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Mughal Labyrinth Tomb

Adham Khan's Tomb

Also Known As · Bhool Bhulaiyaa · Adham Khan Maqbara

New Delhi, Delhi · monument

A maze of a Mughal tomb — Akbar's octagonal mausoleum for his disgraced foster brother, whose wall-passages give it the 'labyrinth' name.

Open dailyEntry Fee: Free EntryDaily, sunrise to sunset (roughly 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM); an open ASI monument with no ticket gate

Adham Khan's Tomb is one of Mehrauli's most atmospheric heritage monuments — a squat, domed octagonal mausoleum built in 1562 on the orders of the Mughal emperor Akbar, standing on a low rise opposite the Mehrauli bus terminus, just south-west of the Qutub Minar. It is popularly known as the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' (labyrinth), because the many passages built into the thickness of its walls genuinely confuse visitors; local folklore even tells of a wedding party that once lost its way inside overnight.

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Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Malik Vegetarian Rasoi, Mehrauli

0.1 km away
casual

Budget pure-vegetarian dhaba thali

Saravana Bhavan, Select Citywalk

3 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian South Indian dosas and thalis

Sattvik, Select Citywalk

3 km away
casual

Pure-vegetarian pan-Indian thalis

About

Adham Khan's Tomb is one of Mehrauli's most atmospheric heritage monuments — a squat, domed octagonal mausoleum built in 1562 on the orders of the Mughal emperor Akbar, standing on a low rise opposite the Mehrauli bus terminus, just south-west of the Qutub Minar.

  • It is popularly known as the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' (labyrinth), because the many passages built into the thickness of its walls genuinely confuse visitors; local folklore even tells of a wedding party that once lost its way inside overnight.
  • The story behind it is pure Mughal court drama.
  • Adham Khan was Akbar's foster brother — the son of Maham Anga, Akbar's powerful wet-nurse — and a general who, in 1562, murdered a trusted noble inside Agra Fort.
  • An enraged Akbar had him thrown from the ramparts, and both Adham Khan and his grief-stricken mother were buried here.
  • Tellingly, Akbar had the tomb built not in the new Mughal idiom but in the older Lodi–Sayyid octagonal style — a rare early-Mughal revival that historians read as at once honouring and marking the betrayal.
  • Today it is a protected ASI monument, its terrace giving fine views over the Mehrauli heritage landscape.
  • For vegetarian travellers the budget pure-veg Malik Vegetarian Rasoi sits right opposite the bus terminal, while Saravana Bhavan and Sattvik at Select Citywalk in Saket are a short ride away.

Practical notes

entry is free and the open monument is accessible daily in daylight — the interior passages are dim and maze-like, so carry a phone torch, wear sturdy shoes, and avoid visiting alone late in the day. Nearest metro: Qutub Minar or Saket. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes, easily combined with the Qutub complex, Zafar Mahal and Mehrauli Archaeological Park nearby. It is one of the most rewarding stops on a Mehrauli heritage walk — both for its architecture and for the sheer strangeness of finding your way through its passages.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

  • • Sunrise to sunset (roughly 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
  • • Open ASI monument, no ticket gate
  • • Best in daylight for the dim interior
Days OpenOpen DailyEntry FeeFree EntryTime Needed30 to 45 minutes

Entry Fee: Free entry — an open ASI-protected monument.

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Mehrauli, opposite the Mehrauli bus terminus, New Delhi, Delhi, 110030

South-west of the Qutub Minar, opposite the Mehrauli bus terminal

📍 Get Directions🗺️ View on map

🚇 Nearest Metro: Qutub Minar / Saket (Yellow Line) — each about 1.5 km

🚶 Walking from Metro: From Qutub Minar or Saket metro it is a short auto ride (~1.5 km) to the tomb opposite the Mehrauli bus terminal.

Distance from

  • • Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 15 km (~40 min)
  • • Connaught Place: 16 km (~45 min)
  • • New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS): 17 km (~48 min)

Parking

street · ₹20–₹50 (paid)

Street parking near the Mehrauli bus terminal; easier by auto from the metro.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Uber and Ola drop opposite the Mehrauli bus terminus, right by the tomb.

How to Reach: Adham Khan's Tomb is in Mehrauli, opposite the Mehrauli bus terminus, south-west of the Qutub Minar. Nearest metro: Qutub Minar or Saket (Yellow Line), each about 1.5 km, then a short auto. Well connected by the Mehrauli-Gurgaon and Mehrauli-Badarpur roads.

