Faizabad, 7km. from Ayodhaya,developed as a township nearly 220 years ago, during
the reign of Safdar Jung, the second Nawab of Avadh ( 1739-54 ), who laid its
foundation by making it his army headquarters.
During the reign of Shuja-ud-daula, Faizabad attained prosperity which it never
saw again. The principle achievement of the period was the mausoleum of Shuja-ud-daula,
famous as Gulab Bari. It is a striking building of fine properties, standing
in a garden surrounded by a wall, approachable through two large gateways. Shuja-ud-daula's
wife was the well known Bahu Begum, who married the Nawab in 1743 and continued
to reside in Faizabad, her residence being the Moti-Mahal. Closeby at Jawaharbagh
lies her Maqbara, where she was buried after her death. It is considered to
be one of the finest buildings of its kind in Avadh, which was built at the
cost of three lakh rupees by her chief advisor Darab Ali Khan.
Shuja-ud-daula, his successor settled at Faizabad after 1764 and built a fort
known as Chhota Calcutta, now in ruins. In 1765, he built the Chowk and Tripaulia
and subsequently laid out the Anguribagh and Motibagh to the south of it, Asafbagh
& Bulandbagh to the west of the city.
A fine view of the city is obtainable from top of the Begum's tomb. Bahu Begum
was a woman of great distinction and rank.
Most of the Muslim buildings at Faizabad are attributed to her. From the date
of Bahu Begum's death, till the annexation of Avadh, the city of Faizabad gradually
fell into decay.
The glory of Faizabad eclipsed with the shifting of capital from Faizabad to
Lucknow by Nawab Asaf-ud-daula.
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