Introduction

The tomb of Madin Shah, a well known and highly venerated saint of Kashmir, lies just north of the Madin Shah Mosque in the Zadibal locality of Srinagar. Architecturally, this is one of the most attractive tombs in the area. At one point of time, this must have presented a brilliant sight as the walls were covered with decorative glazed tiles, though today, much is missing. One of the most striking representations on the tomb is of a beast that has the body of a leopard; this changes at the neck into the trunk of a human being, shooting apparently with a bow and arrow in the direction of its own tail – which seems to resemble a dragon’s head. This creature depicted in the picture is about four feet long. The passage of time and all its vagaries have deprived the building some of its grandeur and likewise, the human chest, shoulders and head of the beast are also missing. The colors that this has been executed in are striking - the background is blue, the trunk of the man is red, the leopard's body is yellow and has light green spots while the dragon's head is reddish-brown; this is surrounded by flowers are of various colors. Another one of the remnants of the old glory this must have had, is in the narrow border above the dado on the east; this has a floral pattern that is interspersed with the heads of donkeys and lions.

The mosque of Madin Shah is dated to 1483 CE and the reign of one of Kashmir's most remarkable rulers, Zain-ul-Abidin. Some surmise that the tomb may have been built later, but others conjecture that this may well have been done at the same time – or even earlier, as the practice of building a tomb before one’s death was not unknown.

Special Attributes

Architecturally, a striking tomb

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Conservative

Connectivity

Buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and walking

Enjoyed by

Architectural, religious and general interest

Exposure

Mild exposure to sun when outdoors. It is pleasant for the better part of the year.

Avoidable Season

Late evenings, as visibility will be low

Facilities

Restaurants close by

Things Not Allowed

No shoes in the mosque

Tip

A good telephoto lens on the camera will be handy.

Type of site

Tomb