Things to Do

  • Explore the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' wall passages
  • Climb up for Mehrauli terrace views
  • Photograph the Lodi-style dome
  • Combine with Qutub Minar and Zafar Mahal
  • Learn the Adham Khan court story

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonOctober to MarchBest Time of DayMorningTime Needed30 to 45 minutesCrowd LevelsQuiet; mostly heritage-walk visitors

History & Significance

History

Adham Khan's Tomb was built in 1562 on the orders of Emperor Akbar for his foster brother Adham Khan — son of Maham Anga, Akbar's wet-nurse — and a general whom Akbar had executed after he murdered a trusted noble in Agra Fort.

  • Both Adham Khan and his mother were buried here.
  • Akbar had the tomb built in the older Lodi–Sayyid octagonal style, a rare early-Mughal revival; it is now a protected ASI monument.

🏛️ Architect: A domed octagonal chamber in the Lodi and Sayyid dynasty style, on a low platform with an ambulatory verandah and passages built into the thick walls — the labyrinthine layout that earned it the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' name.

Significance

Adham Khan's Tomb is one of Mehrauli's most atmospheric monuments and a rare early-Mughal revival of Lodi–Sayyid octagonal tomb design — famous as the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' for its maze-like wall passages and tied to a dramatic episode of Akbar's court.

Places to Visit Nearby

Qutub Minar

0.7 km away

The 73-metre victory tower and the rust-free Iron Pillar.

Mehrauli Archaeological Park

0.5 km away

A 200-acre open-air museum of tombs, a stepwell and colonial follies.

Zafar Mahal

1 km away

The last monument the Mughals built, in old Mehrauli.

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly3of 5Stroller AccessNoWheelchair AccessNoChanging RoomNoPet PolicyNo

Family Highlights

  • • An octagonal Lodi–Sayyid-style domed tomb
  • • The maze-like 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' wall passages
  • • Terrace views over Mehrauli
  • • The Mughal-court story of Adham Khan and Maham Anga

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Free for personal photography.

📍 The Golden Spot: The octagonal dome and the Mehrauli skyline from the tomb terrace.

🌅 Best Light Time: Morning light on the sandstone dome.

Tips & Safety

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: The wall passages loop through the thickness of the structure — following them is the whole point of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

🎯 Crowd Hack: It is quiet almost always; a weekday morning gives you the maze to yourself.

💎 Secret Fact: Akbar had it built in the older Lodi–Sayyid octagonal style rather than the new Mughal idiom — a design choice historians link to Adham Khan's betrayal.

⚡ Express Tour

20 minutes — the dome, a passage loop and the terrace view.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

Half day — the tomb, Zafar Mahal, the Qutub complex and Mehrauli park.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

  • Explore the maze-like passages that give it the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' name
  • Climb up for terrace views over Mehrauli
  • Photograph the Lodi–Sayyid-style dome
  • Combine with the Qutub complex and Zafar Mahal
  • Carry a phone torch for the dim interior

Don'ts

  • Do not explore the dark passages without a light
  • Do not visit alone late in the day
  • Do not climb on crumbling edges of the terrace
  • Do not take the "haunted" folklore seriously — it is only lore

👕 Dress Code: No dress code; sturdy shoes for the uneven monument.

📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is free; the octagonal dome and Mehrauli views are the draw.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPINoCardsNoCashYes

🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs near the Mehrauli bus terminal and the Qutub complex (within 1 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Adham Khan's Tomb timings and entry fee?

Entry is free. It is an open ASI monument accessible daily from around sunrise to sunset (roughly 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM).

Which is the nearest metro to Adham Khan's Tomb?

Qutub Minar and Saket on the Yellow Line are each about 1.5 km away; take a short auto to Mehrauli, opposite the bus terminus.

Why is it called the Bhool Bhulaiyaa?

'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' means labyrinth — the tomb has maze-like passages built into the thickness of its walls that easily confuse visitors, and local folklore tells of a wedding party lost inside overnight.

Who was Adham Khan?

Adham Khan was Emperor Akbar's foster brother and a general; after he murdered a trusted noble in 1562, Akbar had him executed, and Akbar then built this tomb for him and his mother Maham Anga.

Is Adham Khan's Tomb safe to visit?

Yes, in daylight — the interior passages are dim and maze-like, so carry a phone torch, wear sturdy shoes and avoid visiting alone late in the day.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near Adham Khan's Tomb?

The budget pure-veg Malik Vegetarian Rasoi is right opposite the bus terminal, and Saravana Bhavan and Sattvik at Select Citywalk, Saket, are a short ride away.

Categories

Heritage & Culture

Related

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Adham Khan's Tomb, New Delhi — TasteYatra