Jamia Masjid/ Jumma Masjid / జుమ్మా మాస్జిద్, Gandikotta, Andhra Pradesh.

The visit to this Jamia Masjid, Gandilkota Fort, Andhra Pradesh, was a part of “Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Heritage walk”, from 25^th to 28^th December 2025, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

This Gandikota Fort, on the banks of Penna River, is enclosed with ancient buildings, stone structures, Hindu Temples, Masjid, Islamic structures, etc., in YSR District (Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy and formerly known as Kadapa District), of Andhra Pradesh.

After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad under Mir Jumla captured the fort. The mosques and other secular structures were built by him. The imposing Jamia Masjid is a pleasing building. Early in the 18th century, it passed into the hands of the Cuddapah Nawabs. After a brief holding by Hyder and Tippu, it was ceded to the British by a treaty with the Nizam in 1800 C.E.

The Jamia Masjid incorporates the decorative elements of the Qutb Shahi style, notably the plasterwork. The two tall minarets are an integral part of the Mihrab. The prayer courtyard surrounds a raised platform with the Mihrab on it. A mihrab is basically a curved alcove in a mosque that indicates the direction in which the prayers have to be held. The back side of the Mihrab is only the extension of the platform.

The dome might seem like a simple design now, but the central floral patterns suggest that its original designs might have been even more elaborate. A pool may be used as a water fountain in front of the Mihrab/prayer place. Water for the fountain might have been brought through the aqueducts connecting the River Pennar and the fort.

VISITING HOURS

The temple visiting time will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs. The entry will be closed at 17.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

Gantikota in YSR District in Andhra Pradesh is 15 km from Jammalamadugu, 62 km from Belum Caves, 88 km from Tadipatri, and 92 km from Kadapa, the capital City of YSR District.

The nearest Railway Station is Jammalamadugu.

LOCATION OF THE JUMMA MASJID: CLICK HERE

Entrance

An abandoned, dilapidated Masjid in front of Jamia Masjid

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Mini Charminar of Gandikota Fort / గండికోట చార్మినార్, Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The visit to this Mini Charminar, Gandilkota Fort, Andhra Pradesh, was a part of “Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Heritage walk”, from 25^th to 28^th December 2025, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

This Gandikota Fort, on the banks of  Penna River, is enclosed with ancient buildings, stone structures, Hindu Temples, Masjid, Islamic structures, etc., in YSR District (Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy and formerly known as Kadapa District), of Andhra Pradesh.

Legends record that the fort was first built by a Kapa Maharaja in the 12th century CE. Recorded history begins with the Kakatiyas during the 13th Century CE. The fort came under the possession of the Vijayanagara rulers and Bukka I, who strengthened it. The Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad under Mir Jumla captured the fort from the Vijayanagara Empire. The Mosques and Charminar within the fort were built by them. The imposing Jami Masjid is a pleasing building. Early in the 18th century, it passed into the hands of the Cuddapah Nawabs. After a brief holding by Hyder and Tippu, it was ceded to the British by a treaty with the Nizam in 1800 C.E.

The Mini Charminar was built in 3 levels, and the 4 minarets are on the top of the 3^rd level with an ornamental parapet wall like a fort wall with bastions on the 4 corners. The base level is open on all 4 sides. The construction of the Charminar followed the Islamic architecture. 

HOW TO REACH

Gantikota in YSR District in Andhra Pradesh is 15 km from Jammalamadugu, 62 km from Belum Caves, 88 km from Tadipatri, and 92 km from Kadapa, the capital City of YSR District.

The nearest Railway Station is Jammalamadugu.

LOCATION OF THE MINI CHARMINAR: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Dargah Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi /ஹஸ்ரத் சைய்யது மூஸா ஷா காதிரி தர்கா, Mount Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

This dargah, Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Khaderi, is also known as Mount Road Dargah, on the banks of the Holy Cooum River.

Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (RA) came from Baghdad Shareef in the middle of the 17th Century (450 years back) and lived on the site where this Dargah now stands. He was a Muslim saint with healing powers, especially from evil spirits. After his demise, his body was buried next to his house, and his family constructed this Dargah. Many people from far-off places visit his Dargah to get healed from evil spirits.   

During the British period, an attempt was made to demolish the Dargah to give way for road widening. It was said that blood was spurted out when the workers tried to excavate the Dargah and refused to continue further.

  

It is believed that praying at the Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (RA) dargah will get blessings and good health.

HOW TO REACH

This Dargah is on the left side, before the Tarapore towers. The Dargah is about 2.8 km from Chennai Central Railway Station, 8 km from Koyambedu, and 18 km from Chennai International Airport.  

LOCATION OF THE DARGAH: CLICK HERE

Prayers 

A banner displayed in connection with the Maha Kumbh Mela -2025, held at Prayagraj

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Lal Khan Tomb/ Lal Khan Ka Rauja Udyaan/लाल खान का रौजा उद्यान, Tomb Rd, Near Adikeshav Mandir, Rajghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

On the way to Rajghat, we happened to see the Lal Khan Tomb at Varanasi. This visit was a part of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Tour, between 05^th February and 08^th February 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care.

