After the death of Aurangzeb, the only significant Mughal structure buIlt was the Tomb of Safdarjung. Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan, popularly known as Safdarjung (1708-54), was the governor of the province of Awadh under Muhammad Shah (emperor of India from 1719 through 1748) and later became his prime minister. The tomb was built in 1754 by his son Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah. Described as the "last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture", it is erected roughly on the pattern of Humayun's tomb, but much scaled down. Set in the middle of a 300 square meter garden laid down in the Mughal Charbagh style, Safdarjung's tomb represents the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture.
"GATEWAY"
"MOSQUE"
"SAFDARJUNG'S TOMB - The tomb has been criticized for the lack of balance in its make-up..."
"REFLECTION - There was little water to get a better picture"
"THE TOMB"
"DOME - The square central chamber of the mausoleum is surrounded by eight rooms all around. All the apartments, except the corner ones are rectangular in shape, the corner ones being octagonal. The dome of the tomb rises from a sixteen-sided base"
"CEILING"
"PIETRA DURA (pl. pietre dure) is the name of the technique of using small, cut and fitted, highly-polished coloured stones to create what seems to be a painting in stone"
"BACK TO THE GATEWAY"
Posts
57 comments:
Hi everybody! As promised, this is the last post on a tomb in Delhi (of course, the most famous one is still to come, but that is outside Delhi and will be left to the end to keep the interest high... ;)). Anyhow Safdarjung’s, probably not so visited as the previous ones shown, also has its beauty. Enjoy and have a great rest of the week after the historic inauguration of Mr. Obama!
je suis sous le charme, c'est magnifique. J'ai une grande préférence pour la première photo, une vraie carte postale
i so love the frame within a frame shot of the first and the last photo but the other shots too are stunning. thank you again for the wonderful visual trip.
beautiful magic place... I envy your travels.
Construit la même année que la place de la Concorde!
Très monochromatique aujourd'hui.
Wonderful photos of phantastic buildings, so ornamental.
You NEVER miss a detail Gil!! Wonderful shots as always, Kim xoxo
What an amazing display of Indian architecture and beautiful photographs! Have you seen Louis Malle's Phantom India?
I love the designs on the buildings. Very unique. Love the way you photograph the subject through the beautiful arched door way. Looking forward to seeing your other travel photos. Thanks for sharing these travel photos with us. I will be busy celebrating chinese new year. :)
Love how your shoot through one thing to show the other thing. Photographing the domes and ceilings were showing us shapes and shadows and light. Most of all I enjoyed the reflections in the water of the buildings. Amazing photographs! Who would think tombs could be all that?
Joyce
Gateway to heaven? Instead for Stairway to the same place?
i know i've been absent for quite sometime but neednt worry. i had back tracked and seen all your pics and my, oh my you've made all buildings or shall i say tombs come alive!! :p they are all magnificent. cant wait for the famous one to come ;) thanx for visiting me.
Beautiful pictures. It is always fascinating to wonder at the lives that lived in these places.
I love the detailed photographs. I still haven't made it here but hopefully the next time I'm in Delhi.
Your detailed traveloque is the best I have seen. I was just looking at your labels on the right -- it's like a geography professor's dream.
I've learned something new today about the SAFDARJUNG'S TOMB and the Mughal style of architecture. Your photos are superb as always, Gil!
That's a beautiful building. The details are fabulous. You capture details so wonderfully.
ces photos sont spendides. J'aime particulièrement celle du reflet qui est trés créative.
Merci pour le voyage^par procuration et à peu de frais !
Bon Week-end.
Hi Gil. Sorry I've been away for a while. My internet is down again until January 28. I am currently having to use the computer at the public library.
Great pics. Very colorful buildings.
Take care and have a great week.
Lisa
Gorgeous photos, but aren't you getting a little bit "tombed-out"? :-) Maybe it's time for some beach and water? LOL.
Wow! When did they find time to build all these beautiful structures?
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments. It's the weekend! Have a blast!
joy
A Pinay In England
Your Love Coach
I, Woman
They have all been magnificent Gil! I especially liked the PIETRA DURA detail on this one.
I/m curious what was the temperature while you were in Delhi in February of 2008?
I like it! The details are not so ornate as previous ones, but I like it a lot. And even without much water, the reflecting pool is splendid!
I love every photo.
Paz
Beautiful pictures. Makes me miss traveling in India though I hope to be going to Nepal in April. Such a big world out there.
I did indulge in SWF this week - hope you enjoy the pictures around southern Laos.
Hey Kung Hei Fat Choy to you as well! ;D
Hope you get some red packets! hahaha
this is one of the few places i havent been to..which is surprising coz its only a 15 minute walk from my parents plc.....the pics are real nice...will go there soon!!
