The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c30.48

v3.c30.48

While the royal tombs of this period thus follow an established and more or less uniform pattern, the contemporary tombs of the nobles branch out into a new and distinctive type, which, though more commonplace and prosaic, is nevertheless not without much dignity and strength. Among the host of monuments of this class with which the plains of Delhi are bestrewn, the finest examples are the tombs of Bare Khān and Chhote Khān, the Barā Gumbad (\textsc{a.d.} 1494), the Shīsh Gumbad, the tomb of Shihāb-ud-dīn Tāj Khān (1501) and the two tombs known as the Dādī-ka Gumbad and Polī-ka Gumbad. From the illustrations reproduced in Plate XIII the general characteristics of the whole class can readily be gauged. They are square solid-looking buildings with domes carried on squinch arches and an octagonal pillared kiosk rising from each corner of the roof.