Located in the southern part of Delhi, within the village of Kotla Mubarakpur, lies one of the city’s oldest yet most neglected monuments: the mausoleum of Sultan Muizuddin Mubarak Shah Saiyyid. Ruler from 1421 to 1434 CE, Mubarak Shah governed a vast expanse that covered northern India and parts of modern-day Pakistan. However, today, his tomb stands as a prime example of the neglect and urban decay that have overtaken Kotla Mubarakpur, a once-fortified citadel he laid the foundation of on the banks of the river Yamuna on 31st October 1432. This area, now classified as an overpopulated and densely packed urban village, has seen its fortifications eroded by the relentless forces of urban sprawl and commercialization.
The monument is now surrounded by a mass of dilapidated multistory residential buildings, hastily constructed without regard for essential infrastructure like roads, electricity, or drainage. A simple glance at Google Maps reveals just how engulfed this historic site has become.
Mubarak Shah ascended the throne in 1421 CE, succeeding his father, Khizr Khan. Originally named Mubarak Khan, he adopted the regnal title of Muizz-ud-Din Mubarak Shah, or simply Mubarak Shah. The Sayyid dynasty, to which he belonged, was nominally under the authority of Shah Rukh, Timur’s successor. While his father never claimed the title of sultan, Mubarak Shah was recognized as such.
During his reign, Mubarak Shah faced significant challenges, notably the rise of local dynasties in the wake of Timur’s invasion of India. His greatest threat came from Jasrat, a Muslim chieftain from Punjab, who had seized vast swathes of the Delhi Sultanate’s territory and aimed to conquer Delhi itself in 1431. However, Jasrat retreated after Mubarak Shah led a sizable army against him. Despite this victory, Mubarak Shah’s reign was cut short when he was murdered in 1434, and his nephew Muhammad Shah (reigned 1434–1444 CE) succeeded him.
The tomb itself is an imposing octagonal structure built of local quartzite stone, raised on its own plinth, with a commanding presence despite the surroundings. A unique feature of the dome is the red sandstone lantern that crowns it, rather than the more typical lotus finial of the period. The tomb’s arches are supported by intricately carved single stone columns designed to give the illusion of twin pillars. The corners of the octagon feature sloping buttresses, characteristic of this style of tomb, while the verandah domes alternate between simple and flower-petal designs. The flat squinches supporting these domes are adorned with decorative medallions, adding to the structure’s beauty.
Within are the graves of seven individuals; that of a man (I assume Mubarak Shah himself), two women, and a the graves of two boys and two girls forming a second row near the inner doorway. Most of the interior is covered in soot.
This grand octagonal mausoleum, the second of its kind in Delhi, is said to have been planned by Mubarak Shah himself but was commissioned posthumously by his nephew. Sadly, the once-majestic edifice is now hemmed in by cramped residential and commercial buildings, imprisoned inside iron railings, making it nearly impossible to appreciate the monument in its full glory. Access is also severely limited, as the gates remain permanently locked, with no caretaker on site during my visit.
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