What a beautiful architecture ! I wish I could see that life !
La perfection des détails est saisissante. Passe un bon week end, cher Gil. Comment se porte ta charmante jeune fille?
Gil there is no reason of getting flattered u r like a professional photographer, seriously not doubt, May be that y we all love to come back again n again to check wats new in ur blog, u portrait each n everything very nice, like that picture where the reflection of the mosque seen over the water that was really good,
N i even went through ur other blogs 70's 80's 90's its a real effort that u hav put i should say, wat superb picture's i mostly likes pic's of london taken in year 1973 n 1975 some of Rome n Athens n even others,
Gil check this link my post on some of the Indian culture n some folk dance video, its kinda carnival in my city so thought i should write abt it.
http://kollywoodmoviereview.blogspot.com/2009/01/chennai-sangamam-open-festival-chennais.html
kven
Among all those architectural treasures, I must admit that I fell for the first reflection picture. Maybe it is just me :-)
wow it's so gorgeous!! you take very beautiful pics!
It's so gorgeous. Look at those details! Nice!
Hi GIL.
Wow man you are really having a great selection here, though I must confess that tombs and graves are not my (personal) favarites as a subject, but your collection is GREAT! and thats a compliment Gil.
Like you we have travelled so much that I recognise the tombs like you are showing here, they are international (like we've seen in Egypt/Italy-Rome/Mexico etc etc)
Thanks for visiting my blog I am still concerned about my 83 year old mom's recovery -heartsurgery- and not very much on internet, you understand I hope?
www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com
Happy weekend wishes
JoAnn's D Eyes
I accidentally came across your blog...I will be following it religiously. Great Stuff, pics and commentary. Every Teacher's dream.
Very well done.
Congrats.
Love that first photo the Best I believe Gil. Was the rest of the world watching the inauguration as the US was? Hope you are having a fun and restful weekend. :)
I agree that the "frame within a frame" shots are excellent. And your interiors, the ceilings, especially, are outstandingly well done. Beautiful shots, Gil
i like the ambient ceiling
:-)
Very nice pictures yet again. This is a very interesting history lesson. Love your commentary and love your blog:) Have a great weekend.
Your pictures are always very beautiful, doesn't look like it's from my city and of a monument I have seen umpteen times.
Nice buildings. But the place looks pretty hot. what was the temperature?
Gil, the view from the Gateway is so fascinating! I like the Safdarjung's Tomb, it's an imposing building with great details. I also like the picture of the reflection in the water: great photographic composition.
All the images are absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing these interesting travels!
Got her!! Up on that balcony far away. I even broke off my Stilton Cheese photography to rush in for the hunt! See....I really do look. Much enjoyed these multiple arch shots.. My wife renounced a posting to Delhi just to marry me.....even though at that time I had not proposed. (She just hoped I would).
Nice pics! good to re-visit the places around Delhi once again with your blogs.
You have a wonderful week ahead.
Amazing collection of photos here.
I noticed that your photography focus has changed a little over the year. You are doing more detailed as well as artistic shots. Great job!
Hi everybody! Thanks for your visits and comments and Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財 for all those who celebrate the Chinese New Year – The Year of the OX! My year!! ;)
Olivier,
Sauf pour Rune, je crois que les «photos dans les photos», style matryoshke, ont un grand succès et les monuments Mughal donnent des perspectives superbes!
Norman,
That’s what I thought: the frame within a frame picture is a guaranteed success... ;))
Tr3nta,
No reason for envy… ;))
Thérèse,
C’est drôle ça: la même date que la Concorde… ;)
Ingrid,
It’s amazing why they had this idea to build such impressive tombs. Probably the influence of the Egyptian civilization; anyhow, quite different from what was being built in Europe by that time…
Kim,
It’s the detail that matters… ;))
Ted,
You mentioned Louis Malle’s and I was checking it, but haven’t seen; and it takes time to view the full documentary… But it must be a wonderful trip, even if a bit outdated…
Alice,
Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
The frame within a frame is a guaranteed success; but I believe the last one is etter balanced than the first... ;))
Joyce,
Well noted: «who would think that tombs could be all that». Indeed!!
Hélène,
To Heaven (on Earth...) is always better... ;))
Leo,
Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
You’ll have to wait a bit for the famous one, otherwise the interest on the rest would lower significantly... ;))
Bindu,
Fascinating, Indeed!! But I don’t think they actually «lived» lives in these tombs... ;))
Wendy,
Oh dear, this must be the one place you haven’t made yet... ;)). Now, I’m sure you’re already packing!!
