Indo Islamic Heritage
The Tomb of Hafiz Rehmat Khan is a historic mausoleum dedicated to the Rohilla Pashtun leader Hafiz Rehmat Khan, who served as regent of the Kingdom of Rohilkhand and died in battle in 1774. Located in Baqarganj, Bareilly, it exemplifies 18th-century Indo-Islamic architecture with its domed structure and serene courtyard, serving as a key Islamic heritage site in Uttar Pradesh.
The Tomb of Hafiz Rehmat Khan is a poignant reminder of the turbulent 18th-century history of Rohilkhand, a semi-autonomous Pashtun-ruled region in northern India. Hafiz Rehmat Khan, born in 1723 into the Barech Durrani tribe from Kandahar, Afghanistan, rose to prominence as the regent of Rohilkhand from 1749 until his death. Serving under Mughal emperors Ahmad Shah Bahadur, Alamgir II, and Shah Alam II, he governed Bareilly as his headquarters, minting coins and fostering a vibrant Islamic cultural center amid the declining Mughal Empire. His rule emphasized Pashtun traditions blended with Mughal administration, making Bareilly a hub for Rohilla Sardars—Afghan chieftains who settled in the Katehr region since the early 1700s. The tomb's construction followed Rehmat Khan's martyrdom in April 1774 at the Battle of Miranpur Katra (also known as the Battle of St. George), where he led Rohilla forces against a combined army of the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daula, and British troops under Colonel Alexander Champion. This conflict arose from unpaid war debts after the Rohillas aided Awadh against Maratha incursions in 1772, leading to the invasion and dismantling of Rohilkhand's independence. Rehmat Khan's death marked the end of effective Rohilla autonomy, with the region ceded to the East India Company in 1801. The mausoleum, erected around 1774–1775 by his successors or family, reflects Indo-Islamic architecture typical of the period, with influences from Mughal designs seen in nearby structures like the Jama Masjid in Pilibhit, which Rehmat Khan himself founded as a replica of Delhi's Jama Masjid. Rehmat Khan's lineage continued to influence Islamic resistance in the region; his grandson, Khan Bahadur Khan, led the Bareilly revolt during the 1857 Indian Rebellion, briefly declaring independence and minting coins from the city. Preserved as a protected historical site, the tomb not only commemorates a key figure in India's Islamic past but also embodies the enduring Pashtun-Muslim contributions to Uttar Pradesh's cultural tapestry, drawing quiet pilgrims to its peaceful grounds year-round.
Year of Built: Around 18th Century
Address: 997V+P9G, Baqarganj, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243003
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Bareilly
Pincode: 243003
Longitude: 79.430°E
Latitude: 28.367°N