Mazaar of Tota Maina in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

After crossing by the Unknown Tombs we reached the Mazaar of Tota Maina. 

Entrance to the Mazaar of Tota Maina in Burhanpur

There is a fort like entrance to reach the Mazaar.

Tombs of Tota Maina in Burhanpur

Tombs of Tota Maina in Burhanpur

The Mazaar premises is painted white in color. There are a couple of graves there. The Maulana showed us the grave of Tota Maina. They were two birds who use to live there. The saint who lived there was very fond of the birds. I don't recollect the name of the saint. The Maulana told us a story, not sure if it is true or if it is modified version of the actual story. Hence have not posted it here.

Information on Mazaar of Tota Maina in Burhanpur

The heat was killing us, we then moved out of the Mazaar premises. Mr. Taide then arranged a rickshaw for us, who could drop us back to the hotel.    

Unknown tombs on the way to Graves of Tota Maina in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Monday, June 26, 2017

As we traveled by Bike away from the Maqbara of Nadir Shah and Adil Shah, we noticed these tombs on the way.

The tombs are painted white with a huge black dome atop it. There is no mention has to who had built them. These tombs have not been taken over by ASI.

Unknown tombs on the way to Graves of Tota Maina in Burhanpur

Unknown tombs on the way to Graves of Tota Maina in Burhanpur

Mr.Taide informed us that long ago this used to be a burial site, but very soon it is going to make way to a residential quarters (Basti in Hindi) The muddy patch would turn to tar roads.

In a few minutes we reached the Mazaar of Tota Maina

Maqbara of Nadir Shah and Adil Shah in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Friday, June 23, 2017

The Maqbara of Nadir Shah and Adil Shah are located around 2 KM away from the Maqbara of Begum Shah Shuja. There is a muddy path that leads to it.

Maqbara of Nadir Shah and Adil Shah in Burhanpur

Directions for the same are tagged on Google maps.

Mr Chaudhari, who we had met at the Maqbara of  Begum Shah Shuja had already informed Mr. Taide another ASI executive posted at Maqbara of Nadir Shah that we would be visiting this place.

Maqbara of Nadir Shah

There is no sign of humans here, total wilderness. There is no provision for food and water either. Luckily we had very little water remaining and we were rationing the water. Both the Maqbara are built very close to each other.

The cenotaph in the middle belongs to Nadir Shah

There are plenty of unknown tombs here. Some of them had inscriptions on them, not sure if it is Arabic or Urdu.

Tombstone

The bigger tomb belonged to Nadir Shah. It is built on a podium. A series of steps leads one to the tomb door. He was the founder of the Faruqui Dynasty in the 15th century. The cenotaph  in the centre belongs to him. There are a couple of other cenotaph too, not sure who they belong too.

Maqbara of Adil Shah

There was also a Maulana aka priest there. He looks after the maintenance of these two Tombs. He too is unaware of the of the other cenotaph. The entrance to the tomb is under lock and key. The Maulana showed us around in the tomb.

The cenotaph placed in the middle with a blue chaddar on it belongs to Adil Shah

We then visited the Adil Shah tomb located a couple of feet away. This tomb was small in size. The cenotaph placed in the middle with a blue chaddar on it belongs to Adil Shah, not sure who the other cenotaph belong too.

Thats us, from the right, Mr Taide, Maulana and Me.

Mr. Taide, then gave us a lift on his bike to take us to Mazaar of Tota Maina. On the way, we located some unknown tombs. He was stunned, when heard that we had walked it all the way to this place from Kali Masjid in Burhanpur.

Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuja in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh

Thursday, June 22, 2017

The Maqbara of Begum Shah Shuja in Burhanpur is located very close to the tombs of Nadir Shah and Adil Shah.

Entrance to the Maqbara of Begum Shah Shuja in Burhanpur

Directions to Adil Shah and Nadir Shah Maqbara are tagged on Google maps, one has to cross by the Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuza before reaching the other Maqbara.

Bilquis Begum was the wife of Prince Shah Shuja. He was the son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. Bilquis Begum died after giving birth to her daughter. A Maqbara was built for her in Burhanpur.

Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuja in Burhanpur

The main entrance to the Maqbara is currently closed. So one has to enter the premises by climbing over the broken wall. There is also another way to enter the premises.

We met Mr. Chaudhari there, who works with the ASI. He is closely looking into the re development or renovation of this Maqbara.

Cenotaph at Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuja in Burhanpur

The Maqbara, had a very different look to it, something very unusual to the ones I have been so far. The dome of it made of black stone looks like a watermelon cut into half and placed atop it. It looked like pillars were cut in half and the same were used to construct the Maqbara. There is a window places on one side from where one can see the cenotaph inside. Strangely the window had a glass. There is a small door to enter the Maqbara premises. The door was opened to us and we stepped in to see it.

The artwork at Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuja in Burhanpur

The walls of the Maqbara were beautifully painted from the inside. The intricate paintings were worth seeing and photographing. The paintings from the dome have peeled off. but the walls are intact.

This is a good place to meditate as there is no one around to disturb you. This place is totally isolated.

The ceiling of Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuja in Burhanpur

We could spot the Maqbara of Nadir Shah and Adil Shah from here.

Mr. Chaudhari and Me at Maqbara of Begun Shah Shuja in Burhanpur

There is no provision for food and water here.