Mehrauli Archaeological Park

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Tomb of Quli Khan, overlooking the Qutub Minar. Ruins of Sir Thomas Metcalfe's Dilkusha with Qutub Minar in the background 02.jpg
Tomb of Quli Khan, overlooking the Qutub Minar.
Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb complex built in 1528-1529 CE, in the Archaeological Park. Jamali Kamali Masjid, Mehrauli.jpg
Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb complex built in 1528–1529 CE, in the Archaeological Park.

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park is an archaeological area spread over 81 hectares (200 acres) in the Mehrauli neighbourhood of the South Delhi district of Delhi, India. The park is located adjacent to the World Heritage-listed Qutub Minar and the Qutb complex.

Contents

The park consists of over 100 historically significant monuments. It is the only area in Delhi known for 1,000 years of continuous occupation, and includes the ruins of Lal Kot built by Tomar Rajputs in 1060 CE, making it the oldest extant fort of Delhi, and architectural relics of subsequent period, rule of Khalji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty, Lodhi dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, and the British Raj. [1] [2] [3]

Overview

The park contains significant sites including: [4]

Other nearby monuments include the Jahaz Mahal, Zafar Mahal of Bahadur Shah II alias Lal Mahal, Hauz-i-Shamsi and Tomb of Adham Khan. Pillars and remains of several monuments, Jharna which is like a pleasure garden of late Mughals are also lay scattered in the park. [6]

Redevelopment and conservation

Rose Garden, Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Rose Garden, Mehrauli Archaeological Park.JPG
Rose Garden, Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

The redevelopment of the area as an archaeological park and conservation of important structures started in 1997, in collaboration between Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), the State Department of Archaeology, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which first started systematic documentation of structures in the area and also started conducting heritage walks since 2000. [1] [7]

Over the years, INTACH has restored some 40 monuments in the park and added signages, heritage trails, and sandstone trail-markers. [5]

Notable monuments and structures

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "A successful conservation story". The Hindu . 9 February 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. "Years of neglect and many talks later, Mehrauli park will get a touch-up". Indian Express. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  3. Datta, Rangan (23 July 2024). "Mehrauli Archaeological Park has monuments from pre-Islamic days to late-Mughal period". The Telegraph. My Kolkata. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  4. Half Day Itinerary Delhi Tourism.
  5. 1 2 "Discover new treasures around Qutab". The Hindu . 28 March 2006. Archived from the original on 10 August 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2013..
  6. Mukherjee, Himadri. (2021, April 28). Mehrauli Archaeological Park. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1736/mehrauli-archaeological-park/.
  7. "Unkempt and uncared for". The Hindu. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.