Adham Khan's Tomb

Popularly known as Bhul bhulaiya, the tomb of Adham Khan and his mother Maham Anga, constructed in 1951 by emperor Akbar, lies at the entrance of Mehrauli village.

Adham Khan was a general in the army of the Mughal emperor Akbar and the son of his wet nurse Maham Anga, a very influential and powerful woman of her times. When Akbar's favoured general Atgah Khan became the Prime Minister in the imperial courts, Maham Anga was angered. Adham Khan could not bear to see his mother unhappy and in a fit of jealousy and anger, murdered him. Emperor Akbar punished him instantly by throwing him down the 40 feet high ramparts of the Agra Fort not once but twice as he was found to be alive after the first fall. Soon after, his mother also died of grief. Akbar sent the bodies of Adham Khan and Maham Anga to Delhi with full honor and respect and built this tomb where he buried the mother next to her son. 

The chamber is octagonal in shape with a dome in the architectural style of the Lodi dynasty, whom the Mughals considered as traitors, ironically. The tomb lies on a raised platform and is surrounded by a corridor that has three semi circular openings on each side. Since visitors used to often lose their way through these passages hence this tomb is locally known as 'bhul bhulaiya' or maze. 

And this is not all. This tomb has seen a lot more. 

A British Officer named Blake converted this tomb into his private residence and removed the graves in order to make way for his dining space. Even after his death it was being used as a Rest House for the British. Later it was converted into a post office and then to a police station. Finally Lord Curzon took initiative to restore the monument, and ordered to vacate it. He restored the grave of Adham Khan back to the original position. The mother's grave however could not be restored as nobody could identify what could have been the exact resting place of this powerful woman who died grieving for her son. 

It is considered bad for women to visit this tomb. This is because of the curse of queen Rupmati whose lover Baz Bhahdur was killed by Adham Khan during his invasion of Mandu. Roopmati also died soon, cursing Adham Khan saying that no woman would ever visit the tomb of the man who was responsible for the death of two lovers. To this day it is considered an ill omen for women to visit this tomb as it is supposed to mar conjugal happiness. 

Today this historic place is a home for homeless beggars, jobless people and stray dogs, carefully masquerading the turbulent history of bloodshed, murder, jealousy and intrigue of times gone by.