This Sunday, a cloudy but pleasant winter morning, our heritage walk was organized at Mehrauli Archaeological Park.  The Park has around 70 odd monuments, scattered around one of the oldest inhabited areas of Delhi, Mehrauli.  History of Mehrauli is many layered & covers a long time span. It was first ruled by a couple of Rajput rulers in 11^th and 12^th centuries and towards the end of the 12^th century, these were defeated by Turks from central Asia. The victors set up a dynasty which came to be called ‘slave’ kings. And then this area saw settlements throughout the ‘medieval’ period of Indian history & is now an urban village. (more…)

This is without doubt, one of the best places to see in Delhi. A heritage walk here combined history with the sense of adventure & exploration. Our heritage walk in Mehrauli Archaeological Park covers Balban’s tomb, a site of archaeological excavation, ruins of a late Mughal residential settlement, Jamali Kamali mosque & tomb, Rajon ki Baoli (a Lodi period stepwell) & Dilkusha, or Thomas Metcalfe’s estate. The last comprises of altered landscape & modified ruins including Metcalfe’s folly, Mohammad Quli Khan’s tomb & a dovecot converted into a boathouse.

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

It was a chilly and foggy winter morning, but a good time to explore the mysteries of Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The Park has scattered monuments surrounded by thick vegetation. Right from the Tomar Rajput dynasty till now, Mehrauli has been the ‘same’ with its vegetation and numerous monuments from almost the all dynasties who ruled Delhi. (more…)

Our restlessness in your love has passed beyond bounds, our hope is that you will pity our weeping.

How could your pardon be known, had we not shown ourselves guilty!

These are verses penned by Jamali, a traveler and poet who lived in the 16^th century. Today his name lives on as an area in Mehrauli called ‘Jamali Kamali’ or the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Our heritage walk in this park covers some very interesting landmarks of Indian history. We start our heritage trail near Balban’s tomb. The area around the tomb was recently excavated to reveal a courtyard and some rooms and grave platforms. (more…)

Our team at Delhi Heritage Walks had an opportunity to interact with students of St. Thomas School, Sahibabad and take them on a heritage walk at Mehrauli Archaeological Park. It was the last working day for them and they were all excited to explore! These were class X students and it was their first heritage walk. All were locals to Sahibabad but were well familiar with Delhi, its main historic site like the Qutb complex, the Red Fort & the Lotus Temple. Continue Reading This Post