Bara Gumbad

Bara Gumbad
Bara Gumbad at Lodi Gardens
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusHistoric monument and mosque
OwnershipGovernment of Delhi
StatusActive (as a mosque)
Location
LocationLodi Gardens, Central Delhi, Delhi NCT
CountryIndia
Location of the monument site in Central Delhi
Administration
Geographic coordinates28°35′34.4″N 77°13′12.7″E / 28.592889°N 77.220194°E / 28.592889; 77.220194
Architecture
TypeMosque architecture
Style
FounderSikandar Lodi (attrib.)
Completed
  • 1490 CE (Bara Gumbad)
  • 1494 CE (mosque)
Specifications
Length20 m (66 ft) (Bara Gumbad)
Width20 m (66 ft) (Bara Gumbad)
Interior area
  • 361 m2 (3,890 sq ft) (Bara Gumbad)
  • 20 m2 (220 sq ft) (mosque)
Height (max)29 m (95 ft) (Bara Gumbad)
Dome(s)Multiple
Minaret(s)Two
Site area1,050 m2 (11,300 sq ft)
MaterialsSandstone
Official name
  • Mosque with the dalans and courtyard
  • Bara Gumbad
    (the domed entrance to the mosque)
Designated9 April 1936
Reference no.N-DL-73

The Bara Gumbad (lit.'big dome') is a medieval monument located in Lodi Gardens in Delhi, India. It is part of a group of monuments that include a Friday mosque (Jama Masjid) and the "mehman khana" (guest house) of Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. The Bara Gumbad was constructed in 1490 CE, during the reign of the Lodi dynasty. Its construction is generally attributed to Sikandar Lodi, and it is believed to have the earliest constructed full dome of any building in Delhi.

The monument is situated near the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi and Shisha Gumbad. Although the three structures, which share a common raised platform, were all built during the Lodi reign, they were not constructed at the same time. The intended purpose of the builders of Bara Gumbad is unclear: it may have been intended as a free-standing tomb, but no tombstone has been identified, or as a gateway. The area in which Bara Gumbad is situated was formally called Khairpur village.

Bara Gumbad and the associated mosque are a Monument of National Importance, under the administration of the Archaeological Survey of India.