magazine heritage walk, work on monuments of north delhi

8/17/2019 Magazine Heritage Walk, Work on Monuments of North Delhi

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North Delhi: The lost Heritage

On the outskirts of the erstwhile walled city of Delhi was an

area frequented by invaders, scheming wazirs and power

hungry emperors. What is left today are structural

landmarks, memories and many legends about what could

have transpired two action-packed centuries ago. North

Delhi is culturally very rich as it has historical places and

monuments of different time periods i.e. Ancient, Medieval,

Modern. It manifests an exquisite blend of different cultures

around the sub-continent. Beginning with the monuments

that were built by the British for the purpose of governance

including Town Hall and Vice-Regal lodge to those

structures that were meant for surveillance-Flagstaff

Tower, Barracks and finally the memorials-Tis Hazari,

Mutiny Memorial, the area is peppered with many must

visit landmarks.

http://www.happytrips.com/topic/delhihttp://www.happytrips.com/topic/delhi


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The Team

Prashant Shubham

Kritika Gosain Swastik Tejasvi

Karman Singh Kirti Krishan

Dr. Vikas Verma

Mentor

Jai Verma


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GATEWAYLocation: Qudsia Bagh

Ownership: ASI

Function: Gateway

Status: protected

Special features

-Significance

This gateway was originally the entrance

to the palace of Qudsia begum, the wife of the

Emperor Muhammad Shah.

-Physical features

The gateway is a very large structure

measuring

20.7m north to south and 13.25m east to west.

There are 4.9m –wide arched openings east

and west

Sides, and flanking chambers on both sides.

Materials: lakhori brick

masonry.

Floor: stone. Roof: stone

Source-

http://www.intachdelhichapter.org/Delhi_Heritage_Lis

ting/intach.swf


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MOSQUE Materials: lakhori brick masonry.

Floor: stone. Doomed Roof: stone

[ Date: A.D. 1748]

-Significance:

The mosque was built by Qudsia begum,

in her garden, which was enclosed by a

wall contained palace along a river front.

The palace has long disappeared.

-Physical features:The three-wide-bay mosque roofed with

domes topped with sandstone finials.

Much repair work seem to have been

done on the mosque.

-Decorative features: Niches, finials, floral

patterns, battlements on parapet

Source -http://www.intachdelhichapter.org/Delhi_Heritage_Listing/intach.swf

Location: Qudsia Bagh Jamuna marg(At the western edge of Qudsia bagh)

Ownership: ASI

Function: Mosque

Status: Protected


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The story – It has been four months since I arrived in the capital city of India, New Delhi. My expedition throughout the sub-continent has been

remarkable so far. But recently, I realized that even though I had stayed for a substantial period of time in Delhi, I had failed to capture the

soul of the city. Surfing through the web yesterday, my eyes touched upon a link showcasing Qudsia bagh. All my friends who had visited India

earlier had catalogued the places of interest to make my travel easier. I went through my list but there was no mention of the monument. In

order to make this journey of mine a success, I made up my mind to head to Qudsia bagh..

I took a taxi and told the driver to take me to Qudsia Garden, but to my surprise the driver did not know where it was and what I was talking

about. So I had to look up my phone’s map and find directions to the garden. It is situated very near the famous Kashmere Gat e Bus Station,

you just follow the Outer Ring Road from the Bus Station for only 500 meters and take the left turn towards Yamuna Road. Another 300

meters and you reach the Gate of the garden. Now from the outside it looked like any other garden or park we have in urban cities. The

entrance was quite simple, usual grass and trees growing. People could be seen jogging, exercising, and doing the physical exercise called

‘Yoga’. Everything was quite decent. But as I walked some distance, my eyes fell upon a very distinctive looking building ins ide the garden.

I inquired from the people in the garden about it and was told that it was the gateway to the Qudsia Garden, built during the Mughal dynasty’s rule over India. When I tried to ask about its exact year of building and the historical facts related to it, none of the people in the garden

were able to answer my queries. Nonetheless, I was mesmerized by the grandeur of the gateway. The architecture was breath-taking and was

done with such exactness and details that I could not take my eyes off it. Near the gateway was a signboard telling that this gateway had

been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The gateway consists of a building with four pillars on the four

corners. There are various window like outlets or niches on the walls of the gateway.

The inside of the gateway has beautiful designs made on the walls and the roof. There are stairs leading to the top of the gateway where one

can see the majestic landscape of the garden and the surrounding places. On the roof are dome like structures resembling rose s. The building’s colour has worn out due to exposure to harsh weather conditions. But even in this condition it still gives a sense of the Mughal Emp ire’s

architectural expertise. A few distance further towards the end of Qudsia Park is situated a Mosque. The mosque is named Qudsia Masjid.

This mosque, a place of worship for the people of Islam religion is another wonderful example of the skills of the Mughal craftsmen. There

were people offering prayers inside the mosque and they allowed me to see the mosque from inside. I met a gentleman there who knew about the

mosque and the garden. He told that the garden was built by a Mughal queen called Qudsia Begum, who was the wife of Emperor Mohammad

Shah Rangeela, in the 18th century.

The garden originally had a palace for the queen but is now demolished. He gave an interesting information that during the time when the

garden was built, the river Yamuna which flows on the other side of the neighboring outer ring road, used to flow along the walls of the

garden, but now with the passage of time, the river has changed its course. The mosque was apparently repaired by the orders of King

Bahadur Shah II in the year 1833-1834. The mosque stands on a 3 feet high platform. The mosque has three different portions, each having

a dome on the top. The walls of the mosque have very minutely detailed cuts and designs, showing the skills of the workers during Mughal

rule. The interior is decorated with floral designs cut in plaster and the walls are adorned with niches. Very acute emphasis has been on the

designs on the domes walls and the entrance shaped like a niche has beautiful details on top.

The fascinating beauty of this wonderful work of architecture had me in awe for a long time. After satisfying my longing for a nice place to

visit which, along with being a historically rich site, was a fine example of the Mughal Rule’s contribution to India’s art and architecture,

I left the park after relaxing a few hours on the well maintained garden. It was surprising for me how a normal looking park could give so

much insight into India’s rich heritage of art and architecture. I will highly recommend this garden to all the travel enthus iasts out there.


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Location : Ridge road

(West of Hindu Rao hospital)

Pir Gaib Ownership: ASIFunction:

Formerly: Palace / Observatory/

Hunting Lodge Present: Monument

Status: Protected

Special Features:

Significance: There are contrary opinionsabout the purpose of the building.

Historians describe it variously as hunting lodge,

a palace or an observatory.

Physical features: The two-storey buildinghas a plight of steps at the south end.

The first floor seems to have been used as mosque.

There are circular openings in both the floor slabs.

The external walls have a pronounced batter.

Source - http://www.intachdelhichapter.org/Delhi_Heritage_Listing/intach.swf

Material:

Random rubble masonry

Date: Early 14th century,

Firoz Shah Tuglaq’s reign


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All my friends who had visited India earlier had catalogued the places of interest to make my travel easier. I went

through my list but there was no mention of the monument. In order to make this journey of mine a success, I made up

my mind to head to Pir Ghaib.

I jotted down the check points leading to my destination. First I took a metro from Rajiv Chowk to

Viswavidyalay. After reaching the stop, I boarded a rickshaw and asked him to take me to Hindu Rao Hospital. The way

to Hindu Rao Hospital was deserted and quiet and greener than other parts of this city. Since the rickshaw driver haddeduced by now that I was a tourist, he ended up asking me the purpose of going to Hindu Rao Hospital. And from here,

starts my amazing journey of exploring the lesser known Delhi...........

The driver agreed to show me around all those places in North of Delhi that had not been explored entirely. So this is

what he told me about my first destination:

PIR GHAIB

Location: Malka Ganj, Hindu Rao Hospital premises, New Delhi (Northern Area ,no confusions during travels)

Transportation: The Delhi metro is the safest option for travelling and exploring the city. To reach the exact

destination point take an auto rickshaw (Warning: Only board them if they use their travel fare meter!!!)

