Tomb of Alawal Khan, Sasaram, Rohtas

Tomb of Alawal Khan, Sasaram, Rohtas

The tomb of Alawal Khan is situated to the south of the town, Sasaram, the district headquarter of the Rohtas district and one of the most important ancient towns in Bihar. Alawal Khan, whose full name was Alauddin Khan, was the superintendent of buildings under the Pathan rulers Sher Shah and Salim Shah. He was also an important general in command of 5,000 horsemen. While Alawal Khan was incharge of the construction of Sher Shah's tomb he pilfered better materials for his own tomb and was therefore put to disgrace by Sher Shah. As such, the tomb of Alawal Khan consists in plan only of a courtyard surrounded by a high stone wall of fine masonry with three entrances on the east, south and north, but now only the eastern entrance remains and the other two have been closed. The eastern and western walls are surmounted by cupolas and the principal door has some fine carvings round it. There are only three open graves inside the enclosure, one of Alawal Khan and the other two of his relatives. On the grave of Alawal Khan is a short epitaph containing the usual Kalimas.