Razia Sultan Tomb Information :

Location: In the Bulbuli Khane locality, east of Kalan Masjid, at some distance from Turkman Gate, just near the Sitaram Bazaar, reached by a forking lane is Razia's tomb
Open: On all days
Admission: Free and open to all
Preferred Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar
Functional Metro Station:Chawri Bazaar
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing: 30 minutes

Razia Sultan Tomb in Delhi : 

Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi is located in pocket 9 in Vasant Kunj just opposite Sector C. Built by Iltutmish, Qutbuddin Aibak’s slave, for his eldest son in 1231, Sultan Ghari’s Tomb represents the first tomb which was built for a Muslim royal in northern part of India during the medieval period.

History says that Iltutmish’s son, Nasiru'd-Din Mahmud, popularly known as Sultan Ghari, had fought numerous wars to defend the empire. He was the most favorit child of Iltutmish. Mahmud was also throned as the Governor of Lachnauti, which was then known as Dhaka. However, as ill luck would have it, the prince died at Lakhnauti in 1229. Perhaps, the climatic peculiarity of Bengal did not suit his physical state. As a result he fell ill severely and succumbed to death. It is learnt that Iltutmish, who reigned the empire as the founder of Slave dynasty, could not recover from the shock of Sultan Ghari or 'Sultan of the Cave'’s death immediately. With the passage of time, Itutmish overcame his grief and decide to build a tomb for his beloved son at a juncture of his reign when his own subjects were rebelling against him.

You will have to travel to Malakpur Kohli village on the Mehrauli-Palam Road to visit Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in Delhi. We assure you that the golden tinge of the tomb’s structure will impress you. Architecture of Sultan Ghari’s Tomb, exudes of elegance and structural excellence. The tomb was falling to ruins till the Delhi Development Authority took up the project of restoration of Sultan Ghari’s Tomb in 2003.

Sultana's Unacceptable Love :

In hindsight it seems that nothing could have stopped Raziya from becoming one of the most accomplished rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. Except love. What undid her was her relationship with Yakut. Though it happened behind many veils and doors, their relationship was no secret in the Delhi court. The thought of a woman of pure Turkish descent consorting with an Assyrian slave must have been poison for the insular Turkish Maliks.

The governor of Lahore was the first to react but Raziya sharply put him in his place. Hot on his heels came a more serious threat in the shape of Malik Ikhtiar-ud-din Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda, who refused to accept Raziya’s suzerainty. The story goes that Altunia and Raziya were childhood friends. As they grew up together, he fell in love with Raziya and the rebellion was simply a way of getting back at Raziya for preferring a slave.

The Love Tragedy :

Tragedy followed swiftly. Yaqut was murdered and Altunia imprisoned Raziya. To save her own head, Raziya sensibly decided to marry him. While all of this was happening, Raziya’s brother Bahram had been named Sultan in Delhi. Raziya marched with her husband towards Delhi but to no avail. On October 13, 1240, she was defeated by Bahram and the unfortunate couple was put to death the very next day.

Raziya’s reign was followed by Bahram Shah (1240-42), Ala-ud-din Masud Shah (1242-1246) and Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1246-66). However skipping these virtual unknowns let’s come to the next Sultan who mattered in the scheme of things.

Accounts by court flatterers would have us believe that Nasir-ud-din Mahmud was a very pious, simple and modest man. Don’t believe a word of this – just a cover up for his vacillating, indecisive and unassertive ways. Court politics and intrigue continued unabated. Clearly the need of the hour was a king of blood and iron. By a happy coincidence Delhi got one rather quickly.

Annual Event/Special Event :

The mosque is at its best during Muslim festivals of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Zoha when at a time thousands of devotees offer their prayers in the courtyard. There is festival and carnival like atmosphere in the area

Nearby Tourist Attractions :

Turkman Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Dargah of Hazrat Turkman Bayabani, Razia Sultan's tomb, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Rajghat.