History: The monument was built in the 4 th and 5 th century in the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq. According to

architecture of the monument, it has been deciphered that the monument was the king’s hunting lodge or an

observatory (Debatable Issue). My Observation: When I visited the monument I was fortunate enough to meet one of the staff members of the

Archaeological Survey of India. Middle aged woman, Ms. Jyoti revealed some information to me that not all may

know...Get ready...the monument may have had an underground tunnel that would take the king safely out in case

of any military attack while he vacationed. AWESOME RIGHT?

With permission of the security personal present at the place, I was allowed to explore the monument.

My Experience: The monument is a two-storied structure made out of stone .The climb along the staircase

of that of PIR GHAIB are dangerous, but totally worth visiting. The broken ceiling of the monument is

adorned by some beautiful carving.AS, one of the local legends go – During the time of the British India,

there exited a saint (PIR) who used to reside in the monument but vanished miraculously.

I was able to witness the mystic presence of the legend, when I saw the clay lamps light by

people till date. The belief of the people attached to the place adds an altogether divine experience to your

visit.

All together it was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. My expedition of exploring the lesser known in

Delhi continues..........


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Hindu Rao Baoli

Special features:

Physical description:

The Baoli is the deep structure

the exact extent of which is difficult to determine

the thanks to heavy vegetation.It was originally supposed to have chambers all

around.

Zafar Hassan also mentions a tunnel leading to

north end to a length of 193 m.

The purpose of this tunnel, which was 2.15 m high

and had ventilation shafts and doorways is

unknown.

Location: Hindu Rao marg, Off Rajpura

marg, civil lines(Immediately adjacent to Hindu Rao Hospital)

Ownership: Public – ASI

Function: Baoli

Status: Protected

Source -http://www.intachdelhichapter.org/Delhi_Heritage_Listing/intach

Materials: Random rubble masonry

Date: Early 14th century,

Firoz shah Tuglaq’s reign


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So my next stop in this journey of the capital landed me in another one such tourist treasure that had

not been explored and had been forgotten for long. Within the campus of the Hindu Rao Hospital, where

the monument of PIR GHAIB is situated, close enough is the beautiful structural marvel called a

BAOLI(Hindi term for a step well). So the description of the structure goes like this...........

HINDU RAO BAOLI

Location: Hindu Rao Hospital Campus, Malka Ganj, New Delhi(near PIR GHAIB)

Transportation: The structure lies at a walking distance from the monument of PIR GHAIB.

History: The history of the monument is not restricted to only one narrative. According to various

narratives that I was able to gather, this is what I deduced of the structure’s history -

1.

It was a structure made during the reign of the Tughlaq dyna sty in 1354. According to people’s

narrative, the well also served as important source of water for the British during the revolt of

1857.

2. Another famous narrative attached to the construction of the Baoli is with, William Faser, a

British general. Faser w as known to be a ladies’ man and is said to have a lot of mistresses,

mostly Indian. For him the Baoli acted as a place for romancing under the moonlight. (WOW! Now that is romantic.)

3. Later the Faser’s mansion and his Baoli were bought by an aristocrat Hi ndu Rao belonging to one

of the royal families of India.

My Observation: I visited the structure during the time when rainfall is minimal in India; hence

the sight of the Baoli being filled water was not present. According to my analysis I was able

to decipher that the structure was made out of the same material (Huge stones) as Pir Ghaib.

My Experience: It maybe a little difficult to adjust to the surrounding initially, but the beauty

of the structure left me spell bound. The official from ASI (Ms. Jyoti...REMEMBER?), I

was fortunate enough to meet her again and this time too she told me an amazing fact.......Pir

ghaib’s under tunnel (REMEMBER?), it opened up near the Baoli. This to a large extent

proves the presence of the tunnel to be a real development.

Another day of my exploration in the North of capital was successful with my visit to the Hindu Rao

Baoli. Till we meet next time...........


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Location: Shalimar Bagh,

North West Delhi

Status: Protected

Ownership: ASIFunction: Residential

Significance:Built by one of Emperor Shah Jahan’s wives, Aazzu-n-Nissa,

known as Bibi Akbarabadi, after whom the place was

named Azzabad

Sheesh Mahal is the place where Aurangzeb declared himself

the Emperor of Mughal EmpireIt was the resting place for the Mughals

visiting North part of the Empire.

