Tomb of Safdarjung in Delhi
The empty pool at Safdarjung's Tomb in Delhi, India reveals its neglected state
Safdarjung's Tomb is a less-busy attraction that's worth exploring.
We enjoyed this historical site immensely as it was less-visited than the other destinations we had been to. Built in 1754, the red and buff-colored sandstone mausoleum of Safdarjung's Tomb is the last grand tomb of late Mughal architecture. The majestic double-storied entrance gate, with its vaulted archway, created the perfect frame for the main tomb inside.
While previous, wealthier Mughal nobility used marble for their monuments, Safdarjung's son Shuja-ud-Daula plundered what he could from other nearby tombs, and the marble applied to the surface of the onion-shaped dome looks like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle with patches of pink sandstone showing through.
At the center of the tomb is a large chamber with arched doorways which contains the white marble cenotaph of Safdarjung. It's eerie.
A young boy plays with a wheel while a man uses his wheels to carry materials for restoration at the Tomb of Safdarjung
We wandered around and watched a young boy playing with a wheel he had found, treating it like the best toy ever. –Duke