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Friday, December 4, 2009

Nizamuddin Dargah



The dargah of Khwaja Nizamuddin Awliya, Delhi.



Nizamuddin Dargah
(Hindi: निज़ामुद्दीन दरगाह) is the dargah (mausoleum) of one of the world's most famous Sufi saints Nizamuddin Auliya. Situated in Nizamuddin West area of Delhi, the dargah is visited daily by thousands of Muslims, and sees a fair share of Hindus, Christians, and people from all religious backgrounds. The tomb of Amir Khusro and Jehan Ara Begum are also located within the Nizamuddin Dargah Complex, and Inayat Khan's is just around the corner..


The neighborhood

Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi, with Humayun's tomb visible in the background on the right.
Market in Nizamuddin area

The neighborhood surrounding the dargah is named after the saint, and is divided into two parts along Mathura Road: Nizamuddin West where the Dargah Complex and a lively market dominated by Muslim vendors is located, and Nizamuddin East, an upper-class residential area situated between Humayun's Tomb and the Nizamuddin Railway Station. The other important monuments in the Nizamuddin heritage area are the Humayun's Tomb, Chausath Khamba, Mirza Ghalib's tomb, Barakhamba, Blue Gumbad at the Nizamuddin Circle, Lal Mahal in Delhi, and many others within the Nizamuddin Auliya shrine complex.

The area surrounding the Dargah is becoming increasingly inhabited by impoverished Muslim refugees from Bangladesh who work mostly as ragpickers on one of the garbage dumps in the area. Drug abuse, crime and poverty remain a big problem for the neighbourhood.

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Indian Heritage