Visit Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah – History, Devotion & Culture

The mausoleum of revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya is visited by thousands of devotees not only by Muslims but also of other faiths. The saint’s followers included prince and the paupers. Many of Delhi’s sultans including Muhammad Tughlaq and Ala-ud-din Khilji were devotees of the Sufi saint. Some of the other structures inside the mausoleum complex are the Jama’at- Khana Masjid, Chini Ka Burj, Mirza Ghalib’s Tomb, Kalan-Masjid, Khan-I-Jahan Tilangani’s Tomb, Ataga Khan’s Tomb, Chaunsath Khamba, Lal-Mahal, Khan-I-Khanan’s Tomb and Barapula.

The saint’s tomb, built in 1562 in the center of a courtyard, is topped with an onion-shaped dome. It’s also covered with intricate painting and inlay work, best viewed on the carved parapet above the verandas. Men can enter the shrine to pay their respects; women must peer in from outside. The tomb is flanked by a mosque and the graves of other important Muslims, including the great Sufi poet Amir Khusro and Jahanara, a daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Evenings from around 5 to 7, especially Thursday, the saint’s male followers often sing in front of the darga and you would best catch a performance. Crowds can be dense, and it’s easy to lose your wallet or purse before you notice. Keep money and valuables secured when you’re in and around the darga.

Qawwali recitals are held every Thursday after the evening prayers. Twice every year, the festival of ‘Urs’ is celebrated to commemorate the death anniversaries of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro.