Isa Khan Niazi

Isa Khan Niazi عیسی خان نیازي
Isa Khan Tomb from outside
Born	niya zai Delhi
Died	16th Century Delhi
Nationality	Pashtun
Occupation	Afghan Noble

Isa Khan Niazi was born in 1453 and his last brother was born in 1478. He died in Delhi in 1548 at the age of 95. The time of 1451 – 1525 was the golden period for these khans. It was the time when Lodhis completely dominated the subcontinent (Hindustan). Isa Khan Niazi was a prominent member among the ruling family. He was in the same tribal unit of nobles as Ibrahim Lodhi, Sher Shah Suri. Most of these families were attached with the Delhi sultanate. There, a contention arose between Isa Khan Niazi and Sher Shah Suri which ended in mutinyIsa Khan Niazi (Pashto: عیسی خان نيازي‎) was a Pashtun noble in the courts of Sher Shah Suri and his son Islam Shah Suri, of the Sur dynasty, who fought the Mughal Empire.

Isa Khan Niyazi's tomb in the Humayun's Tomb complex.

Isa Khan's mosque, across his tomb in the Humayun's Tomb complex.

Tomb of Isa Khan

Isa Khan's tomb was built during his lifetime (ca 1547-48 AD). It is situated near the site of the Mughal EmperorHumayun's Tomb complex in Delhi which was built later (between 1562-1571 AD). This octagonal tomb has distinct ornamentation in the form of canopies, glazed tiles and lattice screens, and a deep veranda surrounding it, which is supported by pillars. It stands to the south of the Bu Halima garden at the entrance of the complex. An inscription on a red sandstone slab indicates that the tomb is that of Masnad Ali Isa Khan, son of Umar Khan, the Chief chamberlain, and was built during the reign of Islam Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah, in 1547-48 A.D. On 5 August 2011, restoration work on this tomb led to the discovery of India's oldest sunken garden. Isa Khan’s garden tomb is considered the earliest example of an Indian sunken garden attached to a tomb. This concept was later developed at Akbar’s Tomb and at the Taj Mahal.

Musjid of Isa Khan

Interiors of the Mosque of Isa Khan.

At the edge of the complex, across from the tomb, lies a mosque with noticeable mihrabs. It is known as Isa Khan's Mosque. It was built at the same time as the tomb. Many of the architectural details present in these structures (such as the tomb being placed in a walled garden enclosure) can be seen evolved to a grander scale in the main Humayun's tomb.