The garden served as a halting place for the

emperor Shah Jahan on his various expeditions.

A contemporary historian, Muhammad Salih,

gives the account of the gardens in the Shah-Jahan-Nama.

After the British took over India,

they also used Shalimar Bagh as the Rest House.

Sir David Ochterlony and

Lord Metcalfe used it as their summer lodge

"The Shalimar Gardens," Miss Stuart writes,"are mentioned by Franklin,

who saw them in 1793 in the reign of Shah Alam.

The garden, being a royal one,

was confiscated and sold after the revolt of 1857.

Source: http://www.monumentsofdelhi.com/monuments/sheesh-

Date : Late 17th century (1653)

Sheesh Mahal


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Location : Near Hindu rao hospital,

Delhi ridge, Delhi

Status: Protected

Ownership: ASI

Significance : The Sandstone Pillar shifted

from Meerut by Feruz Shah in 14th century

was destroyed during the

rule of Farrukshiyar (1713-19).

In 1887, the pieces were joined

back and the pillar restored.

Currently, 10 mts. are left of entire pillar.

Ashokan Pillar

Source: http://www.monumentsofdelhi.com/monuments/

Ashokan-Pillar-Ridge

Date : 3rd century BC / Firoz shah

tuglaq (1309-1388AD)

http://www.monumentsofdelhi.com/monuments/http://www.monumentsofdelhi.com/monuments/http://www.monumentsofdelhi.com/monuments/


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My sheer love for history was my one true inspiration behind me becoming a traveler of some

sorts. Greek and Roman history had always fascinated me. And anything that was related to it

drew my attention. With this I ended up getting hold of writings that talk of the accounts of

Megasthenes and the Greek relation with the powerful Indian empire of the Mauryas. My next

destination was an edict i.e. a huge stone pillar belonging to the Mauryan dynasty.

Location North Campus Ridge area, near Hindu Rao Hospital Complex, Malka Ganj, New

Delhi.

Transportation: As I always suggest, walking is the best way exploring any destination.

History: The pillar is a representation of the grandeur of the Mauryan Empire. As per my prior knowledge, these pillar edicts were built under the reign of the Great ruler Ashoka,

who was a patron of Buddhism and used these pillar edicts as source for spreading his ideology

of Dhamma. But after the decline of the empire, these pillar edicts were shifted to Delhi by

another ruler Feroz Shah Tughlaq, who is said to have been a keen scholar, historian and

architect. My Observation: The pillar is guarded by iron railings, hence a closer look might not be

possible. But devoted try made it possible for me to take a closer look at the pillar. I was

able to witness a language of total different sort. On asking the ASI official over there, I

came to know that this script was called Brahmi. Astonishingly Beautiful (even though I was

not able decipher anything.). The pillar is 33ft tall, but was supposedly taller until it got damaged in an explosion during the reign of another ruler. The pillar is made of Chunar

Sandstone.

My Experience: All I could do is marvel at the architectural skills of the people of those

times-3 rd century BCE!!! Ancient, yet holding tightly to its grandeur and magnificence....


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Location: On Rani Jhansi road,

Kashmere gate, New Delhi

Function: Monument

Ownership: ASI

Status: Protected

Significance: The memorial was originally

constructed by the British to honour

their officers and soldiers of the

Delhi field force martyred in the

uprising

Source: http://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/travel/mutiny-

Date:

Mid 19th century (1863)

Mutiny Memorial


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“The lawn is pressed by unseen feet, and ghosts return gently at twilight, gently go at dawn,

the sad intangible who grieve and yearn....” quote by E.S.Elliot, explains my next destination

perfectly. The name of my next exploration site is MUTINY MEMORIAL.

Location: The memorial is situated at the Rani Jhansi Marg, south to the Hindu Rao

Hospital complex, New Delhi

Transportation: The memorial lies at a walking distance from the Hindu Rao campus

premises. So, since I prefer walking and exploring destination along with a regular take on

the yummy street of Delhi ( CAUTION: Avoid it if you have a sensitive digestive system

and you can’t handle spice. , I majorly suggest walking as the best means of transport.