Steve,
Actually, I used to be good at Geography in school; it was probably the Voyager’s virus making is way up... ;))
Asia Traveler,
Thanks! We’re always learning, aren’t we? ;)
Barb,
Details matter... ;)
Catherine,
Tu es toujours bienvenue dans le bus... ;))
Lisa,
It seems that the Internet service providers are the same all over the world: difficult times!! ;)) Hope to see you back soon!!
Kuanyin,
Of course I would prefer the beaches in Maui, in particular my favourite in Wailea, just in front of the Four Seasons... ;)) Anyhow, this is the last tomb in Delhi, and the last before the most beautiful you have ever seen... ;))
Joy,
Time and labour force weren’t any issues at that time... ;))
Pat,
Maximum temperatures somehow between 18º and 23º centigrade... No rain! Excellent weather for a traveller... ;)
Louise,
Glad that it gave you pleasure... The pools are probably full only during the monsoon; but at that time it must be hard to stay outside and catch a decent picture under the pouring rain... ;))
Paz,
You’re a dear!!
Chanpheng,
Glad to see you back! Nepal must be a great adventure, but I’m feeling a bit concerned of getting to such high places... Hope you have a great trip anyhow!
I’ll check your posts on southern Laos!
Stella,
Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
Now, tell me: do married people still receive red packets - 红包 ? I read in Wiki that «red envelopes [...] are typically given to the unmarried by the married, only to those who are younger in age.» In that case, you don’t get any... ;-((
Shooting Star,
It’s amazing that you have never been there; like the saying we have: «home saints don’t make miracles»... ;))
Gattina,
Just start packing... ;))
Alice,
Merci. Elle va bien; même si elle a changé des télécommunications vers les services financiers, juste avant la crise… ;))
Kven,
Thanks! You too kind! Some of the pre-digital pictures were in a somehow lousy condition, and the scanning wasn’t an easy task… But, as I was travelling much less than I used to, I decided to create the blogs to somehow compensate the lack of new experiences with the memories of the old ones. Ageing, that is… ;))
I’ll surely check your posts asap!
Rune,
It’s not only you: Chuckeroon should come and check the leather clad there… ;))
Mariposa,
It’s your eyes that are kind: the pictures aren’t that good… ;))
Kyh,
Thanks!
JoAnn,
I knew tombs wouldn’t be your stuff (neither mine…)… ;)) Just looking at monuments!! ;)
I also know you have travelled a lot, but I’m not so sure that you can say that the Mughal tombs are «international»; at least not similar to the Egyptian ones or the Mexican… ;)). Not to mention Rome… ;))
Hope your Mom recovers soon!!
Baron’s Life,
Thanks for your visit and first comment here! Your blog has some amazing posts; I’ll get there and comment later…
Lynn,
I think that many people were watching it! I was in a middle of a session, so only saw at intervals and then the parade…But loved to see!
Paul,
Great that you noticed the ceilings! I think they were the best on this tomb; incredible!
Azer,
I knew you would love those ceilings… Question of good taste! ;)
Ron,
It wasn’t supposed to be a History lesson, but I’m glad it helped to make some facts known…
Cuckoo,
That’s a compliment (at least I take it so… ;))! It’s true that like our saying: «Home saints don’t make miracles»! You need a «tourist» eye to value what’s just around the corner… ;))
Cutie,
By the time we were there, the temperature was probably 23º or 24º centigrade. Quite enjoyable!!
Pietro,
These Mughal temples always provide great opportunities for the «frame within frame», matryoshke style, pictures! The reflection would probably be better with some more water in the pond, but anyhow…
Richard,
Stilton cheese? Yummy…
So, that’s part of the reason why once you missed a trip to Delhi… ;))
Ming,
It’s true that I'm paying a little more attention to the photos now; earlier, I was mainly recording in video, so the photos were the poor parent of the family… ;))
Pietra Dura - what painstaking work the craftsmen must have done!
Wonderful pictures! I like your idea of the "reflection" photo.
Jen,
Working the marble that way wasn't surely a piece of cake... ;))
Amazing photos - especially the ones with the blue sky!
Tinsie,
A blue sky always helps; and the Greek blue helps even more... ;))
You'll forgive my belated comments here, as I am catching up on your posts now. You have lovely shots here Gil, thanks for sharing.:)
Will wait for a post on the second great Mughal's Tomb.;)
Celine,
I think you had already that post... ;))
another HUGE tomb! LOL. but as always, old architecture gives me the thrill. i simply LOVE the three photos of the mosque, gil! the blue sky is the perfect backdrop for the building. nice!
Addy,
It's amazing, because usually you don't get that blue sky in Delhi easily; but that afternoon was perfect!!
Well tombs are peaceful and this is a very nice tomb
Kinda makes you afraid to step on the dead.
The tomb is actually underground right?
Lady,
The cenotaph, as you may see on picture number eight, is far from being underground... A bit like in New Orleans... ;)
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