Tomb of Sher Shah Suri

✎ The tomb of Sher Shah Suri is in the Sasaram town of Bihar state, India.
✎ The tomb was built in memory of Emperor Sher Shah Suri, a Pathan from Bihar to defeat the Mughal Empire and founded the Suri Empire in Northern India.
✎ He died in an accidental gunpowder explosion in the fort of Kalinjar on 10th day of Rabi-al-awwal, A.H. 952 or 13th May 1545 A.D.
✎ His tomb is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture, it was designed by the architect Mir Muhammad Aliwal Khan and built between 1540 and 1545, this red sound stone mausoleum (122 ft. high), which stands in the middle of an artificial lake, which is nearly square, is known as the second Taj Mahal of India.
✎ The tomb stands at the centre of the lake on a square stone pinth with domed kiosis, chhatris at each of its corners, further there are stone banks and stepped moorings on all sides of the plint, which is connected to the mainland through a wide stone bridge.
✎ The main tomb is built on octagonal plan, topped by a dome, 22-metre in span and surrounded ornamental domed kiosis which were once covered in colored glazed tile work.
✎ The tomb was built during the lifetime of Sher Shah as well as the reign of his son Islam Shah.
✎ An inscription dates its completion to August 16, 1545, 3 months after the death of Sher Shah.
✎ It stands on the GT Road in the middle of an artificial lake in Bihar.
✎ The interior of the tomb is well ventilated and lit as light passes through large windows on the top portion of the walls fitted with stone jalis of varying patterns.
✎ There are stone banks and stepped moorings on all sides of the plinth, that can be accessed from the main land through a broad stone bridge.
Its height from the floor to the apex of the dome is 101 feet and its total height above the water is over 150 feet.
✎ The octagon forming the tomb has an interior diameter of 75 feet and an exterior diameter of 104 feet.