Visitors to the Hauz Khas heritage walk are often surprised. They hardly expect such a grand monument complex lying just behind the designer shops & studios in Hauz Khas village. These are remains of a 13^th century tank and madrasa complex built in 14^th century. Parts of it were inaccessible because of some fresh digging. The tank was built by Alauddin Khalji for his capital city of Siri and madrasa was built by Firuz Shah Tughluq. Standing among the halls and rooms of the madrasa one gets a view of the tank and also the munda gumbad, a ruined pavilion just beyond. The complex also has the tomb of Firuz Shah himself, a large and impressive building. The ceiling hof the tomb has beautiful incised & painted plaster decoration. The first storey of the madrasa have very small rooms. There is a larger gateway (now closed) which could have been the original entrance to the complex. Close by is a residential unit which now houses the ASI office. There are number of pavilions which are tombs, probably for people associated with the madrasa. Continue Reading This Post

Here are some of the photographs of a heritage walk in hauz khas and deer park. The walk covered the madrasa complex around the 14th century hauz (tank), Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s tomb, Lodi period tomb & mosque in Deer Park. Towards the end of the heritage walk we walked down to the tank, which offers a stunning view of the madrasa.

(posted by Rajesh Ranjan & Kanika Singh, team members, Delhi Heritage Walks)

Hauz Khas Heritage Walk

More photographs of Hauz Khas Walk sent by Ameet K. Mangat, Heritage Enthusiast

It is difficult to imagine a world of medieval monuments just beyond the glamour of boutiques, art galleries and restaurants in Hauz Khas village. The hauz (tank) and the 14^th century madrasa are a grand sight even as ruins. Fine examples of Tughlaq architecture, these buildings impress a visitor with their strength. They are simple massive & very austere; thick, sloping walls, massive stone beams and pillars. One of the visitors could not help wondering if they (the residents) were expecting an invasion! The madrasa complex is a double-storied structure with colonnaded halls on the top floor and small cell-like rooms on the lower storey. It is an L-shaped complex, on an edge of the Hauz and Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s tomb is built at the meeting point of the two wings. The tomb is not heavily decorated but it is a massive building. The interior has beautiful plaster work decoration. There are a couple of monuments is the deer park as well, the Kali Gumti and Bagh-i-Alam ka Gumbad. The second is a typical Lodi period tomb, very similar to the ones in Lodi Garden. A combination of ruins among trees, wild shrubs, birds makes a very picturesque view.

(posted by Rajesh Ranjan & Kanika Singh, team members, Delhi Heritage Walks)

Hauz Khas Heritage Walk