Interesting article by A V S Rao in Deccan Herald on the finest monuments built by Sher Shah Suri at Sasaram, located in Bhojpur district of Bihar.

Sasaram is a small town in Bhojpur district of Bihar and is well-known for its group of beautiful mausoleums built during the time of Sher Shah Suri, who ruled Delhi from 1540 to 1545 AD. There are three magnificent structures of the Sur dynasty and one, a memorial to the architect who built them.

However, it is strange that the finest monuments built by Sher Shah are at Sasaram, a place he loved most, though it was far away from his capital. He desired to ensure that the mausoleums of the Sur family should be the finest in style.

He procured the services of Ali Wal Khan, an experienced master builder and a trained architect in Imperial tradition. The fine mausoleum built for Sher Shah at Sasaram, during his lifetime itself, is considered a class apart. It is one of the grandest and most imaginable architectural conceptions in the whole of India.This mausoleum is about 76 metres wide, producing immense pyramidal layers of orderly laid masonry in five different stages, rising to a height of about 46 metres.

The monument is constructed out of the best red sand stone procured from the historic quarries of Chunar situated very near Sasaram. Finely dressed large blocks are laid with good joints.

Although the structure was built for the solemn purpose, it was intended to convey the grand impression of its massiveness and beautiful ornamentation. Even to this day, one can see the remains of glazed and painted decorations on the exterior walls. The composition of this mausoleum is unique and unrivalled in setting as the entire structure has been built in the centre of a vast lake.

To know more about the famous tourist places around this place click here.