NADAN MAHAL

NADAN MAHAL

In the enchanting thoroughfares of Old Lucknow, within the storied Yahiyaganj precinct, stands the majestic Nadan Mahal, a mausoleum of unyielding historical significance. Translated from the vernacular as ‘Tomb of Deliverance’, this blessed edifice honors the memory of Shaikh Abdur Rahim, Subedar of Awadh during the illustrious reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar (A.D. 1556-1605). A paragon of piety, Shaikh Abdur Rehman’s reverence endures to this day.

Legend has it that his tomb came to be known as ‘Nidan’ Mahal, for the faithful who sought deliverance (nidan) beneath his sacred presence. This ancient monument, one of Lucknow’s oldest surviving testaments to the past, showcases the majestic Mughal style of architecture, its red sandstone façade, a testament to the era’s grandeur.

The mausoleum’s central chamber, an exquisite square structure rising from a terraced plinth, boasts a domed canopy surrounded by an elegant verandah. Within, two marble graves, adorned with sacred Quranic verses and surmounted by a red sandstone headstone, repose beneath a twelve-pillared open pavilion. Adjacent lies the celebrated Solah Khamba, a sixteen-pillared edifice atop a raised terrace, housing five graves of varied proportions, exemplifying the refined aesthetic of Jahangir’s era.

This iconic tomb, with its square chamber and corridor-lined perimeter, features intricately carved stone pillars and brackets supporting overhanging stone slabs, a masterful blend of form and function. The marble cenotaph of Shaikh Abdur Rahim, that esteemed favorite of Emperor Akbar, occupies the central position, a testament to their enduring bond.

The annals of history, as recorded by Abul Fazl in Ain-e-Akbari, attest to Shaikh Abdur Rahim’s grandeur, while Shaikh Mohammed Azmat Ali Naami Kakorvi’s Murraqa-e-Khusravi (1866) recounts the remarkable tale of Akbar’s debt to the Shaikh. Astrologers had forewarned Akbar of two inauspicious days, prompting him to temporarily cede the throne to his trusted ally. As fate would have it, a poisonous cobra was discovered amidst the imperial robes, mere seconds before the perilous period elapsed.

Adjacent to the Shaikh’s tomb lies the canopied Solah Khamba pavilion, its sixteen stone pillars supporting an unmarked array of graves. These Nadan Mahal tombs, exemplary instances of pre-Mughal Afghan architecture in stone, stand as rare relics of a bygone era, their beauty marred only by the ravages of time.

This historic treasure has been placed under the protective aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India (Notification No. UP 1279/367-M, dated 15.07.1910), ensuring its preservation for posterity.

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