Chausath Khamba
| Chausath Khamba | |
|---|---|
Front view of Chausath Khamba
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|
| Basic information | |
| Location |
 New Delhi, India
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| Geographic coordinates | 28°35′28.7″N 77°14′30.5″E / 28.591306°N 77.241806°ECoordinates: 28°35′28.7″N 77°14′30.5″E / 28.591306°N 77.241806°E |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| District | New Delhi |
| Territory | Delhi |
| Province | Delhi |
| Year consecrated | 1624 |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Tomb |
| Leadership | Jahangir |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Koka Khan-i-Azam |
| Architectural type | Tomb |
| Architectural style | Mughal architecture |
| Completed | 1623 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | Open on four sides |
| Dome(s) | 25 |
| Materials | Marble |
Chausath Khamba, also spelled Chaunsath Khamba (Urdu: چونسٹھ کھمبا, Hindi: चौंसठ खम्बा), is a tomb built during 1623–24. It is located in Nizamuddin precincts of Sufi Muslim shrines and tombs in New Delhi, India. The name means "64 pillars" in Urdu and Hindi. It was built by Mirza Aziz Koka, son of Ataga Khan, as a mausoleum for himself, at the time when Mughal Emperor Jahangir ruled from Delhi. Mirza Aziz Koka had served several times as Jahangir’s Governor of Gujarat before he died in Gujarat.
Chausath Khamba monument was initially built as a hall in an innovative eclectic architectural style of the Mughal period. It was later converted into a tomb. It is a square structure constructed entirely of white marble. The structure (pictured with facades) has 64 columns that support twenty five bays. Each bay supports a dome. The domes are not visible externally since they are reverse domes (picture). The roof is flat. Each wall has five arches that are held by square pilasters. In each face, between each of five pilasters, marble trellised have been fixed.
According to inscriptions, the structure houses the tomb of Mirza Aziz Koka (also named Kotaltash). The tomb of his father, Ataga Khan, the Prime Minister of Akbar, is also in the vicinity. In addition, there are several other unidentified tombs inside this monument. It is considered the family shrine of Atgah Khan. The structure is enclosed and has an imposing entrance gate. The Ghalib tomb is located adjoining this structure on the northern side. Comparison is drawn to a similar tomb built in marble in Sarkhej in Gujarat where Mirza Aziz Koka served several times as Jahangir’s Governor of Gujarat. He died in Sarkhej and was temporarily buried there. His remains were later shifted to Chausath Khamba.
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