Sabz Burj

The name Sabz Burj, translates to "Green Tower". The current name of the monument refers to the green glazed tiles on the drum, onion dome and finial of the tomb.

By the 1980s, when most of the original tiles on the exterior had fallen off, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) erroneously replaced it with modern blue tiles. These have since been removed in the restoration carried out in 2021. The Sabz Burj is often confused with another monument in its vicinity called the Nila Gumbad ({{Literal translation|Blue Dome}}).

It is also known as "Neeli Chattri" which translates to "Blue Umbrella".

The Lodi dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate was defeated by the forces of Babur in the year 1526 at the First Battle of Panipat, establishing the Mughal Empire on the Indian Subcontinent.{{sfn|Hartel|1997|p=261}} Thought to be constructed in the 1530s, the Sabz Burj predates the Humayun's Tomb and is thought to be among the earliest Mughal-era buildings.{{sfn|Nath|1982|p=199}}

Since there is no inscription or surviving historical record of the mausoleum, the identity of those buried under it is not known. However, its ceiling featuring opulent gold artwork and its location near the shrine of the 13th century Sufi-Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin suggests that it is of immense significance and could belong to a close aide of the Mughal ruler or a Mughal royal.{{Cite news|last=Bhanj|first=Jaideep Deo|date=2021-11-18|title=Sabz Burj restored to its Mughal-era glory|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/sabz-burj-restored-to-its-mughal-era-glory/article37551558.ece|access-date=2021-11-18|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=18 November 2021 |title=Subz Burj: Oldest double-domed monument in Delhi with Timurid art renovated |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/Nov/17/subz-burj-oldest-double-domed-monument-in-delhi-with-timurid-art-renovated-2384845.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205062457/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/Nov/17/subz-burj-oldest-double-domed-monument-in-delhi-with-timurid-art-renovated-2384845.html |archive-date=5 December 2021 |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=The New Indian Express}} Basis this evidence, Ebba Koch, a Mughal historian concluded that this mausoleum was built by Humayun, the second Mughal emperor for his mother, Maham Begum.{{Cite web |last=Baruah |first=Antara |date=14 March 2023 |title=Humayun was obsessed with astronomy, wanted a utopian society favoured by heavens |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/book-scene/humayun-was-obsessed-with-astronomy-wanted-a-utopian-society-favoured-by-heavens/1441797/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605035958/https://theprint.in/pageturner/book-scene/humayun-was-obsessed-with-astronomy-wanted-a-utopian-society-favoured-by-heavens/1441797/ |archive-date=5 June 2023 |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=The Print |quote=This, in combination with the location of the mausoleum’s proximity to the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the Timurid architectural features, the ornate tilework as well as incised plaster – led Koch to come to the conclusion that this was indeed the mausoleum Humayun built for his mother, said Nanda.}}

Originally situated within an enclosed garden, the monument today is situated on a traffic island. It was used as a police station in the early 20th century. During this period, the painted interiors were damaged due to the use of cement on the surfaces. This was followed by faulty repairs in the 1980s on the drum and the dome that led to further damage to the structure.

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The Sabz Burj underwent a restoration between 2018 and 2021. The restoration was carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) with funds from Havells India after years of the structure being in a state of neglect, disuse and subject to faulty repairs.{{Cite book |last=By R,V. Smith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PPjSCQAAQBAJ&q=Sabz+Burj+in+Delhi&pg=PT100 |title=Delhi: Unknown Tales of a City |date=30 May 2015 |isbn=9789351941255 |access-date=27 September 2017}}

The restoration work required the removal of cement plaster layers, terracotta tiles and iron grills, which were all 20th century additions, and these were replaced with glazed quartz tiles (closely matching the ones used in the 16th century) and sandstone jallis. The floral and geometric ornamentation made of incised plasterwork on the façade was restored by discerning the original patterns from surviving fragments of the design and restoring them in full. Traditional building material like lime mortar was used for all the repairs. Hand tools were used by master craftsmen for the conservation works and revived crafts like glazed tilework used during the restoration works of the Humayun's tomb were used to restore the tilework of the Sabz Burj.

When the original 16th century painting on the ceiling were rediscovered during conservation works, the AKTC requested the ASI to remove cement and tiles from the erroneous restoration in the 1980s in order to clean and conserve the painting. The rediscovery of the painting and its rarity and complexity took the conservators by surprise. It took three years of scientific cleaning of the plaster layers to reveal the surviving painting.

