Summary

• The Royal Family Mausoleums, known as Hosh Al Basha, are an extraordinary complex of tombs located in Cairo’s historic Al-Qarafa district.
• It was built in the early 19th century by Muhammad Ali Pasha, these mausoleums blend Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman architectural influences into an unmatched showcase of Islamic art and royal elegance.
• It houses over 16 intricately decorated tombs, the site includes burials of key figures like Ibrahim Pasha, Abbas Helmi I, and Princess Noor Hanem.
• The complex features seven domes, vibrant colored glass windows, Quranic inscriptions, and gold-leaf ornamentation, reflecting a level of craftsmanship likened to royal palaces.
• Once Egypt’s second-largest cemetery after the Taj Mahal, Hosh Al Basha is a hidden gem of Old Cairo, revealing the opulence and artistic mastery of the Muhammad Ali dynasty.

The Royal Family Mausoleums, also known as the Muhammad Ali Pasha Family Mausoleums or the Basha’s Yard Mausoleums, is a magical embodiment of modern classical Islamic art that was cultivated over thousands of years across the Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman kingdoms. This hidden gem is a golden Islamic maze of miraculous constructions filled with art and architecture that can shed light on the unmatched level of mastery, luxury, and magnificence of that period.

This magical open-air museum is a golden gate to uncovering the incredible wealth of knowledge, history, and art of this extravagant period featured across all these beautiful tombs that stood against the face of oblivion. Use your time wisely to discover all the incredible treasures found in the heart and epic corners of Old Cairo.

The Unique Location of Hosh El Basha In Old Cairo

The Royal Family Mausoleums, also known as the Muhammad Ali Pasha Family Mausoleums or the Basha’s Yard Mausoleums, are a magical collection of tombs belonging to the Alawite royal family, located next to the Imam Shafi’i Mosque in Cairo. The southern cemetery known as the Qarafa stretches east of Ibn Tulun mosque on the southern part of the Cairo Citadel, on the outskirts of Maadi.

The Golden History of the Immortal Mausoleum of Hosh El Basha

A group of tombs belonging to the Alawi royal family is located behind the Dome of Imam Shafi’i in Al-Qarafa, and it is called “Al-Nameh”. The Al-Basha tombs, also known as “Hosh Al-Basha,” are considered the second-largest cemetery in the world after the Taj Mahal in India, which was built by the Muhammad Ali dynasty, the founder of modern Egypt (1805-1848 AD).

The order to build the tombs was made around 1816 AD to be the resting place for the descendants, family, relatives, and devoted servants of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty. These tombs were completed around 1854 AD and are characterized by their architectural beauty, colorful windows, and their enchanting charm, comparable to the beauty of the royal palaces.

They embody a blend of Arab-Islamic and Turkish heritage, which showcases the absolute mastery of the Egyptian builders and artisans. Some of the most famous tombs in Hosh Al Basha include Ibrahim Pasha, Isma’il Pasha, Tusun Pasha, Abbas I, Sa’id Pasha, Ahmad Rifaat Pasha, Ayn-al-Hayat Rifaat, and Mohammed Ali Tewfik.

The Captivating Structure and Artistic Design of Hosh El Basha

The majestic mausoleum complex consists of six domes made of three large domes and three smaller ones, all supported by square stone pillars. The tombs are adorned with a variety of intricate engravings and artistic decorations. It was filled with inner courtyards and marvelous chambers which are decorated by enchanting Islamic motifs, precious materials, and colors which has the power to shed their level of captivating luxury.

The entrance to each tomb is marked by a small dome with a hanging brass chandelier. It leads to a large hall with two doors, each leading to a garden within the mausoleum. At the end of the hall, there is a large door that leads into the tomb. The ceilings of the domes are decorated with intricate drawings using gold and colored glass, designed to create a vibrant display with each appearance.

The main façade of the tombs is located on the western side, which has a stone façade with a central entrance. The entrance is flanked by two ribbed stone towers covered with a simple frieze devoid of ornamentation. The entrance is supported by two symmetrical columns made of red granite.

Surrounding the entrance are two stone porticoes with a double wooden door, above which is a straight stone threshold with prominent inscriptions on a geometric patterned floor. The inscription reads “The Tombs of the Royal Family.” The façade is completed with a band of decorative stone units arranged in adjacent triangles.

The domes have two facades each. The first set is on the western side and is made of polished stone. It is divided into two sections, with a rectangular entrance in the lower part, featuring a latticed window covered with iron bars.

It ends with a protruding chest adorned with broken-chain ornaments, and the second section is approached by a staircase of six stone steps leading to the current burial area. This section also has two rectangular entrances, each with a latticed window covered with iron bars. The entrances are embellished with Baroque-style decorations.

The second façade of these domes is located on the southern side and is characterized by broken lines. It features a double wooden door and a window opening, as well as two rectangular windows with metal lattice screens. These domes, along with the dome that rises above the main entrance, encompass the burial domes.

Regarding the interior architecture of these seven domes, the first dome, accessed through the door in the eastern side of the entrance, has a lower square shape. It has two lower side windows, each containing parts of the Kiswa of the Kaaba.

The walls of this dome are painted with colorful coatings and adorned with colored and gilded botanical and geometric motifs. The floor of this dome contains the tomb of Sayyida Noor, the mother of Khedive Tawfiq, who passed away in 1883. It consists of three levels, each with Quranic and decorative inscriptions in Thuluth script.

The second dome consists of a lower square structure, and its floor is paved with stone tiles. On its eastern side, there is a narrow-pointed door leading to the third dome. The helmet of this dome is made of stone and covered with a layer of plaster.

