to frequent the tomb and its surrounding areas, but with efforts from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Archaeological Survey of India and the locals, the place has been beautified and converted into an archaeological park.
Nasir-ud-Din Mahmood, who was the then governor of Bengal, was killed in Lakhnauti (now a ruined city in West Bengal called Gaur). His body was brought to Delhi and buried here in Sultan Garhi.
A board on the premises reads that the structure is a 'protected monument' and a monument of national importance under the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act-1951. It has been identified as Grade A Monument by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
"We come here to offer our prayers to the 'Peer'. It was important to help the DDA to keep this area beautiful and clean. We have made it a point to tell all visitors to throw garbage in the dustbins and we pick the ones thrown by irresponsible visitors," said Adib Ali, a regular visitor to the mausoleum.
The octagonal tomb, in an underground opening supported on four columns raised with two pillars each that support beams, depicts an ancient Indian temple. Once inside the complex, the west wall has a marble colonnade and a mihrab intricately carved with verses from the Quran.
The first mausoleum built in the Indian subcontinent was of Qutub-ud-din Aibak, which is now in Lahore. Therefore, the Sultan Garhi tomb is oldest Islamic mausoleum in present-day India.
"This place exemplifies communal harmony. There exists symbols of Hindu temples including Swastik made from veil by and there is a rush of Muslims on Thursdays to offer prayers. There are older open graves in Lal Kot inside Sanjay Van, but this is the oldest covered tomb," said Vikramjit Singh Rooprai, a heritage activist.
Sultan Garhi is located near the Malakpur Kohi village on the Mehrauli–Mahipalpur Road, eight-kilometre west of the Qutub complex in South-west Delhi.
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