Azim Khan's Tomb - Delhi

Delhi, the capital city of India, boasts a rich tapestry of monuments, totaling around 1300, among which Qutb Minar stands prominently. In this article, I'd like to introduce a less-known but intriguing monument called Azim Khan's Tomb.


Azim Khan's Tomb is situated in Lado Serai, within the Mehrauli area, in close proximity to the renowned Qutb Minar.

The tomb is dedicated to Azim Khan, a figure shrouded in historical ambiguity. While details about Azim Khan remain elusive, historians generally believe he was a general in the Mughal Emperor Akbar's army. To understand Azim Khan's role, one must delve into the narrative of Adham Khan, the younger son of Maham Anga, the wet nurse of Akbar.  (Click here to know about Adham Khan's tomb in Delhi.)

Maham Anga, renowned as Akbar's wet nurse and often regarded as his foster mother, held significant political influence. Adham Khan, her younger son, ascended to prominence after Bairam Khan's removal, assuming the role of Mughal general.

During the reign of Humayun, Akbar's father, the Malwa kingdom asserted its independence. Akbar dispatched Adham Khan to quell the rebellion, resulting in the Battle of Sarangpur in 1561 CE. Adham Khan defeated Malwa Sultan Baz Bahadur, who had previously fallen in love with the beautiful singer Roopmati, a Hindu lady he married and made his queen. Roopmati, unable to endure Adham Khan's advances, tragically ended her life by jumping into a pyre.

Enraged by Roopmati's death, Adham Khan ordered brutal reprisals, instructing his soldiers to kill captive soldiers, along with women and children, even targeting the Saiyyids who had initially welcomed his army. He defied Akbar's orders to send the acquired treasure, sending only a few elephants in response.

Akbar, compelled to take matters into his own hands, led an army against Adham Khan in Malwa. Despite some historians suggesting that the army was led by General Azim Khan rather than Akbar himself, the outcome saw Azim Khan gaining the title "Akbar" from the Emperor, thereafter known as Akbar Khan.

In the era of Jehangir, Akbar's son, Azim Khan embraced Hazrat Nizamuddin's Chishtiyya order of Sufism, forsaking his warrior life for a spiritual one. As followers sought his guidance, Azim Khan constructed a tomb atop a hill, surrounded by rocks and barren land, believed to be in the early 17th century CE. Azim Khan's Tomb, marked by its square structure and domed top on a stone plinth, offers a glimpse into this spiritual transformation. Despite the disappearance of the grave stone, the site, accessible through a deserted lane and a climb up steep steps, stands as a testament to Azim Khan's enduring legacy.

Happy travelling.