The hidden holy tombs of the kings and queens of Ahmedabad
- Gandhi Road, Bhadra
- Mon-Sun 6am-10pm
Sultan Ahmed Shah is honoured not only for his bravery and success as a war leader but also because of his piety and his justice, that laid the foundation for the success of the city.
Hidden holy graves
You may be surprised but here hidden behind market stalls are the holy mausoleums of the king and queen, the founders of the mighty city of Ahmedabad. On one side is the grave of Ahmed Shah I, the great man himself, buried alongside his son and grandson. On the other side the eight marble tombs of the royal queens ‘Rani no Hajiro’.
The great sultan
Sultan Shah is revered as the hero of Ahmedabad until today, his grave attended every day by a group of devoted Muslims. He is honoured not only for his bravery and success as a war leader but also because of his piety and his justice that laid the foundation for the success of the city. It was the year 1411 when he ascended to the throne, he founded the city of Ahmedabad in that same year and one of his first actions was to commission his grand mosque, which took 12 years to build. He died in 1442, aged 53.
A queen’s grave
Rani no Haijiro’ is the Queens Tomb. Here are no less than 8 tombs of the royal women of the founding family. Elaborately carved and inlaid with work of mother-of-pearl and metal and covered with rich brocade works, so typical for Sultan Shah’s reign. The principal tomb belongs to Mughalai Bibi, the wife of the king and the other tombs belong to his son’s wives, daughters and sisters. Around the royal women’s tomb is now a market for women's clothing, jewellery and accessories.