Bara-Gumbad Mosque, 1494AD

Between the 1500s and 1700s, the Indian subcontinent was dominated by an Islamic imperial power called the Mughal Empire. The empire stretches from the present-day Kashmir and Afghanistan to Bangladesh, and south towards the Deccan Plateau. The Mughals created many of the Indian landmark architecture that we know today, including Taj Mahal, Qut'b Minar, and the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir. Delhi was the capital of this empire, and hence it is only natural that many of the remaining Mughal Architecture, such as the previously discussed Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb and this Bara-Gumbad mosque, is situated here.


Above is the view of the Bara-Gumbad Mosque in its English garden setting. People have told me that in the imperial days, the English are keen to make India look like their home's pastoral landscape, and cut down a lot of the trees around these monuments in order to make their lawns. Today, the land around the mosque is a well frequented modern park. The lawns are used by people picnicking or playing crickets, and the path is busy with local joggers ad international tourists.


One of the rounded domes of the mosque.


The arches of the mosque have detailed caligraphic inscriptions that is reminiscent of illustrations and photographs of the Alhambra in Grenada.


Imagine making one of these intricate carvings; how many days must you take, and, what if you chip one of them?!


It's likely that the bright blue color we see here is original paints made using lapis lazuli or turquoise, which fades little over time.


Me and maria posing on one of the tomb gates (the bricks are really that red!.. although PS did help to bring it out)