History: A number of stories and first hand narratives are linked with the construction of

the memorial and its significance. The most authentic one being, the site is commemorative

structure that was built by the British in 1863, in the memory of the lives lost in the

First War of Independence of 1857. But after India gained independence, the monument

received a different connotation. The monument is now dedicated to the Indian mutineers who

gained martyrdom while revolting against the Britishers.

My Observation: The memorial has been made in accordance to the Gothic style of

architecture. Made of red sandstone the memorial, consisting of four tiers in an octagonal

shaped base and adorned by memorial plaques of white marble from all sides with the names

of the British officers engraved on them.

My Experience: My experience of the eerie feeling around the memorial was enhanced

with the various firsthand accounts that I received. One of the most interesting one’s

being that, A Headless Horse rider, wearing the British army uniform, roams around the

streets near the memorial at around 2:00am at night. Now isn’t that one amazing yet

spine chilling fact!!!!!! I’ll continue my expedition of discovering such amazing and breathtaking monuments in North

of Delhi that still lie forbidden from the eyes of the people.


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Location: Northern Ridge,

Kamla Nehru Ridge, New Delhi

Significance: The khooni jheel meaning

bloody lake got its name in 1857

when several Indian sepoys and

British soldiers, women and children

died there. First the British trying to

escape from Delhi were killed and

later sepoys fleeing from the

avenging Britishers met their end inthose surroundings. Besides the

bodies of dead people, the carcasses

of horses and mules were also

dumped in the jheel. The water

remained bloody for many days

and the stink was enough to drive

awa an bod who a roached it.

Source:http://www.sodelhi.com/parks-gardens/khooni-

Date: The legends started from 1857

Khooni Jheel


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My next expedition was to discover the northern ridge. Surfing up the net I found many monuments in this

area. Khooni Jheel, Chaubhurji Mosque, Southern Guard House, Ashokan Pillar and the Flagstaff Tower

were the monuments that attracted me the most. So the very next day, I geared up for my journey to the

northern ridge.

Location : The Northern Ridge or the Kamla Nehru Ridge is located near the North Campus of

Delhi University.

Transportation : To reach there, I took a metro from Rajiv Chowk metro station to Viswavidyalay

metro station. After reaching the stop, I boarded a rickshaw and told the rickshaw puller to take

me to the Bonta Garden’s main gate which is opposite the Vice regal lounge of Delhi University.

Bonta Garden is filled with monkeys, there’s a whole army of monkeys, and so walking around

carrying a stick would be safer. Now walking down the jogging track, I enquired about the Khooni

Jheel from a few joggers over there. I followed the path they told me about and finally reached

my destination. History: The legend has it, as heavy fighting took place in the nearby areas during

the revolt of 1857, many people from both sides fell into the lake and drowned. Some of the

fleeing British families including women and children also drowned here. After the battle even more

corpses were dumped here. So, legends speak of shadowy figures and wailing children sometimes

seen or heard here after dark. My Observation: Your imaginations may run high when you hear the name but you may be

disappointed to find that there is no trace of red in this lake. Whatever blood was shed here has

dried up ages ago. It is not even big enough to be called a lake but more like a small pond.

Surrounded by thick vegetation from all sides, the greenish layer over the water along with the

swimming ducklings paint a rather serene picture completely contrary to its reputation but let the

face value not dilute its actual reputation. The fact that it is tightly encircled with iron wires indicates that it is still a dangerous place. The signboards also indicate that the lake is at least 80

feet deep and has a history of drowning incidents which is why the authorities have made it

impossible for anyone to try their luck at swimming or diving in the lake. Unless you are a water

bird, you can’t touch the water of the lake anymore.

My Experience: However the mythical nature of this lake has been somewhat diluted of late. This

is because the thick jungle surrounding the park has been converted into a well maintained park

complete with culverts and flowering shrubs. As a result, it attracts a lot of people including

lovelorn couples seeking solitude in the jungle. Cupid has clearly trumped the ghosts!