On the floor of the third dome, there are several marble structures, the most important of which are four structures. The first is the tomb of Tawson Pasha, the son of Minister Haider Pasha, who died in 1815.

The second is the structure of Amina Hanem, the wife of Mohammed Pasha, who died in 1823. The third is the structure of Fatima Hanem, the daughter of Ismail bin Mohammed Ali, who died in 1834. And the fourth is the structure of Khalil Thabit, who died in 1902.

The third dome is a lower square structure with a floor paved with stone tiles. On its western side, there is a narrow-pointed door connected between it and the second dome. The transitional areas of the dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck, on which a smooth stone helmet rests. On the floor of this dome, there are several marble structures, the most important of which is the structure of Ismail Pasha, who died in 1825.

The fourth dome is a lower square structure with a floor made of stone tiles. On each side of the western and eastern sides, there is a narrow-pointed door. The western door leads to the corridor, and the eastern door leads to the tombs of the sons and followers. The transitional areas of this dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck containing twelve windows covered with decorative plaster and colored glass.

Resting on this neck is a dome decorated with a golden color and containing a radiant chandelier. On the floor of this dome, there are several marble structures, the most important of which are two structures. The first is above the tomb of Tawson Pasha, the prince of the Hajj, and the second is inside his tomb within a metal chamber. On its eastern side, there is a door leading to a square space covered by a shallow dome containing nineteen windows.

The fifth dome is a lower square structure with its floor installed with cement tiles. It contains ten marble structures, the most important of which are the structure of Asma’ Yakan, who died in 1850, the structure of Aisha Hanem, the daughter of Abbas Pasha, who died in 1853, the structure of Tawhid Hanem, and also the structure of Shams Hanem, the daughter of Prince Ibrahim Pasha.

On each side of this dome, there is a door knotted with a pointed lock, and on the southern side, there is a window covered with a veil of decorative plaster and colored glass. The transitional areas of this dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck with windows covered with decorative plaster and colored glass. Resting on this neck is a dome coated in green color, adorned with botanical and geometric designs.

The sixth dome is a lower square structure that is identical to the fifth dome, except that the eastern and southern sides are arched, and on the northern side, there is a window covered with a veil of decorative plaster and colored glass. On the floor of this dome, there are eight structures, including the tomb of Abbas Pasha I and the structures of my two sons, Ibrahim Pasha Ahmed, who died in 1856.

As for the seventh dome, it is a lower square structure with its floor installed with cement tiles. On the eastern side, there is a panel with an inscription. The transitional areas of this dome rise in the form of a cylindrical neck, on which a dome identical to the sixth dome rests.

Discover the Famous Golden Tombs of Hosh Al Basha

The area holds over 16 cemeteries carrying Turkish and a hint of Roman Architecture, which are decorated with oil colors and with gold water writing all over the tombs, mentioning Islamic verses from the Quran. The tombs are divided into six parts, which are separated by grand courtyards decorated with marvelous marble containing Islamic writings.

When entering the tombs there is a small dome then followed by a grand hall which carries two colossal gates which carries a long corridor which is decorated with beautiful copper chandeliers with a mesmerizing ceiling filled with gold water writing and colored glass which when facing the sunlight gives a magical array of different colors resembling a heavenly rainbow.

The tombs include the following:

The tomb of Ibrahim Pasha, who was the Governor of Egypt and son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, consists of a three-tiered pyramid structure made of Italian marble. It is entirely decorated with botanical and Arabic motifs in the Islamic style, representing a unified and integrated architectural form. Two epitaphs are placed on top of the tomb: one with poems, praises, and eulogies, and the other with a description of the tomb’s owner in Turkish. The Turkish fez in red color is placed on top of the epitaph.

The tomb of Abbas Helmi I, the Governor of Egypt, features three tiers adorned with beautiful botanical and Arabic motifs. On top of the tomb, there is an epitaph written in Turkish, describing the tomb’s owner and prayers for him. The Turkish fez is placed on top of the epitaph. The tomb is surrounded by a massive engraved brass fence with geometric patterns.

The tomb of Noor Hanem, the mother of Abbas Helmi I, is one of the largest and most magnificent female tombs in the Imam Shafi’i Mausoleum complex. It measures approximately three meters in length, one and a half meters in width, and four meters in height at the epitaph. It is made of rare alabaster.

The tomb of Ilhami Pasha, son of Abbas Helmi I, has two marble floors adorned with Quranic verses.

The tomb of Muhammad Said Pasha, “The Governor of Egypt”

The tomb of Fathiya Hanem, the wife of Abbas Helmi I.

The tomb of Princess Shams, the wife of Abbas Helmi I.

The tomb of Princess Malek, the wife of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Princess Engi, the wife of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Prince Ahmed, son of Ibrahim Pasha.

The tomb of Princess Ayn al-Haya, the mother of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Prince Tawson Pasha, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Prince Muhammad, son of Tawson Pasha, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Prince Mahmoud Tawson Pasha, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Prince Mahmoud, son of Muhammad Said Pasha.

The tomb of Prince Muhammad Ali, son of Ismail Pasha.

The tomb of Ruqayya Hanem, daughter of Yekan Pasha and sister of Noor Hanem.

The tomb of Princess Zeinab, daughter of Yekan Pasha and sister of Noor Hanem.

Outside these mausoleums, there is a group of tombs for some family members. It is also said that beneath them lie the remains of the forty victims of the legendary Citadel Massacre.