Nizamuddin Dargah

Nizamuddin is situated in a busy area and the change from the modern frenzy of the outside to when you enter this village from the Middle Ages, with its winding alleys and old buildings, is distinct. Dominating this area is Hazrat Nizamuddin Darga, one of the greatest Sufi shrines. This marble tomb was built for Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya, the fourth saint of he Chishtiya order, in 1325. It has been renovated several times and the actual tomb is enveloped by lattice screens, arches, a marble rail and covered by a mother-of-pearl canopy. The dargah is vibrant and alive, drawing devotees from all over the world. Evenings here are filled with religious songs and music, performed by qawwals, or poet-singers.

In front of the saint's tomb is another one made of red sandstone, the resting-place of Amir Khusro. He was the Sheikh's main disciple, poet and chronicler, regarded as the first Urdu poet and creator of the khyal, a form of North Indian classical music. The other monuments of note here are the Jam-at Khana Masjid, built in 1325 by Khizr Khan, Alauddin Khilji's son; the tomb of Princess Jahanara, Shah Jahan's favorite daughter; and Chini-ka-Burj, which means tower of the tiles, with its decorated upper chamber.