Sunday evening saw the Hauz Khas monuments buzzing with activity: families with kids playing in the lawn, a group of youngsters playing cricket, friends hanging out, photographers and among these our group, out on a heritage walk. We meet at entrance to the Deer Park and our heritage trail starts in the direction of Hauz Khas village. Walking past the designer shops, we enter the madrasa in Hauz Khas through a small gateway. Those new to the neighbourhood are always amazed to find such a magnificent building hidden among the urban growth! The view of the lake and the grand ruins around it is simply breathtaking! One can only imagine its splendor way back in 14^th century. The madrasa is a 2 storey complex built along the edge of the tank. What survives today is bare skeleton of the original structure. One can make out the colonnaded halls and cells which perhaps housed students. In the centre of this complex stands the tomb of Firuz Shah Tughluq. On the lawns are several pavilions, probably tombs of officials or teachers associated with the madrasa. A pleasant surprise was in store for us: some of the stairways leading to the domes and rooftops were open for restoration work. We all climbed up to catch an excellent view of the complex, just in time before the caretaker ordered everybody out! The second leg of this heritage walk takes place in the adjacent Deer Park which has a few prominent monuments: a lodi period tomb called the Bagh i Alam ka Gumbad, a stern looking Tughluq tomb called Tuhfewala Gumbad and the Kali Gumti in a nook.

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

Hauz Khas Heritage Walk