Sarkhej
Roza is a small city, located 10 km towards the southwest of Ahmedabad.
It is known for its beautiful architectural complexes. The complex
houses a mausoleum and a mosque. In the ancient era, Sarkhej Roza was a
small village comprising of mainly Hindu weavers and Indigo dyers
population. It was inhabited by a great Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmed Khattu.
He was a close friend and advisor to Sultan Ahmed Shah. The saint lived
in the village till the age of 111 years. He died in the year 1445,
after which the Sultan ordered the construction of a mausoleum and a
mosque in his honor.The construction of these two monuments was completed by his successor, Qutub-ud-din Ahmed Shah in the year 1451 AD. The grandeur of the complex was further enhanced by Sultan Mahmud Begada in the later half of the 15th century. He constructed a tank in the center, pavilions and a small personal mosque. He even built a mausoleum for himself and his family just opposite to that of the Sufi saint. The Dargah (mausoleum of the saint), is the one of the largest in Gujarat. It has a huge dome and a platform.
The mosque is a fascinating structure for the ones who admire architectural excellence. It has multi domed prayer halls, arches and spacious courtyards and can be reached from the saint's tomb. As a result, the mosque has become the most secluded and tranquil place in the complex. However, the most imposing structure in Sarkhej Roza remains the tomb of the saint, owing to the mammoth size of the dome. The religious as well as the royal worlds co-exist in the complex. The royal tombs stand silently exhibiting their royal majesty.
