Chhatri of Gurg Ali Khan

Chhatri or Chatsu of Gurg Ali Khan is one of the Indian monuments of historical significance. It is located at a distance of 40 kms to the south east of Jaipur in the Rajasthan state of India. It is a Tehsil town and serves as the headquarters of the region. Gurg Ali Khan was one of the martyrs who lost his life in the early Muslim expeditions in Rajputana. After his death, he was elevated to the rank of saint.

Historical Significance of Chhatri of Gurg Ali Khan
This historical dome shaped pavilion encompasses the relics of some distinguished Muslim architecture. Two inscriptions have been engraved, one records the date of his martyrdom while the other mentions about the visit date of a tourist.

It has not been mentioned when the Chhatri of Gurg Ali Khan was first occupied by the Muslims but there are evidences that its surrounding regions had been occupied by the Tughlaqs. The Mughal ruler Babur had also occupied the monument. The epigraph on it states about the Bazar-i-Khas. It refers to a freed slave of Khwaja Jahan, the well known Prime Minister of Firoz Shah. It bears the date of 29th March, 1381 A.D.

Architecture of Chhatri of Gurg Ali Khan
The Muslim rulers followed the tradition of demolishing temples or any secular building and erecting their own edifice. The Chhatri of Gurg Ali Khan has also been built on the ruins of Hindu buildings. It is a hexagonal structure and stands on a square chabutra. There are four graves at the four corners that had been destroyed by invaders. The exterior part of the dome of the Chhatri was earlier adorned with tiles that gradually disappeared. The interior part of the lintels that support the dome houses a long Persian inscription that has now become faded at different places.

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