Exploring the Architectural Marvel of Bada Gumbad

Introduction

The Bada Gumbad is located within the Lodi Gardens in Delhi along the southern edge. It forms a cluster of monuments, including the Bada Gumbad Mosque and the Mehman Khana of Sikandar Lodi. The purpose behind the construction of the Bada Gumbad is not certain. Some scholars speculate that this structure could have served as a gateway to the broader complex of tombs within the Lodi Gardens. While it is a single-story structure, it has an apparent external semblance of a double-storied structure when viewed from the outside due to its high ceiling.

Architecture of Bada Gumbad

Bada Gumbad is the first example of a structure with what is called the “full dome” in Delhi. The dome is plastered externally and is adorned with a lotus finial or ‘padmakosha’. Square in plan, the Bada Gumbad is constructed on a platform roughly 4 meters high, and the structure rises to 29 meters. It consists of a single, square tomb inside it. The interior is mainly devoid of ornamentation and covered in dressed granite. It has doorways on all four sides. The corbelled entrance door frames are richly decorated with elements belonging to the Hindu as well as the Persian architectural style, as evident through the simultaneous use of a band of Arabic calligraphy, arabesque stucco, inverted lotus or ‘awangamukhi kamal’ and elephant motifs. The total area of the Bada Gumbad without the mosque and the guest house is approximately 3880 sq. ft.

The Bada Gumbad mosque, or the Friday mosque as it is popularly known, is a single-aisled, rectangular plan, approximately 30 meters(north-south) by 8 meters (east-west). It is located along the western edge. With five arched openings, it has three domes rising above it. While the central dome is marginally larger, all three have retained lotus finials at their apex. Four receding planes of ogee arches with beautifully incised Arabic calligraphy decorate the main doorway. The arches carved on the interiors are finished with plaster and embellished with intricately carved Arabic inscriptions. We also see the use of stalactite pendentives and geometric and floral designs in the interiors.

In addition, the spandrels, both on the outside and inside, feature intricate geometric motifs along with round plaster medallions at the corners. The northern and southern walls have openings with a frontal structure supported on red sandstone brackets and chajja, with carvings characteristic of Hindu architecture. Finally, two solid towers/turrets with four vertical sections stand at the corners with remains of finials at their apex.

Now, the Mehman Khana (guesthouse) lies on the opposite side of the Friday mosque, which occupies the eastern edge. It is rectangular in plan, measuring about 27 meters in height. The interior has seven chambers, the central one being the largest one. It is a residence that surrounds the central courtyard. However, some sources argue that this structure could have served as a Majlis Khana (assembly hall). Within the central courtyard, the remains of what could be a water tank (8 meters wide) are also visible. The Mehman Khana is constructed using grey, red, and black stones, including red sandstone and grey quartzite. Its interior is decorated with painted stucco.

Conclusively, we traced the evolution and the elements of Indo-Persian architecture while mainly focusing on the Lodi architectural style based on the Bada Gumbad.

The Bara Gumbad represents an evolution in terms of its “fuller dome” or the several other decorative elements employed in its ornamentation. It also plays a remarkable role in the evolution of square-type tomb buildings. Moreover, the Bada Gumbad Mosque is a pioneering example of the panchmukhi building type, where “panch” (five) and “mukhi ” (facade) define a prayer hall with five bays.