Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah - Females Are Not Allowed To Enter The Main Shrine

HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN DARGAH

AT

DELHI

Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is located in the Nizamuddin West Area of Delhi. It is one of the most popular attractions in Delhi.Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is a famous dargah dedicated to Nizamuddin Auliya (1238 - 1325 CE) who was one of the world's most famous saints of the Sufi Chishti Order. He was a spiritual successor of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. 

The dargah was built in 1325, the year the saint died. It was renovated and decorated by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, as well as by later rulers.The present structure was constructed by a nobleman named Faridun Khan in 1562 AD.

The structure consists of a square chamber surrounded by verandahs, which are pierced by arched openings. The dome on top of the tomb is decorated with vertical stripes of black marble and is crowned by a lotus-cresting. This grand tomb has lattice screens, marble arches and courtyards. Devotees tie red threads to these screens with a belief that their wishes would be granted. Inside the tomb, the shrine is covered with scented dark green cloth. Devotees offer prayers, shower rose petals and light incense sticks before the shrines. 

The tombs of poet Amir Khusro and Mughal Princess, daughter of Shah Jahan, Jahan Ara Begum are also located within the Nizamuddin Dargah complex and Inayat Khan's tomb is just around the corner. Jama'at- Khana Masjid was built in 1325 to the west of Hazrat Nizamuddin's tomb. Built with red sandstone, it is the oldest structure in the complex. It consists of three bays and low domes.

 Chini Ka Burj was built during the era of the Lodis. Chini-ka-Burj means tower of tiles. The Tomb of Jahan Ara is located to the south of Hazrat Nizamuddin's tomb. It is simple structure without any roof and covered by earth as per the wish of the princess. Some of the other structures inside the mausoleum complex are the Ataga Khan's Tomb, Chaunsath Khamba, Khan-I-Khanan's Tomb, Lal Mahal and Barakhamba.

The dargah is visited by thousands of Muslims every week, and also attracts large number of Hindus and people from other religions. One can visit the Dargah any day, but every Thursday, special Qawwali programs are organized here. Islamic festivals including Urs and the death anniversary of the Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro are grandly celebrated here. Females are not allowed to enter the main shrine. Visitors need to remove shoes and cover their head before entering the Dargah.

One of Delhi's greatest treats is hearing devout Sufis sing qawwalis, ecstatic devotional Muslim songs with a decidedly toe-tapping quality. Evenings from around 5 to 7, especially Thursday, the followers of the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia often gather to sing in front of his dargah (tomb); this is one of the best places to catch a performance

National Museum - It Presents Two Lakhs Objects Of A Diverse Nature

NATIONAL MUSEUM

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NEW DELHI

The National Museum, New Delhi, as we see it today, has an interesting beginning. The blueprint for establishing the National Museum in Delhi was prepared by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946. An Exhibition of Indian Art, consisting of selected artefacts from various museums of India was organized by the Royal Academy, London with the cooperation of Government of India and Britain. 

The Exhibition went on display in the galleries of Burlington House, London during the winter months of 1947-48. It was decided to display the same collection in Delhi, before the return of exhibits to their respective museums. An exhibition was organized in the the RashtrapatiBhawan (President’s residence), New Delhi in 1949, which turned out to be a great success. This event proved responsible for the creation of the National Museum.

The success of this Exhibition led to the idea that advantage should be taken of this magnificent collection to build up the nucleus collection of the National Museum. State Governments, Museum authorities and private donors, who had participated in the exhibition, were approached for the gift or loan of artefacts, and most of them responded generously. 

On August 15, 1949, the National Museum, New Delhi, was inaugurated in the Rashtrapati Bhawan by Shri R.C. Rajagopalachari, the Governor-General of India. The foundation of the present building was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, on May 12, 1955. The first phase of the National Museumbuilding was formally inaugurated by Dr. SarvepalliRadhakrishnan, the Vice President of India, on December 18, 1960. The second phase of the building was completed in 1989.

While the Museum continued to grow its collection through gifts  that were sought painstakingly, artefacts were collected through its Arts Purchase Committee. The Museum presently holds approximately 2,00,000 objects of a diverse nature,  both Indian as well as foreign, and its holdings cover   a time span of more than five thousand years of Indian cultural heritage.

The National Museum was initially looked after by the Director General of Archaeology until 1957, when the Ministry of Education, Government of India, declared it a separate institution and placed it under its own direct control. At present, the National Museum is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

• To collect art objects of Historical, Cultural and Artistic significance for the purpose to display, protection, preservation and interpretation (research).
• To disseminate knowledge about the significance of the objects in respect of history, culture and artistic excellence and achievements.
• To serve as cultural centre for enjoyment and interaction of the people in artistic and cultural activity.
• To serve as epitome of national identity.

The National Museum welcomes all visitors with special needs for whom visits can be organised with prior arrangement. Emails may be sent requesting assistance for visits at least 48hours before the proposed visit to rige.shiba6@gmail.com.

Wheel chairs which may be obtained at the reception on demand. It is encouraged that prior booking may be done for a comfortable and enjoyable visit. The museum is upgrading its facilities for better access and remains committed to all visitors who wish to visit.

Training opportunities to the museum personnel, permission to photograph the objects for reproduction and publication and access to the reserve collection and Library are provided to the museum professionals, scholars and the general public. Photographs of art objects are also made available to general public on payment. Advice on identification of art objects owned by individual and institutions is offered by experts with prior appointment. Free guided tours to the galleries and film shows in the auditorium are arranged everyday.

Admission	10 am to 6 pm
The Adult Ticket costs	Rs. 20/-
Foreigners Ticket costs	Rs. 650/- (including Audio Guide).
For Students	Students upto class 12th have free entry ticket (with I-cards).