Indo Islamic Heritage
The location is approximately 2 kilometers northeast of Nizamuddin Bus Stand and 2.6 kilometers northeast of Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, accessible via Bharat Scouts & Guides Marg. The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). The closest railway station is Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, and the nearest bus stand is Nizamuddin Bus Stand.
Chilla-Khanqah Nizamuddin is a revered site where Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya, a prominent Sufi saint, reached the zenith of his spiritual journey. The structure is believed to have been built by his devoted follower, Ziauddin Wakeel Mulk, who was a contemporary of Hazrat Nizamuddin. This site is historically significant as the place where the saint practiced Chilla-Kashi?a form of intense meditation involving 40 days of seclusion without food, water, or sleep, dedicated to deep prayer and communion with the divine. Architecturally, the building exemplifies the Tughlaq style, characterized by its simplicity and robustness. Constructed from random rubble masonry coated with plaster, local stone, and red sandstone, it features battered walls, wide eaves (chhajja) supported by heavy brackets, and unadorned rectangular pillars supporting arches. The rectangular structure comprises three bays with pointed arched openings and two bays in depth, topped with a flat roof. Elevated on a 3.5-meter-high chabutra (platform), it includes a rear chamber behind a vaulted verandah. The dado is adorned with marble cladding, and the western wall houses a small covered mihrab with built-in alcoves. The facade and interior are painted in white and green hues. A grilled door, now painted green, secures the chamber, which remains locked. The marble-clad front courtyard contains three cenotaphs. Today, Chilla-Khanqah Nizamuddin serves as a place of worship, hosting regular congregational prayers. It continues to attract numerous visitors seeking spiritual blessings, reflecting its enduring significance in the religious and cultural landscape.
Year of Built: 14th - 15th Century
Address: North of Humayun tomb complex, Immediately west of Gurudwara Damdama Sahib
Country: India
State: Delhi
District: South Delhi
Pincode: 11013
Longitude: 77 15 5
Latitude: 28 35 39