Information on Lal Gumbad (New Delhi) - History & Architecture

Lal Gumbad or the Rakabwala is located in the city of Delhi in Malviya Nagar. The Lal Gumbad was constructed in the late 13 century by Shaikh Rauashan Ud Din Auliya. He was the adherent of Shaikh Rauashan Chirag. In the year of 1397 corporeal remains of Shaikh Kabir Ud Din Auliya was obscured. The construction of this Gumbad was over after it was completed entirely in the middle of 14th century. Lal Gumbad can be seen from the road, whose rustic appeal entices visitors and locals even today.

Lal Gumbad Architecture

The Gumbad, was built during 1300s, in Tughlaq period for a Sufi Saint, named Shaikh Kabiruddin Auliya. The vital crypt is square in figure, and resembles the crypt of Ghiyas Ud Din Tughlaq with its high slanting red walls. Moreover, there are other miniature wall mosque, which is first and foremost meant to demonstrate the direction for the Muslim prayers and more than a few other graves transversely to the park which houses the crypt.

Lal Gumbad History

Lal Gumbad can be entered from the eastern side. The doorway gate has an archway that is decorated with the marble band. The entire of Lal Gumbad has been painted with the red stonework and has the arrangement which comprises of a four-sided figure chamber with worn out walls. The name behind lal Gumbad is the red sandstone used while its construction. The sandstone was exported from the district of Rajasthan. The top of it is surmounted by the plastered conical arena. The main tomb is square in figure. The name of Lal Gumbad is also called as Rakabwala as it was embroidered with golden finial. However, the thieves stole it later. It was understood that the iron rungs which can seen on the western wall of Lal Gumbad was setup by the thieves, for the intention of climbing walls of the tomb. Lal Gumbad is well thought-out to be the most excellent manufacture that was built at the time of the Emperor rule. The Gumbad is sky-scraping and can be seen from the far distance.

The tomb, dating to AD 1397 is very alike in intend to the tomb of Ghiasuddin Tughlaq positioned next to the Tughlaqabad Fort. Outwardly the tomb has a separate pound to the walls that are covered with flooring of red stonework. On the crown, a stumpy octagonal pulsate carries a conical dome. It is said that the auditorium in the beginning was surmounted with a gold finial which was stolen at some point. The roof height is edged by engraved stonework fortification decorations. The focal right of doorway to the interior of the tomb is from its east. Here elevated piercing entrance arch with lotus blossom fringe design contains a carved corbelled opening surrounded by a group of white marble. Above the entrance is one more arch, within which is set a red sandstone jail. Similar patterns subsist on the north and south apart from that the opening is ineffective by a jali of red sandstone. The solid western wall contains the Mihrab. To the east of Lal Gumbad stands a haphazard rubble gateway which may have been the opening to the grave enclosure. This is a vaulted structure with the dome mounted on a faintly raised octagonal drum. In the complex there are remnants of as many as five wall mosques, all of them belonging to the Lodi interlude. The most well-known of these is positioned to the west of the Lal Gumbad. Here, there are three buried arches on the western prayer wall and two undersized walls persistent on the north and south that too enclose arches. There is a podium in front of this wall containing a solitary grave. The corners of the western wall are strengthened by spherical bastions.

Lal Gumbad Tourism Significance

With the time the rustic beauty of the Lal Gumbad has started to lose importance but it is considered to be the finest monument of the pre-mughal city. The tomb even today carries the same historical importance and is an importance centre of tourist attraction of Malviya Nagar, New Delhi.