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Chauburji MosqueLocation : Kamla Nehru Ridge

Ownership: ASI

Status: Protected

Function: Mosque

Significance:

The original mosque wasbuilt in Feroz shah tuglaq‘s regin

but many addition’s

and modification seem to

have been made along the years

specially in Late Mughal years.

Source:www.intachdelhichapter.org/oldfiles

Materials: Walls : Random

rubble masonary.

Floor:

stone.Vaulted,Doomed roof:

Brick

Date: Early 14th century


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After khooni jheel, the next historical place on my list was the Chaubhurji Mosque.

Location: Near Ridge, New Delhi Flagstaff Tower, and Kamla Nehru. About 400m south-east of the flagstaff tower lies the Chauburji-Masjid.

History: It was built by Feroze Shah Tughlaq, evidently as a mausoleum and probably formed division of his palace called Kuskh-i-Shikar or Kushk-i-Jahan-

Numa by contemporary writers. Another surviving part of his palace situated over

here is Pir-Ghaib. Chauburji Masjid, meaning the Four Domes Mosque, is left with

only one dome. It was originally a tomb built during the Tughlaq period, with

additional brick work done (still visible) on it in the 18th century during the Mughal period. In 1857, it functioned as a battery to mount guns on, damaging it

further. It is often referred to as the mosque near Bara Hindu Rao, but there is no

evidence it was ever used as one.

My Observation: A double-storeyed structure with a central chamber surrounded by a small chamber on each side. There is a 'minhrab' or prayer niche, in the west wall

of the western chamber. The upper storey of the mosque is occupied by a domed

chamber on the southwest corner, other such chambers having disappeared. It

derives its name, meaning the 'mosque with four towers', from its original four domes.

It was repaired and altered in the late Mughal times

My Experience: My eyes were witness to a rare marvel, a one of a kind mosque,

with four domes. My sheer imagination of people performing their Namaz, made the

experience of looking at the marvel, even more beautiful.


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Location: Around 300 meters

from Chaubhurji Mosque,

Kamla Nehru ridge, New

Delhi

Ownership: ASI

Status :Protected

Function:landscape

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Delhi

Date: A.D. 1828

Materials: Random rubble

masonry ,

vaulted roof: brick

Southern Guard house


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My enquiry about the nearby area made me stumble on the fact that, very close to the

Chaubhurji Mosque is the Southern Guard House. Hence I got another destination to be

added to my itinerary of exploring the unexplored.

When the British occupied this place during the revolt of 1857, due to its strategic location, they constructed many structures. One of such structures as you can see in the

picture is the Guard House…there are two such buildings in the Northern Ridge— on the

north and south of the Flagstaff Tower. The Guard Houses were constructed to keep an

eye on the Sepoy activity below and to forewarn the British army of any danger. During

the revolt, the British women and children gathered on the ridge to have a safe passage

to Karnal through the greens.

My Observation : According to the information provided to me by the ASI official present

over there, the guard house contains one rectangular chamber measuring 6.17 x 4.35m

internally and lies on the southern side of the flagstaff tower and seems to have been constructed in the first half of the nineteenth century, when this area served as the

cantonment for the armed forces of the British East India Company. Walls made of random

rubble masonry. The main features of the building are pediment roofs over the porch,

semicircular arched openings, lantern openings and bull’s eyes openings on east and west

side walls.My Experience : I am a fanatic when it comes to war movies. So frankly speaking while

looking at this monument, all I could imagine of was Sepoys, British officials, ammunition,

gunshots etc..A perfect war movie playing in my mind……….


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Roshanara garden

(tomb)

Location:

West of Old Subzi mandi

Ownership: ASI

Function: Monument (tomb)

Status: Protected

Source: http://www.monumentsofdelhi.com/monuments

Significance:

The garden was built by Emperor Aurangzeb’s sister

Roshanara Begum.

Roshanara was the daughter of Mumtaz Mahal and ShahJahan. (The much adored Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan

in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal)

Roshanara was an important figure in the later Mughal

dynasty. Her love for her brother Aurangzeb led her to

deceive their father Emperor Shah Jahan and help Aurangzeb

to capture the throne.

