Twilight of the Sultanate c16.s1.36

c16.s1.36

Sikandar Lodī was by far the greatest builder of the fifteenth century. Inscriptions on various buildings in northern India indicate his love for architectural activity. He is credited with constructing a canal in A.D. 1492-93²³ a Baolī in Rajputana²⁴ and mosques in almost all important cities including Lahore, Karnal, Hansi and Makanpur (district Kanpur), besides many in Delhi and Agra.²⁵ There are also so many nameless mosques and tombs belonging to the Lodī period which, from their design and material of construction, can safely be attributed to Sikandar's time.²⁶ Like Fīrōz Tughlaq, Sikandar Lodī was not only a great builder but also a great repairer. In his time in A.D. 1492 (897 H) was built the mausoleum of Amīr Khusru. An inscribed frieze at the entrance doorway of the Qutb Mīnār credits him with repairing this world famous edifice in A.D. 1503 (909 H),²⁷ although the nature of the repairs is not known. A few more buildings of his son and successor Ibrāhīm Lodī are also extant, like the tomb of Khwājā Khizr (completed in 1522) and Rajōn Ki Baolī, with a mosque attached to it. But Ibrāhīm's political difficulties left him little time for much constructional activity.