Indo Islamic Heritage
Dargah-e-Aala Hazrat, commonly associated with Urs-e-Razvi, is a revered Sufi shrine in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, dedicated to the 19th-century Islamic scholar Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi (1856–1921), founder of the Barelvi movement. It serves as a major center for Sunni Muslim devotion, particularly during the annual Urs-e-Razvi, a three-day commemoration of Khan's death anniversary featuring prayers, qawwali, and scholarly gatherings. The site includes a mosque complex with intricate Arabic calligraphy and a distinctive dome designed using matchsticks.
Nestled in the heart of Bareilly, Urs-e-Razvi—commonly referred to as Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat—is a prominent Islamic shrine honoring Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, a prolific Hanafi jurist, theologian, poet, and Sufi saint who lived from 1856 to 1921. Born in Bareilly to a scholarly Pashtun family of the Barech tribe, Khan, affectionately known as Ala Hazrat, became a pivotal figure in Sunni Islam by founding the Barelvi movement in 1904 through his establishment of Manzar-i-Islam, a center for religious education and Sufi practice. His works, spanning jurisprudence, philosophy, and poetry, emphasized devotion to the Prophet Muhammad and countered reformist ideologies like Wahhabism, earning him recognition as a mujaddid (reformer) among followers. The shrine itself was constructed shortly after Khan's passing on October 28, 1921 (25 Safar 1340 AH), transforming his burial site into a grand mausoleum that reflects traditional Islamic architecture with intricate Arabic calligraphy on its walls. Its most iconic feature is the dome, ingeniously designed in the early 20th century by Sufi architect Shah Mehmood Jaan Qadri using matchsticks as a model—a testament to devotional ingenuity that guided the final structure. Enclosed within the Khanqah-e-Ala Razvia complex, the dargah includes prayer halls and spaces for qawwali (devotional music), fostering a serene environment for ziyarat (pilgrimage). Annually, the Urs-e-Razvi draws millions of devotees from across South Asia during the 24th and 25th of Safar, featuring rituals like fatiha recitations, mehfil-e-naat (praise gatherings), and communal prayers. The event underscores the shrine's role as a living center of Barelvi spirituality, where scholars continue Khan's legacy through teachings on Hanafi fiqh and Qadiri Sufism. Accessible via Bareilly Junction railway station or the nearby Bareilly Airport, the dargah remains open daily, with heightened attendance on Fridays for Jumu'ah prayers, offering free entry to all seekers of spiritual solace.
Year of Built: Post-1921
Address: 9C47+H9F, Kishore Bazar, Civil Lines, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243003
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Bareilly
Pincode: 243005
Longitude: 79.4304° E
Latitude: 28.3670° N