Architecture of Khanqah of Shaikh Hamiduddin Nagauri The Khanqah of Shaikh Hamiduddin Nagauri is one of the oldest buildings of Rajasthan. It is located on the north eastern side of the town outside the city walls. The tomb of Sufi Hamiduddin Chishti Nagauri is located within the compound and serves as an important place for pilgrimage for the people. The building has a 'Buland Darwaza' made of huge blocks of stones. It is also named as Atarkin Ka Darwaza. It is made of huge blocks of stones. As per the Sarur-us-Sudur the gate was constructed by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. On the other hand the Akhbar-ul-Akhyar states it was built by Khwaja Hussain Nagauri. The khanqah is connected with a mosque adjacent to a graveyard. The mosque is built of red sandstone. The khanqah has a sama khana i.e. an audition hall. A gate has also been constructed inside the khanqah and has been named after the name of the wife of the Shaikh, Bibi Khadiza. The Khanqah of Shaikh Hamiduddin Nagauri has two cauldrons that were earlier used for cooking food. The food was distributed among the general public faqirs and the needy. Several rooms have been built by devotees of Shaikh outside the mosque for providing refuge to tourists free of cost. A kitchen was also built in the mosque for cooking purpose. An eight feet high wall has been raised around the shrine by Khwaja Hussains Naguari. The family members of the Shaikh are buried in that graveyard. There is a 'hauz' within the mosque. A marble railing has been constructed around the grave. There are many graves inside the enclosure. The walls surround a rectangular area that has circulars in the corners. The tower, walls and the gateway has been made of blocks of stone. The towers at the corner have circular chambers and are covered with corbelled domes. The tower can be entered from outside the graveyard. The exterior part of the tower has been adorned with borders and rows of ogee arches. The Shaikh's mazar is the main attraction of the khanqah. No tomb or a mausoleum has been built over it. His wife and his son Shaikh Azizuddin have been buried side by side of the Shaikh's grave. The building also had a marble pinjra made by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. The Khanqah of Shaikh Hamiduddin Nagauri is thus serves as an important religious centre for the Muslims. |
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