Badshah Tomb is a fifteenth-century brick mausoleum at Zaina Kadal in Srinagar's old city, raised by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin over the grave of his mother. Five domes rise above the surrounding rooftops, unusual in a valley that builds in wood. The tomb stands on the foundations of an older temple, close to the Jhelum.
This page is maintained by Duke Kashmir Travels, a Srinagar agency registered with the Department of Tourism as JKTA00003978 since 2011. The tomb sits on our old-city walk; Kashmir packages start about ₹6,350 per person, two sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- Built in the fifteenth century by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, the ruler Kashmiris call Budshah.
- Five brick domes, closer to Central Asian and Byzantine models than to Kashmiri wooden building.
- Raised on the plinth of an earlier temple, beside the Jhelum at Zaina Kadal.
- Shahmiri-period detailing survives on the interior.
- Ten minutes on foot from Jamia Masjid.
- Fifteen minutes is enough; it is a stop on a walk, not a destination on its own.
Who was Badshah?
Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, who ruled Kashmir in the fifteenth century and is remembered locally as Budshah, the great king.
He is credited with reviving Kashmiri crafts, bringing artisans from Central Asia and Persia, and a long stretch of tolerant rule. The tomb he built here is over his mother's grave; the enclosure also holds other burials of the period.
What is the building like?
A square brick chamber under a large central dome, with four smaller domes at the corners and glazed-tile traces on the exterior.
Brick was rarely used at this scale in the valley, which is what makes the tomb stand out. Inside, the Shahmiri-period woodwork and carved detail are worth the few minutes it takes to look properly.
Where is it, and how do you visit?
At Zaina Kadal in Shahr-i-Khaas, on the Jhelum, about 4 km from Lal Chowk.
The lanes are narrow, so vehicles wait nearby while you walk in. It fits naturally between Jamia Masjid and the riverfront shrines on an old-city morning.
Booking this with us
Duke Kashmir Travels has held Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since March 2011 and has been an IATO allied member since 2016. The full list of registrations sits on our About Us page.
Send your dates and traveller count and we will build the itinerary around it. Call +91 9018 44 0000, email info@dukekashmirtravels.com or use the contact page.
About the founder
Rayies Ahmad Zargar founded Duke Kashmir Travels in Srinagar in 2011 and still runs it. He co-founded the JK Tourism Council and reviews the guides published here, including this one. Profile on LinkedIn.