Last Updated At: 01-Dec-2022
“Where there is a ruin, there is a hope of treasure”
-RUMI
You would wonder why this blog starts with a quote like this. Well, let me put your inquisitiveness at rest by sharing my experience of visiting this relic that lost its glory in time, Jamali Kamali Tomb and Mosque located in the Archaeological Park, Mehrauli, Delhi.
The unfortunate predicament is, despite located at the best location, which is right behind the very famous monument, Qutub Minar, still, the footfall is sparse. The Archaeological Park is home to many such treasures falling through the cracks that are in dire need to be overhauled.
With a hope to discover yet another gem, a quest to know the real story of Sufi saints, Jamali and Kamali, I took off for this place. To be honest, I did extensive research, before I finally made up my mind, as I heard the place was haunted by Djinns, also, there are plenty of stories doing rounds on Google, didn’t know which one to believe, though.
Probably, that made me adamant to visit this place, all by myself. With no place to park my car, I went back to the Qutub Minar Metro Station to safely park my car, from there I took an auto, shared one, that charged me 20 INR, and dropped me at the very entrance of the park.
Though the park, at the entrance, is lush green, the other side flaunts an ethereal rose garden, but as you move further you would find the place getting deteriorated. As I hit the trail in the park, I found the pillars on which directions were mentioned. I moved forward with heavy steps as I was still skeptical as to how my experience would be?
As I reached the mosque, I was awestruck by the èclat, the flamboyance left me spellbound. Jamali-Kamali complex, one of the foremost Sufi shrines in the city, the colossal, tranquilizing mosque was constructed in 1528-29 AD by Sheikh Jamali himself.
Made with red stone, intricately designed with white marble and gray highlights, the overall look was speaking, tall about the ritziness of the Mughal era, this being one of the swankiest pieces of Mughal mosque architecture. The prayer hall comprises of five arches with only a central arch having a dome that was once studded with exquisite regalia and medallion.
The niches and walls have inscriptions from the Koran. It is said that Jamali, the Sufi saint of the royal court passed away in 1536 AD while accompanying Emperor Humayun in an expedition to Gujarat, and to pay tribute to his fascinating work, soon after his death, Humayun got the tomb built in his name, adjoining the Mosque, where we find the graves of both Jamali and Kamali. Kamali, however, died much later.
We still can find their verses etched on the walls of the tomb, which makes them immortal in this otherwise mortal world.