The restoration ensured that the painted ceiling was visible again after almost 100 years and further damage of the structure from issues like rainwater seepage was arrested. Restoration was completed by 2021.{{Cite web |last=Sultan |first=Parvez |date=2018-01-12 |title=Timurid art on Delhi’s little known Subz Burj to get a revamp |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/timurid-art-on-delhi-s-little-known-subz-burj-to-get-a-revamp/story-C9A7Ou2OT40mD3btqrN4bL_amp.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301004215/www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/timurid-art-on-delhi-s-little-known-subz-burj-to-get-a-revamp/story-C9A7Ou2OT40mD3btqrN4bL_amp.html |archive-date=1 March 2018 |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=Apr 3, 2019|title=Mughal-style repairs may save rare dome art {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/mughal-style-repairs-may-save-rare-dome-art/articleshow/68696081.cms|access-date=2021-05-24|website=The Times of India|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lakhani |first=Somya |date=2018-06-28 |title=Conservators at Sabz Burj strike gold — in a painting on the ceiling |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/conservators-at-sabz-burj-strike-gold-in-a-painting-on-on-the-ceiling-5236456/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614174809/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/conservators-at-sabz-burj-strike-gold-in-a-painting-on-on-the-ceiling-5236456/ |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} It is now an ASI protected monument and has been added to the list of Monuments of National Importance.{{Cite web |title=Delhi Alphabetical List of Monuments - Delhi Circle |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_delhi.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627095205/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_delhi.asp |archive-date=27 June 2014 |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=Archaeological Survey of India |at=Sr No. 129}}

Subz Burj is an octagonal domed mausoleum with its dome largely covered in blue tiles (although subz means "green"). Its construction has influences of Central Asian architecture, consisting of alternating wide and narrow sides. Entrances have been built into the wider sides, while the narrower sides are ornamented in a pattern of incised plaster, paint or glazed tiles.{{sfn|Nath|1982|p=199}}

File:Close look of Sabj Burj Dome.jpg.]]

Sabz Burj is an example of early Mughal architecture with influences from Timurid architecture from Central Asia. The mausoleum marks the first time in the history of medieval Indian art where two features, namely the octagonalised-square plan and the high bulbous dome appeared in perfectly developed state, making this an extremely important building. {{sfn|Nath|1982|p=200}}

The mausoleum's double-dome, thought to be the oldest in India, decorated with geometric designs made using glazed tiles is similar to the dome and geometric designs of the Gur-e-Amir, in present-day Uzbekistan. This establishes influences of Timurid architecture on early Mughal architecture.{{sfn|Nath|1982|p=210}}

File:Subz Burz 5.jpg

The tomb features geometric tilework on its drum, dome and finial. It also has sandstone jaalis on its doorways and incised plaster work on its ceiling. Each of its eight façades have differing incised plaster patterns, which is uncommon on Islamic monuments. The tomb's painted ceiling is considered to be the most significant element of the tomb. Considered the earliest painted ceiling for any Mughal structure, it predates artforms like Mughal miniature paintings.{{Cite web |date=17 November 2021 |title=Conservation Of Delhi's Sabz Burj Complete; Rare Mughal-Era Ceiling Revealed |url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/conservation-of-delhis-sabz-burj-complete-rare-mughal-era-ceiling-revealed-2614799 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121044212/https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/conservation-of-delhis-sabz-burj-complete-rare-mughal-era-ceiling-revealed-2614799 |archive-date=21 January 2022 |access-date=6 September 2024 |website=NDTV}} Regarding the painted ceiling, Mughal historian Ebba Koch observed:{{Cite web |title=Sabz Burj Conservation |url=https://www.nizamuddinrenewal.org/conservation/sabz-burj/images/Sabz%20Burj%20flier_email.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816073415/https://www.nizamuddinrenewal.org/conservation/sabz-burj/images/Sabz%20Burj%20flier_email.pdf |archive-date=16 August 2022 |access-date=6 September 2024 |website=Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative}}

{{Blockquote|... such highly decorated vaults using lapiz lazuli and gold are known in royal buildings of Timurid architecture but their decoration tends to be organised in sections. A coherent decorative system such as at Sabz Burj is rare.}}

Originally, along with the painted ceiling, the walls of the inner chamber were completely covered in paintings. These have however been lost and only small patches of the original paintings survive today.

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation| title = History Of Mughal Architecture Vol.1 | last = Nath | first = Ram | author-link = Ram Nath| isbn = 9788170171591 | publisher = Abhinav Publications | date = 1982 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.532498/page/n335}}
• {{cite book |chapter=India under the Moghol Empire |first=Herbert |last=Hartel |title=The Last Great Muslim Empires |editor-first1=H. J. |editor-last1=Kissling |editor-first2=N. |editor-last2=Barbour |editor-first3=Bertold |editor-last3=Spuler |editor-first4=J. S. |editor-last4=Trimingham |editor-first5=F. R. C. |editor-last5=Bagley |year=1997 |publisher=Brill |isbn=90-04-02104-3 |pages=262–263 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AznJs58wtkC&pg=PA262 |access-date=}}

• {{commons category-inline|Subz Burz}}

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Category:World Heritage Sites in India

Category:Indo-Islamic architecture

Category:Mughal tombs

Category:Tourist attractions in Delhi

Category:Monuments of National Importance in Delhi