The garden was the place of retreat for Roshanara Begum

She never married and lived in her palace till the end of her

life.

Roshanara liked the garden so much that she asked to be

buried in its premises after her deathRoshnara’s grave is located in a palace inside the park

The garden is also said to be the birthplace of the BCCI,

India’s managing body for the game of Cricket.

The Roshanara Club, constituted in the year 1922 by the

British is believed to have led to the constitution of the BCCI.

Date: A.D. 1650

Materials: Wall: Brick Masonry,

Floor: stone, roof: stone


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After the ridge exploration I was fascinated by this part of the city that I wanted to live to

travel and explore more and more in this part of the city, this inquisitiveness led me to

another marvel Roshanara garden. The Nearest Metro Station Pulbangash, and best time to visit the garden is in the evening or early morning. One can feel the greenery around,

chirping of birds, kids playing and smell of beautiful flowers.

Roshanara Garden boasts of a grand gateway at its entrance. The gateway is built in the

Mughal style). There are remains of a dry canal starting just after the entrance through

the gateway, leading up to the Roshanara Palace/tomb. A notice at the entrance of the tomb

says that it is a site of great national importance under the Act of 1958 (24 of 1958). The

canal surrounds the palace and the palace is situated at the center of the canal. The palace

is built in what is called the Baradari (12 entrances, 3 on each of its sides) style. The

palace’s walls have pillars to m ark the three entrances. These pillars are skillfully crafted

and have stunning designs. The pillars are connected at top with grandiose curves. Each pillaris made with great detail, showing the architectural talents and craftsmanship of the era. On

all four corners of the palace there are small rooms, which may have been utilized by Roshanara

Begum. Inside the palace lies the grave of Roshanara Begum, marked by yet another skillfully

crafted enclosure, with floral designs. On the roof top, there are four cupolas providing a

look on the landscape, on all the four corners. This palace is surrounded by greenery in allthe directions. The garden is open for public and people can be seen in the park in the morning

and evening. While adults use it for exercise and walk, children enjoy sports and games. People

who come to take a stroll in Roshanara garden say that renovation work is done frequently.

The garden and the palace are reminiscent of Roshanara Begum’s status in Mughal history.

.


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Location: Bhai parmanand marg:

2km of Kingsway camp

Ownership: MCD

Function: Memorial

Status: Unprotected

Significance : It was the venue of the

Delhi Durbar of 1877 when Queen Victoria

was proclaimed the Empress of India.

Later it was used to celebrate the

accession of King Edward VII in 1903,

and, finally, it was here that the

Durbar commemorating the coronationof King George V as Emperor of India took

place on 12 December 1911, subsequent to

his coronation at Westminster Abbey in

June 1911.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_Park,_Delhi

Date: A.D. 1911

Materials : Floor - stone

Coronation Park


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“The statutes add a sense of culture and something beyond just what students are studying.

The sculptures take you to someplace else and some of them can be provocative.” Jim Horner.

My visit to Coronation Memorial can be well explained by this beautiful quotation. A visit tothe memorial, made my travel around the North of Delhi worth a while. History: The Park is

sometimes referred to as the Coronation Memorial; it was the venue of the Delhi Durbar of

1877 when Queen Victoria was proclaimed the Empress of India. Later it was used to celebrate

the accession of King Edward VII in 1903, and, finally, it was here that the Durbar

commemorating the coronation of King George V as Emperor of India took place on 12 December1911, subsequent to his coronation at Westminster Abbey in June 1911. This last celebration

had all the princely states in attendance. The decision to hold the Coronation Durbars in Delhi

at the vast open ground at Coronation Park was a move to emphasise Delhi's history.

My Observation: The monument is now being restored.

Also, Coronation Park, by a quirk of circumstances, has the largest and tallest statue of King

George V, adorning as it does a lofty pedestal. The statue was moved here in the mid-1960s

from a site opposite India Gate in the centre of New Delhi.

Even though reaching to this destination might seem a little tiring, but the visit is every bit

worth a while. The huge majestic statues just leave you admiring and marvelling at the

sculpting skills of the people of the olden times......


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magazine heritage walk, work on monuments of north delhi

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