Mausoleum of Aga Khan
The Mausoleum of Aga Khan has located 3.5 km from the Aswan Railway Station and was built by Muhammad Shah, known as Aga Khan III. He was the spiritual leader of the Shiite Ismaili community in India.
The Mausoleum of Aga Khan is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in historical Egypt, reflecting the characteristic urban style of the period of the Fatimid rule of the country. It is the tomb of the Aga Khan III (Sultan Muhammad Shah), who died in 1957, and is located on the banks of the Nile in the Egyptian city of Aswan. This mausoleum is inspired by the design of the Egyptian Fatimid tombs.
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Description of the Mausoleum of Aga Khan in Egypt
The mausoleum is built of pink granite, similar to the Fatimid tombs in Cairo, and is located near the Saint Simeon Monastery on the west bank of Aswan. The mausoleum is built on a hill, giving visitors a panoramic view.
Aga Khan III was extremely wealthy. His people say he was weighed in diamonds on his birthday in 1945, which he gave to his followers in a spirit of generosity.
The mausoleum was built according to his wife’s wishes, Yvette Blanche Labrousse. She was also known as Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan and was eventually named Mata Salama. When the Aga Khan knew that it was her time to die, he built a burial place for her; it would be somewhere along the West Bank of the Nile River. When her husband died, she oversaw the construction of the Aga Khan Mausoleum and completed the project in 16 months with the help of famous architects and contractors.
The shrine attracted many Ismaili pilgrims and visitors worldwide and is considered a prominent landmark within Aswan Attractions.
The Mausoleum of Aga Khan structure is recognizable by its elegance and the particular use of pink granite and calcareous sandstone. The interior of the building features light colors and a glorious red carpet that is still regularly maintained. The entrance to the Aga Khan mausoleum requires a steep climb up a stepped path, followed by an esplanade from which a flight of stairs climbs. Etiquette requires all visitors to remain silent out of respect.
Inside the Mausoleum of Aga Khan
After the Aga Khan’s death, his surviving widow continued to leave a red rose on his white Carrara marble tomb. Living in the villa, she managed to do this faithfully until she died in 2000. Even to this day, per Mata Salama’s request, a red rose still finds its way into the coffin.
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