Sasaram in Bihar's Rohtas district is a small town, some 150 km from Patna. Traditionally
it is believed to be named after the sage Parashurama and the legendary King Sahastrabahu.
Sasaram was also the birthplace of Sher Shah Suri, who ruled Delhi from 1540 to 1545 AD.
It is well known for the mausoleums built during his regime. The Grand Trunk Road, the most notable feature of Sher Shah Suri's achievements, goes through Sasaram. The place is famous for the beautifully sculpted tombs of Sher Shah Suri, his father and the architect who designed the monuments.
These historic structures stand as testaments of the
glory of a bygoneera. Today apart from the historic significance, Sasaram has a thriving stone mining industry and is famous for the quality stone chips that are supplied all over India.The noblest specimen of Pathan architecture lies amidst the artificial lake at Sasaram, the envy of many an emperor.The mausoleum of Sher Shah Suri is one of the majestic national monuments. It is located on the banks of a beautiful artificial lake. Built during the 16th century, it is a five-storied red sandstone edifice.
This tomb, 150 ft high, has a pyramidal structure. A dome can be seen at its top. At the centre is a large octagonal chamber, which contains the tomb itself. There are steps, which lead down to the water. The mausoleum of Sher Shah is of exceptional beauty and larger than the
Taj in size. Its dome is over 13 feet.
Here also are the mausoleum of Sher Shah's father, Hasan Shah Suri, and the tomb of sher
Shah's son, Salim Shah, built in the centre of a lake.
On the outskirts is the tomb of Aliwal Khan, the chief architect of Sher Shah. After a few
hours drive from SasCllam,one reaches Rohtasgarh Fort. In the words of Abul Fazal, It IS"awell-
defended paradise (fort) with no equal for strength and solidty." The fort is 28 miles in circumference, and a paiect platform for eco-tourism projects. It is located high on the Kaimur
hillswhere there are many monuments that bring to life the history of the Mughals and Afghan
and later the Britishers.
The Puranas tell a different story about Sasaram. The enmity between the Kartavirya
Sahasrarjuna (literally thousand hands) and Parashurama led 10the death of Sahasrarjuna by
parashurama. The followers of Sahasrarjuna settled here calling it Sahasrarjuna-pura or
Sahsaram.
Ashokan inscriptillns, discovered on a small rock-cut cave overlooking Sasaram town, have
eight lines of Brahmi script inscribed on the boulder. This cave is on the summit of Chandan
Shaheed Hill,named ifter a saint whose tomb is located close to the cave. Chandan is believed
to be one of the Sufi saints who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni.
Bahlul Lodi, who had encouraged the migration of his countrymen to Hindustan, was ultimately disappointed with their disunity. Hasan Khan and his father Ibrahim Khan Suri came to
India and were granted jagirs (land lordship) in Punjab. Their fortunes swayed with those of
their masters and lata Hasan moved to Jaunpur and finally to Sasaram.
Sher Shah was barn in Narnaul and spent his childhood at Sasaram. Early in the 16th century,Sasaram, under Hasan Khan Sur,was a part of the Sharqi kingdom of Jaunpur. Sher Shah
developed Sasaram irto a successful administrative unit. It was an important trading post and
often people came here to buy horses. Later, Sher Shah built a mint here. His currency reform
was followed by the Nughals and maintained by the Britishers.
Sher Shah was bought from Kalinjar after he had been injured in an explosion during the
final assault on the fort.He managed to survive until the news of the final victory. Salim Shah,
his son, lies in a tomb half-a-km north west from here. His tomb is impressive but incomplete.