The tomb of Lal Khan is one of the Centrally Protected Monuments, situated on the left bank of the Ganga River near Malviya Bridge in the Rajghat region, Varanasi. It was built in 1773 CE by the rulers of Varanasi. Lal Khan was the minister/army commander of the former king of Kashi. He contributed to the extension and development of Kashi through his courage and heroism. In the last days of his life, the king of Kashi promised to fulfill his last wish. Lal Khan wished to see the gateway of the royal palace even after his death. King of Kashi honored his wish and buried him at Rajghat after the death of Lal Khan, and built a splendid tomb there.

This tomb is located in the center of a rectangular garden. An octagonal stone canopy covers each corner of the garden. The main structure of the tomb is constructed on a high square platform. The outer walls of the tomb are decorated with three arched designs, in which the central arch is comparatively higher. Two doors are built on the west and south sides to enter the Tomb. The grand dome of the tomb is decorated with colored tilework. Four smaller canopies are also constructed in four corners of the dome. The grave of brave warrior Lal Khan is placed under the tomb. Two other members of his family are also buried under the tomb. The influence of Mughal architecture is clearly visible in the architectural style of this tomb.

LOCATION OF THE TOMB:  CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Bibi-ka-Maqbara / बीबी का मक़बरा / பி பி கா மக்பாரா / பிபியின் கல்லறை– Aurangabad, Maharashtra State, India.

The visit to this Bibi-ka-Maqbara, a mausoleum/grave built for Aurangzeb's wife and one of the world Heritage sites, at Aurangabad was a part of the “Ajanta & Ellora Heritage Walk”, organized by Enthisai Historical Heritage Walk Group - எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக் குழு, from 23^rd to 26^th December 2023. We have made this visit after visiting the Ellora caves. The total complex, including the entrance arch/building, was illuminated. This Historical monument is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

THE HISTORY OF BIBI-KA-MAQBARA. 

இந்த பிபி கா மக்பாரா அல்லது ஒரு பெண்மணியின் கல்லறை, ஔரங்கசீப்பின் மனைவி ராபியா துரானியின் ஞாபகார்த்தமாக  ஔரங்கசீப்பின் மகன் ஆசம் ஷாவால் காம் நதியின் வடக்கு கரையில் கட்டப்பட்டது, இக்கல்லறை பொயு 1668 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஆக்ரா தாஜ்மஹாலின் கட்டிடக்கலைஞரான அஹ்மத் லஹௌரியின் மகன் அதாவுல்லாவால் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டது. தாஜ்மஹாலின் அமைப்பிலேயே வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டு இருப்பதால் இது மினி தாஜ்மஹால் எனவும், தக்கானத்தின் தாஜ் எனவும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றது.

தெற்குபகுதியில் இருக்கும் மற்றுமொரு கல்லறை, ஔரங்கசீப்பின் மனைவி ராபியா துரானியின் பணிப்பெண் ராபியா தௌரானியின் கல்லறறை என்று கருதப்படுகின்றது.

குலாம் முஸ்தபாவின் தாவரிக் நாமா, கணிப்பின் படி இக்கல்லறை ஆறு லட்சத்து அறுபத்து எட்டாயிரத்து இருநூற்று மூன்று ரூபாய், ஏழு அணாக்களால் (Rs 6,68,203-7 - Rupees Six Lakh, Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Three & Seven Annas), பொயு 1651-1661, இல் கட்டப்பட்டது.

The beautiful mausoleum of Aurangzeb's wife is believed to have been constructed by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother Rabi–ud–daulah, alias Dilras Banu Begum, from circa 1651-1661CE,  on the banks of the north side of the river Kham. An inscription on the main entrance door records that this mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-Ulla, an Architect, and Hanspat Rai, an Engineer. As the mausoleum architecturally resembles the Taj Mahal of Agra, built in 1631-1653 CE, this is known as the "Taj of Deccan" or “Mini Taj Mahal”.

There is another tomb adjacent to the southern part of the platform, believed to be the nurse of Rabia Daurani.

According to the "Tawarikh Namah" of Ghulam Mustafa, the cost of construction of the mausoleum was Rs. 6,68,203-7 (Rupees Six Lakh, Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Three & Seven Annas) in 1651-1661 CE.

ARCHITECTURE

இக்கல்லறை மற்றும் திவான்-இ-அம், திவா-இ-காஸ் என்ற மசூதியும் 458 x 275 மீட்டர் என்ற அளவில் உயர்ந்த மேடைமீது முகலாயர் மற்றும் நிஜாம் கட்டிடக்கலையில் படி தெற்குப்புற நுழைவாயிலுடன் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. நுழைவாயிலில் இருந்து அழகான தோட்டத்துடன், என்கோண வடிவ நீத்தொட்டி, 61 நீர்ஊற்றுக்களுடன் ஆக்ராவில் உள்ள தாஜ்மஹாலைப் போன்றே அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இக்கல்லறை கட்டுமானத்திற்குத் தேவையான பளிங்கு / சலவைக்கற்கள் ஜெய்பூரில் இருந்து கொண்டுவரப்பட்டதாக கூறப்படுகின்றது.

