Mahabat Maqbara complex

Mahabat Maqbara is a mausoleum in the Junagadh region with a yellow exterior, onion-shaped domes, and four corner towers wrapped by external spiral staircases. The complex includes both a tomb and a mosque, decorated throughout with carved details on its towers and walls.

Construction started in 1878 under Nawab Mahabat Khan II and was completed in 1892 under Nawab Bahadur Khan III. This period of building coincided with the era of British influence in the region, which appears in some of its design elements.

The silver doors and marble columns blend Indian, Islamic, and Gothic design choices in one building. Walking through it, you notice how these different building traditions worked together.

This monument sits near Girnar Hills and is relatively accessible with guided tours available through the complex. Visitors can explore both buildings and should wear comfortable shoes since the climb up the spiral staircases is steep.

The four corner towers are completely wrapped by external spiral staircases, an unusual design for a 19th-century Indian mausoleum. These stairs let visitors climb to the roof and see the entire complex from a rare viewpoint above.