A Glorious Place of Final Rest: The Tomb of Sher Shah Suri

In the town of Sasaram, Bihar stands an architectural marvel that attracts crowds from far and wide. It is a testament to the wonders of Indo-Islamic architecture. This is the story of the Tomb of Sher Shah Suri.

The Tomb of Sher Shah Suri in Sasaram Source: Astrolika

Sher Shah Suri ruled the territory of India for only a very brief period. And yet the ruler, also dubbed Sher Khan, had a great impact on the history of the sub-continent. Even after his death, his legacy contributed to the rich heritage of India.

Built in an excavated lake, stands the stunning tomb of the great Sher Shah Suri. The Sasaram town of Bihar boasts of being the home of this architectural marvel. The place was also the hometown of the emperor. The tomb is believed to have been built between 1540 and 1545.

Sher Shah Suri was killed during the siege of Kalinjar Fort, on 22 May 1545. His death was accidental as the wounds from a gunpowder explosion proved fatal for the great Pathan. The tomb was built during his lifetime and completed during the reign of his son and successor, Jalal Khan.

Mir Muhammad Alawal Khan was the planner of this stunning example of Indo-Islamic architecture. The 122 feet high structure is mostly built out of red sandstone. True to the key features of the structures built before it, this mausoleum has chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) in each of the four corners. It stands atop a square plinth made of stone which is surrounded by mooring on all sides. There are kiosks in place and stone banks. The mausoleum is three storeys tall and surrounded by grand stone staircases. Adding to all this stands a wide stone bridge.

Following the guidelines of Islamic architecture, the main tomb is built in an octagonal shape. The dome on top of the tomb spans 22 meters. Four octagon-shaped chambers lie at the four corners. The ornamental domed kiosks around the tomb were covered with colourful glazed tiles back in the day, which has since been destroyed. The artificial lake surrounding it is also known as the 'paani roza'. A wide verandah surrounds the tomb, covered by a line of 24 small domes.

In the interior of the structure lie several graves. To honour the powerful ruler, his grave is covered with a decorated chaadar. The tomb has tall, beautiful arched gateways as a way of passage. The western wall is also called the qiblah. The tomb also doubles up as a mosque. An inscription says that the building was completed on August 15, 1945.

The tomb of Sher Shah's father, Hasan Khan, lies about 100m east of his own. Although smaller in size, the structure is just as stunning as the main tomb with similar arched gateways and kiosks. Jalal Khan's unfinished tomb also lies within the same grounds. Sher Shah Suri also rewarded the architect of this great building, Alawal Khan, by making him a tomb within the area as well.

It is due to its marvellous beauty that the structure is also known as the second Taj Mahal. Even today, the site attracts a lot of footfall every day. Needless to say, even in his death, the glory of Sher Shah Suri has not diminished at all.