Mir Alam Tank

File / Documentation

Name

109600_sv.jpg

Size

3.72 MB

Format

JPEG

Checksum (MD5)

975ff1b5ebbb47ea69875c8be4acbd24

Creator(s)

patron: Mir Alam (Indian (South Asian), 18th century-1808)

Indian (South Asian), Islamic

Location

Site: Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh, India)

Cultural context

Indian (South Asian)

Islamic

Description

Located on a hillock on Mir Alam road west of Charminar is the tomb-dargah of Mir Mahmud Nimatullah, who came from Najaf in the reign of Abdullah Qutb Shah 1626-72. Mir Mahmud Nimatullah passed away in 1688. A flight of 101 steps lead to the four massive doors of the tomb. The tomb he built in his lifetime has no inscription on it, though there are signs of fading Persian couplets on the first gate of the tomb called Zanjiri Gate; on the second gates is inscribed a quatrain in Persian. The circular tomb, once covered in blue tiles, has arched doors within arched recesses, topped off by a huge dome of 81 1/2 feet radius. Between the doors are double arched recesses at the lower level. Above them is a circular chhajja supported by small brackets. Over the chhajja is a cornice with small domed minarets. Lotus petals decorate the base of the pinnacled dome. The sepulcher contains glass panels in the recesses. The roof shows a circular decorative pattern common to Qutb Shahi tombs. The tomb is well placed, looking down on the blue waters of Mir Alam tank. The grave is covered in a greet sheet.

general view, view of Mir Mahmud Nimatullahi Dargah overlooking the Mir Alam Tank, 1890s

Work type

Shrine (structure)

Tomb

Lake (body of water)

Medium

masonry

stone

granite

Keywords

Dams

Domes