Qutub Shahi Tombs

Qutub Shahi tombs is the royal cemetery of the seven Qutub Shahi kings who ruled Golconda for nearly 170 years. It is located at Ibrahim Bagh near Golconda, Hyderabad. A mixture of Indian and Persian style of architecture, these tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. 

The seven tombs are surrounded by a mosque, mortuary chamber and funerary structures. Built in gray granite, the tombs are domed structures with an elevated square base surrounded by pointed arches. Most of these tombs are rises to a height of 9-15mts above the terrace, with intricately carved stonework.

The complex has around 30 tombs while a few can be found outside the compound. The smaller tombs are single storied while the larger ones are double storied. These tombs were originally ornamented with blue and green tiles of which only a few pieces remain now. To distinguish the tombs of Kings from others, a golden spire was fixed over the tombs of the Kings. At the centre of each tomb is a sarcophagus crowning the burial vault and the crypt below. Almost all the tombs are surrounded by balustrades with beautiful minarets at the corners. It stands from nine to 15 meters on a wide quadrangular terrace, and is reached by a flight of steps 

These tombs are standing at the center of its own garden known as Ibrahim Bagh, containing ponds and planted pathways. A mute testimony to the past glory and grandeur of the Qutub Shahi kings, these tombs still retain their original glory. Including the main seven tombs, the Qutb Shahi Tomb complex houses tombs of other people who were not related to royalty, either the close relatives of the rulers or nobles who served them. Among the famous is, tomb of Hayath Bakshi Begum, the daughter of Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah, founder of Hyderabad city and the man who built Charminar.

The tombs are in two large quadrangular enclosures, the first of which houses the mausoleums of Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah, Ibrahim Quli, Jamsheed Quli, Sultan Quli and Kulsoom begum, daughter of Muhammed Qutub Shah. In another quadrangle are the tombs of Muhammed Qutub Shah, Hayath Bakshi Begum, Taramathi and Premamathi (the favourite courtesans of Abdullah Qutub Shah whose tomb is outside of the quadrangles).

The tomb can be reached through the southern and the eastern gates. When enter the complex, just outside the east gate, one can first see the tomb of Abdullah. It has a pyramidical arrangement. It has a large dome rising on a pettaled base. On the left side of the gate is the Tomb of Abul Hasan, the last of the Qutub Shahis. To the right of the entrance are the tomb of Princess Hayat Baksh Begum, the daughter of Ibrahim Qutub Shah and the wife of Muhammed Qutub Shah. Similar to the tomb of Abdullah, it has an attached mosque with beautiful façade of five arches. It has fine plasterwork and its roof are decorated with fifteen cupolas. The mosque contains inscriptions which considered as a master-pieces of calligraphic art.

The tombs of Premamati and Taramati, the two mistress of Muhammed Qutub Shah are situated just near to this. The tomb of Muhammad which has a height of more than 50 m, dominates the whole complex. It was once decorated with enameled tiles. There are six graves altogether in this tomb with inscriptions in Tulth and Naskh scripts. The chamber contains the tombs of Chandi Bibi, the daughter of Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur and  other descendant of the Qutub Shahi family. 

The tomb of Muhammad Quli Qutb is situated directly south of the Mortuary bath. It is the most striking among Qutub Shahi Tombs. Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah is the fifth king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and the founder of Hyderabad. One of the largest, among the Qutub Shahi Tombs, these tomb can reach up to a height of 42 meters. It also has a large circular dome adorning the top and 28 open arches. Built by the king himself, it's chamber has three tombs in octagonal shape. Sultan Quli's tomb is in the vault in the middle of the plinth at the lower level of the terrace which displays a unique style of inscription appears in three bands, written in the Tauq and Naskh scripts. The underground excavations have been turned into a Summer House. The tomb of the king's sister, Fatima Sultan lies by the entrance of the garden.

Beside the tomb of the Sultan lies the engraved structure of his son, Sultan Yar Quli Jamshid. One of the most beautiful structures in the whole Qutb Shahi tomb complex, it's unique characteristics is that, it is the only octagonal tomb in the qutub Shahi tomb complex. It is the also the only tomb where black basalt has not been used. Built in two storeys with a projecting balcony with ornate balustrades, the tomb does not contain any inscription. The tomb of Jamshed's son Subhan Quli also does not bear any inscription like his father's. The tomb of Sultan Ibrahim is situated in the southern corner. One of the biggest tombs among the Qutub Shahi tomb complex,  its design influenced by earlier Bahmani architecture. It has inscriptions in the Thulth script on all faces of the sarcophagus and most of these were done by the famous calligraphists - Isphalan, Ismail and Taqiuddiii Muhammad Salih.

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