Tomb of Hoshang Shah, Mandu, Madhya Pradesh India

Hoshang Shah’s Tomb is the first marble structure of India. The Architecture of Hoshang Shah s Tomb bears complex marble lattice work, a well defined dome, and courts with massive porticos and big towers with overall rectangular shape. The marble construction was done in honor of Hoshang Shah who has significant position in the history of India. The building is the wonderful example of Afghan art and architecture. The entrance to the Hoshang Shah s tomb is through a porch, square in plan, with well-proportioned and artistic arched openings on three sides which also supports the marble dome above. The interior of the porch is plain except for a band of carved miniature arches set with blue ornamented tiles. The exterior of the dome has a low protective wall carved in relief along its drum and a band of stars cut in the stonework below. The southern doorway has the lotus and the decorative blue enamel stars. The main tomb is carved in the form of a coffin. There are also other graves below the dome, only three of which are in marble. The architecture of the dome is crowned with a crescent, a feature which seems to have been imported from Mesopotamia or Persia. There is a series of columns with three rows of pillars dividing its depth of 7.6 m into three aisles, at the west side of the tomb.

The predominant influence of Hindu architecture in the designs of the pillars and brackets and the arrangement of the flat roof supported on horizontal is one of the interesting features in this attraction.