The Nadira Begum tomb is a square, two-storey Mughal tomb without a dome, standing on a platform in the middle of a former water tank, immediately east of the shrine of Hazrat Mian Mir in Dharampura, Lahore. Nadira Banu Begum was the wife of Prince Dara Shikoh. She died in June 1659 near the Bolan Pass while fleeing with him after his defeat by Aurangzeb, and Dara sent her body back to Lahore to be buried near Mian Mir, the Sufi they both followed. The easiest way to see it is to combine it with a visit to Mian Mir's shrine across the road.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Alam Ganj, Dharampura, immediately east of Mian Mir's shrine |
| Buried | Nadira Banu Begum (1618 to 1659), wife of Dara Shikoh |
| Built | Sources differ: begun around 1659, or built 1693 to 1698 |
| Plan | Square, 44 feet a side, two storeys, about 10 m high, no dome |
| Setting | On a raised platform in a sunken tank, reached by an arched bridge |
| Entry | No ticket or opening hours that we could confirm |
| Time to allow | 30 minutes, plus time at Mian Mir's shrine |
Who was Nadira Begum?
Nadira Banu Begum was born on 14 March 1618 at Merta in Rajasthan. Her father was Prince Parvez, a son of the emperor Jahangir, and her mother was a granddaughter of Akbar, so she was royal on both sides. She married her cousin Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's eldest son, at Agra on 11 February 1633.
The marriage was close. They had eight children, including Sulaiman Shikoh and Sipihr Shikoh, and Dara did not take another wife. Nadira held real standing in the imperial household, including the right to issue official orders under her own seal, a privilege given only to the highest-ranking women.
Dara was governor of Lahore in the 1640s, and both he and Nadira were devoted to Mian Mir, the Qadri Sufi saint of Lahore. Dara had Mian Mir's tomb built after the saint died in 1635.
How did Nadira Begum die?
In 1659 Dara lost the war of succession to his brother Aurangzeb. After his defeat at the Battle of Deorai, near Ajmer, he fled west with his family and a dwindling band of followers, hoping to reach Iran by way of the Bolan Pass. Nadira, worn out by the flight, died of dysentery and exhaustion on 6 June 1659 near the pass.
Rather than bury her on the road, Dara sent his remaining soldiers to carry her body across the Punjab to Lahore so she could lie near Mian Mir. That left him with almost no escort. He was soon betrayed, handed over to Aurangzeb and executed later that year.
What does the tomb look like?
The tomb breaks the usual Mughal pattern. Instead of standing in a four-part garden under a dome, it sits on a high platform in the middle of a large sunken water tank, said to have measured 200 by 200 Mughal gaz. The tank was later turned into a garden. A masonry causeway on thirty arches crosses to the platform, and there were tall gateways on the north and south sides.
The building is square, about 44 feet (13.4 m) on each side and about 32 feet 6 inches (10 m) high, built of burnt brick in lime mortar. It has two storeys, with two arches stacked one above the other in the centre of each face, rooms at the corners, and stairs to the upper level in the north-east and south-east corners. The double-height central chamber holds the grave, with Quranic verses in nastaliq script on its northern face, and the ceiling has painted and incised plaster decoration.
Accounts of its date disagree. One heritage record dates it to 1659 and says Dara's death left it unfinished; Wikipedia and other sources date construction to 1693 to 1698. We have not been able to settle this, so treat any single date with caution.
What condition is it in?
During Ranjit Singh's reign the tomb was stripped of its marble and semi-precious stones. By the 2010s it was badly neglected, with cracked plaster, a broken staircase, graffiti, and the dry tank used as a cricket ground.
In November 2018 the Punjab government allocated Rs10 million for conservation, including structural repairs, restoring lime plaster and frescoes, fencing, and reviving the water channels and fountains. In April 2021 the tourism and archaeology secretary inspected the work and set a June deadline for finishing it. A January 2023 report by Dunya News still described graffiti and vandalism. We could not find a later update, so expect a structure that has been repaired but is not polished.
How do I visit with Mian Mir's shrine?
Mian Mir's shrine is in the Alam Ganj neighbourhood of Dharampura, and Nadira Begum's tomb is immediately east of it across the road. Ask a rickshaw or ride-hailing driver for "Darbar Hazrat Mian Mir, Dharampura"; the shrine is well known.
- Visit Mian Mir's shrine first. It is an active place of worship, revered by both Muslims and Sikhs; our guide to Lahore's shrines covers what to expect and how to behave.
- Cross to the tank and walk out along the arched causeway to the tomb, if the gates are open.
- Look at the stacked arches and corner rooms from the platform, and at the old tank from above.
Go in daylight. The shrine is at its most crowded during the saint's annual urs, which is good for atmosphere but a poor time for a quiet look at the tomb. Dress modestly for the shrine, and cover your head if you are a woman. Our shrine etiquette guide has more.
Is Nadira Begum's tomb worth visiting?
It is worth half an hour if you are visiting Mian Mir, and the story of a princess carried back across the Punjab by her husband's last soldiers stays with you. The unusual tank setting and domeless design make it different from Lahore's other Mughal tombs. It is not a polished heritage site, and there is little shade or seating, so it suits history-minded visitors more than families with small children.
For more of Lahore's Mughal tombs, see our guides to the tomb of Jahangir and famous graves in Lahore, and our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nadira Begum's tomb?
In the Alam Ganj area of Dharampura, Lahore, immediately east of the shrine of Hazrat Mian Mir, across the road.
Who was Nadira Begum?
The wife of Prince Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's eldest son, and a granddaughter of the emperor Jahangir. She was born in 1618 and died in 1659.
Where did Nadira Begum die?
Near the Bolan Pass, in June 1659, of dysentery and exhaustion while fleeing with Dara Shikoh towards Iran after his defeat by Aurangzeb.
Why is her tomb next to Mian Mir's shrine?
Nadira and Dara were both devoted followers of Mian Mir, so Dara had her body taken to Lahore to be buried near the saint.
Why does Nadira Begum's tomb have no dome?
It was built on a platform in the middle of a water tank rather than as a domed garden tomb, and its domeless, two-storey design is unusual among Mughal tombs.
