BALBAN'S TOMB

Ghiasuddin Balban (1266–87) was of Turkic extraction and one of the several ‘Slave rulers’ of the early Delhi Sultanate. The tomb of Balban is located within the Mehrauli Archaeological Park on the western side of the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road. This thirteenth century tomb was probably the first major building in India to use true arches and dome. The tomb of Balban is approached through an entrance gateway with column and beam structure which is commonly seen in pre -Turk Indian architecture, for instance in temples. 

Gateway to Balban's Tomb

The building is constructed in rubble masonry, originally having true arches and dome though the domes are no longer there today. This structure was the first development in the amalgamation of Indo-Islamic architecture where attempts were made to construct true dome and arches. In the construction of the true arch, the keystone in the centre of the arch was introduced which made the arches stable enough to support domed construction. 

 The structure has arched openings in all its sides. The north facade of the building is faced with red sandstone.Decorative features like the kalash (ritual vessel), used in Hindu temple architecture, have been used at certain areas very sparsely. Today the tomb is surrounded by the ruins of an urbanized late medieval settlement. The Qutb Minar can be viewed from the tomb. 

In the eastern chamber of the tomb lies the grave of Balban’s son, known by the title Khan Shahid.

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