Arab Serai: Difference between revisions

'''Arab Serai''' is a 16th century [[caravanserai]] within the [[Humayun's tomb]] complex at [[Delhi]], India. It is said to have been built by Mughal emperor [[Humayun]]'s widow Haji Begum. In recent times, it has been conserved by [[Aga Khan Trust for Culture]].

==History==

According to S.A.A. Naqvi, Mughal emperor [[Humayun]]'s widow Haji Begum built this ''[[Caravanserai|serai]]'' in 1560 to shelter three hundred Arab [[mullah]]s whom she was taking with her during her ''[[hajj]]'' to [[Mecca]]; however, Y.D. Sharma opines that the word Arab in the title is a misnomer as this building was built for the Persian craftsmen and workers who built the [[Humayun's Tomb]].{{sfn|Naqvi2002|p=66}}

In January 2017, the [[Aga Khan Trust for Culture]] started a project to conserve the ''serai''. The restoration was  completed in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arab Ki Sarai, the caravans of bygone era, restored to old glory in India |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2018/11/05/Arab-Ki-Sarai-the-caravans-of-bygone-era-restored-to-old-glory-in-India.html |publisher=Al Arabiya |accessdate=27 May 2019 |date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527170918/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2018/11/05/Arab-Ki-Sarai-the-caravans-of-bygone-era-restored-to-old-glory-in-India.html |archive-date=27 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2019, the trust announced a planned project to conserve the ''[[baoli]]'' (stepwell) of the serai with the help of funds from the embassy of Germany.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mughal baoli suffering from neglect hits road to revamp |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/mughal-baoli-suffering-from-neglect-hits-road-to-revamp/articleshow/68588466.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=27 May 2019 |date=27 March 2019}}</ref> This building along with other buildings form the [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] of [[Humayun's Tomb]] complex.<ref>{{cite web |title=Humayun's tomb |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 |publisher=UNESCO |accessdate=27 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527102431/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 |archive-date=27 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Architecture==

This building contains arched cells against its enclosure walls. Presently, the cells are in ruins. The northern gate is the only structure of the building which is intact. The gate measures {{convert|12.2|m|ft}} in height and is made of quartzite with [[red sandstone]] and is inlaid by marble. The octagonal shaped gate chamber was crowned by a dome at the time of its construction, but since then the dome has collapsed. A balcony window is present over the arch of the main gateway and is supported by six brackets. On each side of the gateway at the same level, more balcony windows crowned by a pyramidal dome are present. The domes are covered with yellow and blue tiles.{{sfn|Naqvi2002|p=67}}

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[[Category:World Heritage Sites in India]]

[[Category:1560 establishments in India]]