இக்கல்லறை, கல்லறைக்குச் செல்ல மூன்றுபுறம் படிக்கட்டுகள், அதனுடன் நான்கு மூலையிலும் எட்டுப்பட்டை மினாரெட்டுகள், நடுவே குவிமாடத்துடன் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. தெற்குபுறம் உள்ள மசூதி ஹைதராபாத் நிஜாம் நவாப் மிர் அக்பர் அலிகான் சிகந்தர் ஜா அசப் அலிஜா- III, என்பவரால் பொயு 1803 – 29ல் நிமானிக்கப்பட்டது.

கல்லறையின் கீழ் பகுதி மற்றும் குவிமாடம் வெள்ளை பளிங்கு கற்களாலும் நடுப்பகுதி பசால்ட் / எரிமலைப் பாறைகொண்டு கட்டப்பட்டு சுண்ணாம்பால் பூசப்பட்டு, சிக்கலான பூவேலைப்பாடுகளுடன் உள்ளது. ஜாலிவேலப்பாடுகள் மிகவும் நுணுக்கமான முறையில் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. குவி மாடத்தின் நடுவே எட்டுப்பட்டை காட்சிக்கூடம் / கேலரி அற்புதமான வேலைப்பாடுகளுடனான சாளரங்களூடன் கீழே உள்ள கல்லறையைக் காண வசதியாக அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. கீழே உள்ள கல்லறைக்குச் செல்ல தெற்குப்புறம் படிக்கட்டுகளும் உள்ளன.

The mausoleum stands within an enclosed area measuring 458 x 275 meters approximately. The main entrance is on the southern side of the outer wall, and at the center of the three remaining walls are open pavilions, which were used as the mosque, Diwan-e-Am, and Diwan-e-Khas. These buildings contain beautiful paintings of the Mughal and Nizam periods.

The mausoleum is built at the center of a raised square platform of polished red porphyritic stone provided with a railing in trellis work at the edge. Four tapering octagonal minarets with domed pavilions at the top stand freely at the corners of the square platform. It was approached by a flight of steps from all sides earlier, but at present, it has no approach on the western side, as a mosque was constructed by the Nizam of Hyderabad in a later period.

The lower part of the mausoleum, along with its dome, is constructed with white marble, while the middle portion is of basaltic trap plastered by a fine coat of lime, rendered with marble finish, and adorned with stucco work. The doorway on the south leads to an octagonal gallery with a low barricaded marble screen running around the interior, enabling an imposing view of the grave on the lower level. The interior portion of the mausoleum is decorated with beautiful carvings. There are windows of marble at the corner angles. Four little chattries with corresponding minarets in each are also seen at the corners of the dome.

Many rooms with arched domes in diamond cut design are made beneath the platform from all sides. The walls and roof of these rooms are decorated with graffiti designs.

entrance arch/building

entrance arch/building

THE GRAVE OF RABIS-Ud-DAURANL

The grave is simple, devoid of any ornamentation, and surrounded by marble screens of exquisite design. A flight of steps descends into the basement of the mausoleum from the southern side, where the grave of Rabis–Ud–Dauranl is enclosed by an octagonal screen made of delicately carved marble.

MUGHAL GARDEN

The Mughal garden, Living Water Management System, Pavements which are ornamented with little kiosks, finely worked brass-plated doors, and Stucco floral motifs on the shell lime plaster, rank Maqbara among the best of the “Beautiful Mughal buildings of Deccan”.

MOSQUE ( NIZAM )

The mosque is built on a raised platform to the west of the tomb. It is believed to have been constructed by the 3^rd Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizam Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah Asaf Jah III during 1803-29 CE. The mosque is entered through an arched opening on the east, while the side walls are closed using perforated brickwork. Basalt is used as the main component of the construction of the mosque, which is further plastered with a fine coat of lime. The interior consists of rows of pillars with corner pilasters interconnected by a series of cusped arches. The whole floor area is divided into rectangles so that it can accommodate one person to offer namaz in one block. These rectangles are surmounted by an arch and can accommodate approximately 377 people at a time to offer prayer.

REF:

1.  Display boards at Bibi-ka-Maqbara

2.  Archaeological Survey of India Website. ( https://web.archive.org/web/20111011201131/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ellora_bibi.asp )

TIMINGS

This mausoleum will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This mausoleum is at Begumpura, a part of Aurangabad, in Maharashtra state.

This mausoleum is about 7 km from Aurangabad Railway Station, 29 km from Ellora Caves, 114 km from Ahmednagar, 185 km from Nashik, and 343 km from Mumbai.

The nearest Railway Station and Airport are Aurangabad.

LOCATION OF THE MAUSOLEUM: CLICK HERE

Ceiling dome

 View through the entrance arch/building

View through the entrance arch/building

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---