Monuments

Shish Mahal

Location

Shish Mahal is a compact structure with a fascinating ceiling created from geometric patterns of mirrors. The Rang Mahal recaptures the splendour of 17th century mughal art with its wall paintings and wood carving on the ceiling.

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Jal Mahal

Location

Located on the fifth terrace, is a cube-like construction with a fountain bed. The sequence of terraces flanked by groves continues to the seventh terrace. The entire gardens are surrounded by a wall to ensure privacy and security for the womenfolk.

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Ibrahim Lodi's Tomb

Location

This king who was defeated by Babur in 1526 AD in the first battle of Panipat lies buried here within a tomb. The grave is simply a rectangular block placed on a high platform approached by a flight of steps made of lakhori bricks. The tomb was renovated by the British, and an inscription mentioning Ibrahim Lodhi's defeat at the hands of Babur and the renovation was included by them in 1866 AD.

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Tripolia gateway

Location

Constructed by Shah Quili Khan in 1589 as the main entrance to a garden, the gate has three sides. The Khan’s octagonal tomb (built in red and grey sandstone) and Islam Quili Khan’s lie within the garden complex, named Aram-i-Kausa by Quili Khan. The gate itself is built from broken down masonry.

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Tomb of Pir Turkman

Location

A tomb-cum-mosque complex, it belongs to a muslim saint caslled Hazarat Turkman who setteled in these parts in the 12th century much to the dislike of local Rathore chiefs. The original tomb is capped by a dome, but the pillared verandah was built by the British much later. Additions to the tomb were common even during the Mughal period.

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Tomb of Ibrahim Khan Sur

Location

This tomb is a tribute by Sher Shah Sur, the ruler of Bengal and later Hindustan, for his grandfather Ibrahim. The Sur who lies here served as the administrative officer Narnaul, and the monument was created by Sher Shah’s personal architect Sheikh Ahmad Niyazi. The tomb is a perfect example of the Pathan style of those times.

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Jal Mahal

Location

A building surrounded on all sides by water, was built by Shah Quli Khan, an officer of Akbar and the ruler of Narnaul, in 1591. It represents a synthesis of Persian and Indian architecture and stands at the centre of a large water tank (now dry). The approach through the water was via a causeway from the north which opens through an arched entrance. The main building is surrounded by four minarets which have stairways leading right to the top. However, the lower chambers have by now disintegrated and no trace of them can be found.

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