Twyla48W587323 at 02:17, 8 October 2025

2025-10-08T02:17:42Z

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{{short description|Group of tombs in Gulbarga, Karnataka, India}}
{{Infobox historic site
| image = Haft Gumbad.jpg
| location = Gulbarga
| caption = The tomb of sultan Firuz Shah, the largest of the tombs. An unnamed tomb is also seen in the background.
| coordinates = {{coord|17|20|31|N|76|50|43|E|display=title, inline}}
| architecture = [[Indo-Islamic architecture]], [[tomb]]
| built = 14th and 15th centuries of [[Bahmani Sultanate]]
| name = Haft Gumbaz
}}

The '''Haft Gumbaz''', also spelt '''Haft Gumbad''' are a group of tombs of the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani dynasty]] situated in [[Gulbarga]], in the Indian state of [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barnett|first=L. D.|date=1929|title=Review of Report of the Archæological Department of His Exalted Highness the Nizam's Dominions|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25193957|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|issue=3|pages=627–628|jstor=25193957|issn=0035-869X}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Sivanandan|first=T. V.|date=2013-12-18|title=ASI finally takes up restoration of Haft Gumbaz|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/asi-finally-takes-up-restoration-of-haft-gumbaz/article5472424.ece|access-date=2021-07-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
Built during the 14th and 15th centuries, the tombs are examples of early [[Indo-Islamic architecture]]. There are seven tombs in total, with four being tombs of the rulers of the Bahmani dynasty. The tomb complex is a [[Monuments of National Importance of India|monument of national importance]], maintained by the [[Archaeological Survey of India|Archeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Karnataka – Dharwad|url=https://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-karnataka-dharwad/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722141659/https://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-karnataka-dharwad/|archive-date=2020-07-22|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Archeological Survey of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=ASI spends ₹1.38 cr. on restoration of Haft Gumbaz|language=en|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/asi-spends-138-cr-on-restoration-of-haft-gumbaz/article25533415.ece|access-date=2021-07-09}}</ref>
The tomb complex is part of the "Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate", which is an ensemble of various structures added to the tentative list of the [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5887/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The tomb complex was built between the 14th and 15th centuries.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bowman|first=John C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkqsAgAAQBAJ&q=haft+gumbaz&pg=PA340|title=Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture|date=2000|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-11004-4|pages=340|language=en}}</ref> The capital shifted to [[Bidar]] in 1425, and the later Bahmani sultans are buried in the [[Bahmani Tombs|Bahmani tombs]] complex in Bidar.
The tomb complex has been encroached by local businesses and institutions.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Sivanandan|first=T. V.|date=2013-09-24|title=A social activist's fight to protect the Haft Gumbaz|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/A-social-activist%E2%80%99s-fight-to-protect-the-Haft-Gumbaz/article11882603.ece|access-date=2021-07-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> A social activist, K.M. Mujeebuddin, has filed an [[Right to Information Act, 2005|RTI]] query regarding the upkeep of the tombs.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2019-01-21|title=ASI uses just 7% of funds granted for restoration in Hyderabad Karnataka|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/asi-uses-just-7-of-funds-granted-for-restoration-in-hyderabad-karnataka/article26044726.ece|access-date=2021-07-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
[[File:HAFT_GUMBAD.jpeg|thumb|The tombs are situated in a garden]]
The architectural style is reminiscent of [[Tughlaq dynasty|Tughlaq]] architecture. A unique feature seen only in the Haft Gumbaz is the double-chambered tomb, with one chamber for the king and the other for his family members.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Percy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCF9CgAAQBAJ&q=haft+gumbaz&pg=PT209|title=Indian Architecture (The Islamic Period)|date=2013-04-16|publisher=Read Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-4474-9482-9|language=en|authorlink=Percy Brown (art historian)}}</ref>

There are seven tombs in total, with four being Sultan's tombs. The tombs are situated in a garden.

=== Tomb of Mujahid Shah ===
This was the first tomb to be built.<ref name=":0" /> It is a single-chambered square tomb, free of any elaborate embellishments.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Iyer|first=Meera|date=2019-07-27|title=Alluring Bahmani architecture|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/spectrum-top-stories/alluring-bahmani-architecture-749973.html|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> It is on the West end of the tomb complex.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Gulbarga|url=http://www.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~islamarc/WebPage1/htm_eng/gulbarga-eng.htm|website=Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia}}</ref>

=== Tomb of Daud Shah ===
It is a double-chambered tomb.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Haft Gumbad|url=https://archnet.org/sites/8475|access-date=2021-07-09|website=[[ArchNet]]}}</ref>

=== Tomb of Shams al-Din and Ghiyath al-Din ===
The two tombs share the same basement.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Merklinger|first=Elizabeth Schotten|title=Indian Islamic architecture: the Deccan 1347-1686}}</ref>

=== Tomb of Firuz Shah Bahmani ===
The tomb of [[Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah|Firuz Shah Bahmani]] is the largest, and is considered the most important of the complex.<ref name=":0" /> It is also a double-chambered tomb. The external and internal elevation is divided into two tiers, adorned by double-recessed arches. The arches of the upper tier have [[jali]]-style decorations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mausoleum of Firuz Shah Bahmani|url=https://archnet.org/sites/3987|access-date=2021-07-09|website=[[ArchNet]]}}</ref>

== Gallery ==

<gallery widths="160" heights="190" perrow="4">

File:Largest tomb of Haft gumbaz.jpg|Largest tomb of Haft gumbaz

File:Grave Ghumat tomb in Gulbarga Kalaburagi.jpg|Grave Ghumat tomb
File:Haft Gumbaz complex.jpg|Haft Gumbaz complex
File:Carving on tomb entrance of Haft gumbaz.jpg|Carving on tomb entrance of Haft gumbaz

</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Bahmani Sultanate}}
[[Category:Tombs in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Bahmani architecture]]

Haft Gumbaz - Revision history

Twyla48W587323 at 02:17, 8 October 2025