Photo 1000/31(3191)

Genre: Architectural Photography

With the Gol Gumbaz Mosque (largely concealed by vegetation) in the left background. India Museum no. 1433. Received from Captain Lyon, 7 February 1871. Duplicate print at Photo 1001 (3191).

542. - The next object worthy of a visit, and the only other one at this end of the city, is the celebrated mausoleum of Mahomed Shah, 6th king of Beejapore. The external view of this edifice is not line from any point, but the enormous proportions of the interior cannot fail to impress every beholder. It is built on a terrace 600 ft square and 2 ft high. The dome which is commonly called Guli Gumbaz or Rose dome is constructed on the same principle, as that of the Jumma Musjid, but on so much larger a scale, as to convert into a wonder of constructive skill, what in that instance was only an elegant architectural design. At the height of 57 ft from the floor line the hall begins to contract by a series of pendentives, as ingenious as they are beautiful to a circular opening 97 ft in diameter, on the platform of these pendentives the dome is erected 124 ft in diameter, thus leaving a gallery more than 12 ft wide all round the interior. Internally the dome is 175 ft high, externally 198, its general thickness being about 10 ft.

The interior of the building is a plain square apartment 135 ft each way, its area consequently is, 18,225 while that of the Pantheon at Rome is only 13,833.

The entrance is by a door on the south side, and the first thing to be observed is the grave of the King. It is a common tomb much broken, while the others are those of his two wives, his favorite mistress, his daughter and the son of Ali Adil Shah. On the inner side of the doorway by which the building is entered, are several inscription[s] 'Sultan Mahomet a dweller in Paradise' these words give the date A H 1007 - AD 1636.

While another inscription is : 'King Mohammed was in the House of peace' giving the date, 1068 - A D 1657.